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9 Tips for Choosing the Best Wood for a Fire Pit

Before you start gathering wood to burn in your fire pit, you should know the best types of wood to use. This will help keep your fire going, but it can make your fire pit more aesthetically pleasing as well! Here are nine tips for choosing the best wood for a fire pit.

1) Different types of woods Oak is best known for its high energy density, so that's what you want to use if you have time to burn and want to get as much heat out of your fire pit as possible. Because oak burns slow and steady, it also tends to be easier on your grill than other woods.

2) Types of cuts Typically, firewood is split into two cuts: hardwood and softwood. While many people assume that softwoods are preferable to hardwoods (because they're softer), it's actually because they tend to be less dense and burn hotter—ideal characteristics in a fire pit. There are many popular types of wood suitable for burning in fire pits, but what follows is an overview of some of your best options and buyer reviews/guide on Go Fire Pit.

3) The right moisture content The moisture content of wood is crucial because you can have trouble getting your fire started when it's too high. If it's too low, your fire will burn out before you can cook anything on it. You may be wondering how you can tell what moisture content is best; one trick is to cut a piece of wood in half and examine it.

4) Age matters

Depending on where you live, some types of wood may be harder to come by than others. If you want to burn local hardwoods, it's important to look at your area's environment and laws.

Trees like oak, walnut, and hickory can create beautiful fire pits—but will they grow nearby?

Or will you have to travel far to buy or harvest wood? These factors can all affect which type of wood is best for your fire pit.

5) Seasonal rot Different types of wood burn better during different seasons. Hickory and oak are popular choices in fall, winter, and spring when they're dry and contain higher water levels to release energy (wood burns less efficiently when it's wet). At the same time, aspen, pine, fir, and cedar are better suited to burning in summer when they're drier.

6) Air-dried wood vs. kiln-dried wood Air-dried wood can be used in fire pits, and it's easy to spot: look for cracks or splits in boards—the wider and more pronounced they are, the better. Why is air-dried wood good? It tends to burn cleaner than kiln-dried. How do you tell if your wood has been air-dried? A stamp on lumber will show which method was used. If it says KD, that means it was kiln-dried.

7) Which kind do you choose?

The type of wood you use in your fire pit can affect its performance and your health. Whether you're buying wood from a store or gathering sticks from around your property, there are many factors to consider before you settle on one kind of wood over another. Here are some simple tips for choosing what types of wood make good fuel

8) Natural vs. artificial material - does it matter?

Before you go out and buy any old piece of wood, there are a few things to consider.

Depending on your personal preference, wood can be made up of either natural or artificial materials. While both have their advantages and disadvantages, it ultimately comes down to whether you're looking for appearance or practicality when deciding which is better. Since they each have their pros and cons, let's look at some natural versus artificial wood options in more detail.

9) How to season your firewood, so it burns hotter and cleaner If you need firewood, you probably know that you can buy it at most big box stores. Or, if you're feeling DIY-inspired and have access to your source of wood (e.g., from fallen trees), all you need to do is cut, split, and stack it up.

5 Factors to Consider When Buying Wood for Your Fire Pit

While fire pits are fun to have around, there's nothing more disappointing than spending all afternoon roasting marshmallows only to discover that your fire pit has run out of wood during the process! Buying wood for your fire pit can be tricky because there are many different factors that you need to consider before making a final decision. In this article, we'll give you some advice on how to go about it so that you don't find yourself in the same situation like the example above!

1. Heat output Depending on how much heat you want from your fire pit, you'll want a certain amount of wood. Wood that produces lots of heat will require more logs than one that burns quietly and steadily. Also, dry wood burns faster and hotter than wet or freshly cut wood; if you don't have access to dry firewood, call your local tree service company or landscaper before purchasing any firewood. You may be able to trade labor for access to their truck and trailer when it comes time to fill your fire pit. No matter what type of wood you use or where it comes from, always ensure it has been properly seasoned (dried) before using it in your fire pit. Here are some examples

2. Burn time Although it's tempting to pick up whatever is cheapest, burn time matters more than the price in many cases. Ash and hardwood logs will burn longer, which means they'll be less expensive overall—assuming you can keep them burning safely. It might not make sense to spend $25 on a bundle of wood that burns through in an hour when you can spend $60 on a bundle that will last all night (or even two). In general, stick with ash and hardwood logs if you want your fire pit to last more than one sitting. With softwoods like pine or cedar—which are common choices—you may need to keep adding fuel throughout your gathering or event.

