How to Use Beech Trees for Firewood Logs

Locate an existing grove of beech trees and cut down a tree, or trees, at the base using a chainsaw. You can also use beech trees that have already fallen to the ground, unless they have begun to rot.

Remove all of the branches and foliage from the trunk of the beech trees with the chainsaw. Discard any branches of beech trees that are smaller than 3 inches in diameter, as these do not make good firewood. Once all of the foliage is removed, chop the remaining bare trunk and branches of the beech trees into 2-foot long sections.

Place each 2-foot round section of trunk onto a stable surface, such as a tree stump and chop it into fourths using an ax to create firewood logs.

Stack the chopped beech wood firewood logs in piles that are supported by cinder blocks so that the wood does not touch the ground. Make stack of firewood logs no more than 4 feet high and 4 feet wide to provide for proper air flow. Cover the top of the beech wood firewood logs with a loose fitting tarp to prevent rain water and snow from penetrating the wood.

Allow the chopped firewood logs from the beech trees to remain in the storage location for between six months and one year. This is called seasoning the fire wood and allows most of the moisture to evaporate from firewood logs, which increases the burning efficiency of the wood.

Place no more than two pieces of beech firewood logs into the fireplace at one time. Insert kindling into the fireplace and light the kindling to start the fire. Once the fire begins burning at full blaze, add one of the firewood logs every hour to sustain the fire.