I've never burned hickory (smooth bark) before this winter. I've been pretty much exclusively burning it for about a month now. While it seems like GREAT firewood it sure seems to leave a LOT of ash. Seems like I have to remove ashes once a week, compared to much longer for oak. So is it me or does hickory leave a lot of ash?
I noticed that too burning smooth bark hickory. Quite a bit of fine ash. It seemed to be less of an issue burning pieces without bark though.
I’ve never burned Hickory. I’ll trade ya some Lodgepole Pine! Burns clean and hot. Leaves almost zero ash. I’ll do a 2 for 1 trade
Another reason I love oak. Like you've experienced, ash production is not excessive. Walnut is one of my worst producers in that area.
I burn a lot of hickory,tons of coals and ashes compared to say maple/ash. I love it, definitely needs 3 years to dry.
I think walnut leaves the most ash behind. Never really noticed with hickory, but haven't burned much either.
Another reason oak and locust are my faves. I can go almost two full weeks of burning 24/7 before either have to take any ash out of my stoves when I'm burning these two woods exclusively. I have lots of hickory too, and I love burning it, but it does tend to leave more ash and clink than other woods....
I prefer wood that makes a lot of ash. Holds coals for re lights a lot longer. Elm is great for that. Maple may be even better because it lights easier. I burn oak but it’s not high on my list of preferred wood. As far as I’m concerned I may as well burn pine if I can’t dig some kind of useful coal out 20 hours later.
If you can go a week without cleaning out ashes I wouldn’t consider that much ash. Ash, walnut and sycamore makes the most for me.
This is my first season burning primarily locust and im noticing alot less ash than what I mainly burned last 4 seasons which was all ash and cherry
Sometimes seems like at least 3 years to dry. It’s amazing to pick up a hickory split after a year of drying and feel like it weighs the same!
I’ve said it before and will say it again: I’d rather burn the Sunday paper than basswood Sunday paper would prolly throw more heat