The main type of wood used to fire the two chamber kiln was Macrocarpa (Cupressus macrocarpa) which is native to North America and is widely used in the Mittagong area as a decorative tree. This is an excellent fuel for wood kilns but is very cross grained and a splitter is need to render it down to stoking size. The splitter could struggle a little with these blocks. High explosives might be required for the job. Paul realised that the local tree removal men must have a problem disposing of the remains of Macrocarpas being cut down to make room for more houses in the area, and he encouraged them to dump the removed trees at Sturt. Unfortunately he was away when these were delivered. The tree men did not feel inclined to return and remove them once again.

Sawn pine is on hand for side stoking because the gnarled bits of Macrocarpa that the splitter provides are not very convenient for this purpose. The saggars are sometimes used in the first chamber of the double chamber kiln.