Blue Gum for the fireplace and the closed-combustion stove, Kameeldoring for the long, cold nights. Delivered to your door in Paarl and Wellington, Western Cape.
Blue Gum burns clean, with little ash. Kameeldoring burns long and hot.
Blue Gum is the everyday wood for an open fireplace and a closed-combustion stove alike. Kameeldoring is the one you load the stove with for a long, hot burn right through the night.
Bone dry, and it burns exceptionally hot and lasts very long. Load it in a closed-combustion stove before bed and it keeps the heat going through the night.
Both burn wood, but each in its own way. Here’s the difference, and which of our woods we’d put in each.
Open fireplace (kaggel)
How it burns
Open to the room, so it draws plenty of air and you get the full show of flames. A good share of the heat goes up the chimney.
Our pick
Blue Gum. It burns clean with minimal ash, so the hearth stays tidy.
Watch out for
Sparks. Use a spark guard, and never burn treated or painted wood.
Closed-combustion stove (toe kaggel)
How it burns
A firebox with a glass door and air controls. You decide how fast it burns, so more of the heat stays in the room and a fire lasts longer.
Our pick
Blue Gum for everyday fires, Kameeldoring for long, hot overnight burns.
Watch out for
Overfiring. Don’t overload the firebox, use the air controls and follow the manual.
Safety basics. Have the chimney swept and checked every year, fit smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and carry cold ash out in a metal bucket. Never burn treated or painted wood, pallets, plastic or rubbish, and don’t use pine as your main fuel. More in our guide to the best wood for closed-combustion stoves.
Wood talk for winter
Straight advice for the fireplace and the stove, from your local wood supplier.
We deliver in Paarl, Wellington, Val de Vie and Pearl Valley, and in Klapmuts and Franschhoek for an additional fee. Tell us your town on WhatsApp, we confirm the details with you and bring the wood to your door.
Which wood should I use in my fireplace or closed-combustion stove?
Blue Gum is our fireplace and stove wood. It burns hot and clean with very little ash. For long, hot overnight burns in a closed-combustion stove, Kameeldoring is great. It burns very hot, so load sensibly and follow your stove’s manual.
Can I burn only Kameeldoring in my closed-combustion stove?
Kameeldoring is excellent for overnight, high-heat burns, but it burns very hot. Don’t overload the firebox, use the air controls, and stick to your manufacturer’s guidelines. Many people mix it with Blue Gum for a steadier fire. More in the best wood for closed-combustion stoves.
Why does my stove glass go black?
Usually the air is turned down too far, too soon. The fire smoulders and the smoke sticks to the glass. Give it plenty of air at the start, then close it down gradually.
