When we started Cutting Edge Firewood, one of the primary goals was to provide the best firewood available. Not just the best in the neighborhood or the best in Georgia, we wanted to deliver the best firewood in the world.
Most people tend to think "firewood's just firewood," but when they experience their first Cutting Edge Fire, they immediately recognize the difference. Our firewood is easier to light, burns brighter and hotter, creates less smoke, and gives off an incredible aroma.
Saying all firewood is the same is kind of like saying all water is the same. But which would you rather drink? Something from a river that has dirt and sediments floating inside? Plus things you can't see? Or would you rather drink water that has gone through a filtration process that guarantees it is completely clean and safe?
In the same way, our firewood goes through a rigorous drying process that leaves it dry and completely free from mold, bugs, or pests. Our process ensures the wood will always provide a better fireside experience.
In this article, we'll explore some of the science behind our process and explain why it makes for such incredible firewood.
What is Kiln Dried Firewood?
The dryer the firewood, the better it will burn. It should surprise no one that water in your wood will work against your fire.
There are two common drying processes used today. The first and most common process is seasoning firewood. This wood has been cut and (hopefully) stacked so that it can air dry over the course of months or years. Freshly cut wood (aka green wood) has a moisture content of 50%, and seasoned firewood can drop down to 20-30%. This lower moisture content will help the firewood burn, but it's not enough to provide a great experience. The other problem with seasoned firewood is that, as it sits out drying, it begins to decay, invite bugs in, and start growing mold and fungus.
The kiln drying process, however, is a much quicker drying method. Wood is placed into an oven (or kiln) and dried over the course of hours. This process should also kill any bugs, mold, or fungus. Depending on how long your firewood spends in the kiln, it's moisture level can drop as low as 5-10%, which is going to provide a much better fireside experience.
Because kiln dried firewood is so much better, we never provide "seasoned firewood" at Cutting Edge, we only provide kiln dried wood.
Not All Kiln Dried Firewood is the Same
When it comes to kiln dried firewood, you need to understand that there is a wide range of quality factors. Although there are many firewood suppliers claiming to provide kiln dried firewood, it's important to understand the difference between our process and their processes.
For instance, if you purchase firewood from your local grocery store or hardware store, odds are you will see a large "kiln dried firewood" label on the bag. In fine print, you'll see that it was only kiln dried for 75 minutes at 160 degrees. This is the bare minimum for killing bugs, but will not really make the firewood much better.
Our drying process, however, is significantly more rigorous. All of our firewood spends 48 hours in the kiln at 250 degrees! This ensures that the wood is consistently dry and ready to burn. This article from the USDA shows that the more time firewood spends in the kiln, and the hotter the temperature, the dryer the wood will be.
If you've ever bought a bag from the store and had a bad experience, now you know why! Their kiln drying process is the bare minimum, and so you get stuck with the bare minimum result. We put our wood through the most rigorous drying process in the industry, and so we are able to produce the best firewood available.
Let's talk about density
Many people think that kiln dried firewood will burn more quickly because it is more dry.
It will certainly catch on fire and provide heat more quickly, but if your firewood is really dense then it will burn for a long time, even if the wood is kiln dried. The physics on this is simple: the more dense the wood, the more there is to burn.
How does Cutting Edge Firewood keep our firewood so dense?
When you cut logs of firewood, they immediately start to decay. The moisture in the wood attracts bugs and starts the natural process of decomposition. This is why a seasoned log that has been sitting outside for years can be broken almost as easily as paper.
Many places that sell kiln dried firewood will chop their wood and then let it sit outside for 6-12 months. This allows the wood to dry most of the way, and then they can finish the job with their kiln. Their main goal is to spend less money heating a kiln - by starting with wood that is already at 20-30% moisture they don't need to kiln dry for nearly as long. Unfortunately, the density of the wood will have taken a big hit while sitting out air drying for 6-12 months. This firewood will weigh less than it should and simply will not burn for as long.
Cutting Edge Firewood, on the other hand, places firewood into our kiln facilities within a week of being cut down. This means that all of our firewood is still extremely dense and heavy. We give you the best of both worlds - dry firewood that is easy to light, and dense firewood that can burn all night.
Since Cutting Edge Firewood is so dry and does not contain any bugs, mold, or fungus, it can resist the decomposing process for years on end when you store it somewhere dry like your garage or screened in porch.
Hand Selection
Our warehouse receives truck loads of firewood from our two kiln drying facilities. Although every piece spends 48 hours in the 250 degree kiln, we still hand select each piece of wood before stacking it into one of our firewood racks or firewood boxes.
This process allows us to ensure every piece of firewood is dry, cut to the right length, and will display beautifully on your rack before you decide to start a fire. We firmly believe in our commitment to providing the best customer service and the best firewood available, and we seek to demonstrate it at every step of the way.
Cutting Edge Firewood - Perfect for any occasion
Because we make the best firewood available, it's the perfect fuel source for any fire. It doesn't matter if you're starting a fire inside or outside, if you want to relax over the fire or cook over it. All of our firewood goes through the exact same rigorous process and will be dry, dense, clean, and bug free.
If you decide to try cooking with Cutting Edge, you will not be disappointed. Our cooking wood provides a superior aroma and flavor to any meal. We offer wood chunks for smoking, splits (8"), and cooking wood logs (16"). In each of those shapes, we offer a variety of species including apple, cherry, pecan, hickory, oak, and maple.
Our wood is never treated with chemicals to help it dry or to kill bugs - everything is all natural. You can feel safe when you choose to use our products, and you'll never need to deal with the musty flavor that comes form wet wood or the chemically flavor from lighter fluid.
Where to Find Cutting Edge Firewood
If you're looking for the best place to get Cutting Edge Firewood, the you've found it! You can purchase all of our products through our online store and we will deliver the firewood to you! You can also contact us if you'd like to order over the phone or need assistance. Checkout some of our most popular products below!
