In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Hickory ashes?

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by Softwood, Feb 7, 2022.

  1. Softwood

    Softwood

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2020
    Messages:
    1,082
    Likes Received:
    6,542
    Location:
    Central WI
    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?
     
  2. Eric Wanderweg

    Eric Wanderweg

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2020
    Messages:
    7,437
    Likes Received:
    57,664
    Location:
    Bristol, Connecticut
    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.
     
  3. Cash Larue

    Cash Larue

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    2,495
    Likes Received:
    20,612
    Location:
    Pine, CO
    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;)
     
  4. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2013
    Messages:
    16,153
    Likes Received:
    96,770
    Location:
    Hollidaysburg Pa
    If you think thats bad. Try burning cherry!
     
  5. Redneckchevy

    Redneckchevy

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2020
    Messages:
    1,284
    Likes Received:
    10,236
    Location:
    Ladysmith, Wi
    Or Basswood, that makes a ton of ash's!
     
  6. Softwood

    Softwood

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2020
    Messages:
    1,082
    Likes Received:
    6,542
    Location:
    Central WI
    Where's half way, I'll meet ya.:D
     
  7. The Wood Wolverine

    The Wood Wolverine

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    Messages:
    17,345
    Likes Received:
    108,902
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Another reason I love oak. Like you've experienced, ash production is not excessive. Walnut is one of my worst producers in that area.
     
  8. Woodsnwoods

    Woodsnwoods

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2015
    Messages:
    3,067
    Likes Received:
    20,078
    Location:
    Syracuse, NY
    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.
     
    Haftacut, Slocum, Softwood and 8 others like this.
  9. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    45,716
    Likes Received:
    286,500
    Location:
    Central MI
    Oak does not produce as much ash. But, there are several types of wood that do give lots of ashes.
     
  10. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,610
    Likes Received:
    61,391
    Location:
    IN
    I think walnut leaves the most ash behind. Never really noticed with hickory, but haven't burned much either.
     
  11. Mag Craft

    Mag Craft

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2014
    Messages:
    4,802
    Likes Received:
    27,727
    Location:
    South East Wyoming
    Cottonwood. Lots of ash.
     
  12. Scotty Overkill

    Scotty Overkill Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2013
    Messages:
    9,498
    Likes Received:
    63,143
    Location:
    Central PA
    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....
     
  13. bert the turtle

    bert the turtle

    Joined:
    May 30, 2014
    Messages:
    790
    Likes Received:
    4,224
    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.
     
    Cash Larue and Mag Craft like this.
  14. Dolphus Raymond

    Dolphus Raymond

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2016
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    870
    Location:
    Deep South
    I try to avoid sweetgum as it too leaves a lot of ash.
     
  15. Slocum

    Slocum

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2018
    Messages:
    1,363
    Likes Received:
    10,488
    Location:
    North Central Indiana
    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.
     
  16. Rickyblazin

    Rickyblazin

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2021
    Messages:
    671
    Likes Received:
    4,341
    Location:
    Pottstown PA
    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
     
  17. Haftacut

    Haftacut

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2020
    Messages:
    2,826
    Likes Received:
    16,171
    Location:
    Rives Junction, MI
    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!
     
    Slocum, MikeInMa, Woodsnwoods and 2 others like this.
  18. ole

    ole

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2015
    Messages:
    1,727
    Likes Received:
    14,390
    Location:
    Rock County Wisconsin
    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
     
    Scotty Overkill and MikeInMa like this.