3. Value for your money The one thing you can't compromise on is value. Don't buy cheap firewood because it's cheap - no matter how cool it looks. Several factors determine if a cord of wood is truly worth its weight in, well, wood. The first is its dryness; air-dried wood has less moisture than kiln-dried wood, which burns hotter and cleaner, giving off less smoke (which can irritate your eyes and lungs). It also has more heat energy since there's less moisture to burn away, meaning your fire will burn longer and more evenly. If you don't care about these things, then, by all means, go with a cheaper option—know that you're sacrificing quality.

4. Easy storage Before you buy any wood, be sure it's dry. If it isn't, it won't burn properly, which means wasted time and money. Most hardwoods come from deciduous trees—which means they lose their leaves every fall—and if that wood isn't properly dried before use, it will take much longer to start a fire. The best type of wood for starting fires is small-diameter hardwood. Smaller pieces require less energy from your fire pit to start burning; larger pieces might smolder before they begin burning well because of too much oxygen getting into your fire pit.

5. Pre-dried or Green Greenwood is a much cheaper option, and it's available year-round at most big box stores. However, pre-dried wood is better because it doesn't crack when you burn it (and we all know how fire pits can be prone to cracking). If you decide on dried wood, make sure it has been properly seasoned (like 30 days) and then split into similar pieces. We recommend hardwood, like hickory or oak—these woods burn longer and release great smoke. When using green wood, go with conifers like pine or cedar; they are cheap, lightweight, and smell great when burned.

Create a Smokeless Fire Pit

Are you tired of inhaling smoke from your fire pit? Then it’s time to consider switching to one that doesn’t produce any smoke at all! Creating your own smokeless fire pit can be easy and inexpensive with the right supplies, plus it can give you years of pure, odorless fireside enjoyment with friends and family. Here’s how to create your smokeless fire pit!

Getting Ready to Build Before you start any project, it’s important to have your materials and equipment together in one place. Here’s a list of what you need to build a fire pit: bricks, mortar, sand (or dirt), stone masonry hammer or claw hammer, mixing tubs or pails, shovels, and stakes. You’ll also need safety glasses, heavy-duty gloves, and aprons to wear when building. Finally, make sure your work area is well lit—this will ensure that if something drops or spills from above, it won’t get lost in darkness!

Building the Framework A quick trip to your local home improvement store will yield all you need to build your smokeless fire pit. While there are many options for building materials, keep in mind that there is no such thing as too safe with fire pits. Heavy-duty tempered glass may cost more, but it also lasts longer and can withstand heat better than other material options. Also, consider investing in sturdy metal brackets designed specifically for supporting heavy glass when used outside. If you’re choosing between regular and tinted glass, tinted tends to look nicer but offers less protection from UV rays; on an annual basis, it’s generally considered safer to use regular clear glass and be extra diligent about applying sunscreen while enjoying your smokeless fire pit.

Placing Layers of Cobblestone/Fire Glass You will want to start by placing cobblestone at layer one. Once that is done, you can place down your other layers of glass for lighting up your fire pit. For example, if you are making an 8-layer fire pit, then place down four layers of cobblestone with three layers of glass in between each level. It is okay to use less than eight layers if you prefer; make sure that whatever number of layers you decide on has a consistent amount of glass placed between each layer. Placing too little or too much could be problematic. Also, using Cobblestone Layers rather than solid blocks ensures that your entire fire pit can be accessed without having to break it into pieces once completed.

Final Touches After you’ve mastered building your fire pit, please take it to another level by designing and building your grill. You can even add to your existing fire pit if you’d like. Before you know it, you’ll have an outdoor cooking experience that doesn’t require propane or charcoal. There are no limits to what kind of culinary masterpieces you can cook up on an open flame with a heat-proof bowl and heat-resistant grill grate. Check out these helpful resources for ideas: 1. Check out some easy recipes on Go fire Pit. 2. Learn how to build a stone fireplace from A Way To Garden.

3. Get some tips for grilling vegetables with Martha Stewart Living.

And once you’re done creating your smokeless fireplace, use our social media tools to share photos with us! #SmokeLessFirePit The best way is to do something that we love doing because then we forget about time and just enjoy whatever we are doing at that moment in time.