Can I use any type of wood, including waste paper, to burn?

We recommend that you always use dry, untreated wood for firing. This way, the stove stays clean, you have less smoke generation and you can enjoy more efficient combustion.

When lighting the fire, you can choose the top-down method or the Swiss heating method. The Swiss way, in particular, ensures less smoke and a faster fire: large blocks at the bottom, smaller pieces and lighting material on top.

What to use

• Firing phase (fast fire): softer woods or kindling (e.g. fire/pine, pine), neatly split into small pieces.
• Sustainable heat (stable heating): hardwood such as beech, oak, ash, birch. This burns longer and more evenly.
• Moisture content: choose wood with ≤ 20% moisture (oven-dried or dried in a well-ventilated state for at least 1—2 years). Wood that is too wet smokes, gives little heat and pollutes the stove.

What not to use (and why)

• Newspapers/waste paper/cardboard: cause a lot of smoke and fly ash; bad for draught and the environment.
• Impregnated, painted, glued wood (MDF, OSB, chipboard, pallets with treatments): emits toxic fumes and accelerates tar formation.
• Garden/demolition and wet wood: usually too humid → soot, tar (creosote) and the risk of chimney problems.

💡 Tip: Are you unsure about waste or scrap wood? Do not burn. Take it to the recycling center. Always check the local rules concerning (waste) incineration.

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