Sometimes

[Marc St Louis]

I have second thoughts about cutting up a tree for firewood.  I took down a 12" Sugar Maple this morning and started cutting it up into stove lengths.  As I was looking at it I had second thoughts.  The first 6' was pipe straight with no branches.  It was a tough decision but I need firewood more than I need staves right now

[Pat B]

Priorities!  I try not to think about bow wood til all the firewood is cut, split, stacked and covered. Once that's done it's time for other stuff.   

[Philipp A]

Hi Marc,

I guess it is a question on how much bush you have and how rare it is for you to find such a nice straight piece of maple to make into staves . But I do understand if you choose warmth over staves 

[Pat B]

I've actually cut up seasoned bow staves for fire wood when we got low. I do try to pick questionable staves for this though. 

[vinemaplebows]

Well, if you change your mind there is always splicing..

[PEARL DRUMS]

Don't blame you a bit, Id burn it to . We are covered in sugar maple up here, I don't mess with it as far as bows are concerned. But, if you make the sap into syrup you have my undivided attention.

[DC]

Well, green firewood is about as useful as green staves so leave that one piece in a 6' length. Make up your mind when it's dry. If you're burning green wood, well that's a bad decision you made last summer

[Pappy]

I hear ya Marc, every time I cut a tree someone will ask, won't that make a bow, I usually say , yes most likely would but a man needs fire also. 
 Pappy

[PatM]

I only cut dead or ugly wood for burning.  The amount of heat I'd get from a six foot section of bow sized Maple doesn't hold a candle to a couple of bows that would last for decades.

 I'd rather cut all the branches up and burn them in place.

 Maple is too good a wood for bows.

[Hamish]

If you can, cull a sick/dying tree, or cut non bow worthy trees. I know timber is a renewable source but it is our responsibility to use our resources wisely. That is the key to forest management.

[Jim Davis]

Problem no longer exists for me. This house has no chimney--wish it did.

[jeffp51]

I find that the exercise I get with my draw knife keeps me as warm as a fire would.  just sayin. . . .

[PatM]

The saying is that firewood warms you three or four times  depending on who you ask.    Once when you cut it, once when you split it and again when you burn it.

[Badger]

  You could sell somebody like me about 6 pipe straight staves for about $60.00 each and then use that money to buy some firewood.

[Marc St Louis]

I find that the exercise I get with my draw knife keeps me as warm as a fire would.  just sayin. . . .

I'll try and run that one by my wife and say it was your idea