I have been wandering in nearby city forest 5 min walking distance to our house. It is filled with fallen dead trees, mostly oak. While looking for above the ground ( hanging) fallen oak tree, I saw a standing dead tree. I initially thought it is an oak tree but after cutting a few pieces I realized it is not oak. Cut pieces have distinctive smell. I can’t say it is bad. I kinda liked it. I am brand new to wood burning using a wood stove. Recently installed BK Ashford 25 insert and have been using it since last week and love it so far. Last year, we have used fireplace a few times . Other than that not much experience here. I only can tell if a firewood is oak or pine I can tell this tree seems hardwood though not so sure. It doesn’t smell like pine or cedar. And the pieces I cut and split already below %20 MC which is good because I do not have much space in our backyard to store green wood.I can only store what I can burn at the current year. I am posting the pictures of the cut and split piece. There is another, bigger standing dead tree next to the tree I cut. If I get a feedback that it is a tree with a good BTU , I can cut that tree too provided that it is also below %20. Thanks all in advance.
Looks like some kind of ash. If the branching is opposite it's most likely ash. What I know as 'swamp ash' is Carolina Ash and it doesn't grow in your area. That being said I guess any ash that grows in or near a swamp is swamp ash. Leaves, branching, bark and buds are the best identifiers. Looks like you've only got branching and a bit of bark to identify the tree.
That's Ash. Tree just grew funny. Snap it up ash makes great firewood. Unless you have a postage stamp lot, there should be enough room for you to make small shelter (roof only) that should hold around 2 cords. Need more space efficiency?? Build a holzhausen. Small footprint, tall, and zero cost.
I've cut plenty-o-ash and I can say I've never got excited about its smell. Not that it's bad or anything.
I went to the site to take picture of the other tree next to the one I cut pieces but it was so dark and felt like early Halloween so I turned back before going deeper into the woods I’ll take more pics tomorrow. If it is ash, should split the small rounds? Or leave them as they are.
You can use your moisture meter to take a reading right After you have made a fresh cut on the end of A piece That will tell you if you need to split it or not
15 seems a 15 seems absurdly low for wood that was not split. The again ash starts out low...But 15 doesn't smell right
They say temperature plays a role in measuring moisture. Maybe take a split indoors and let it warm up awhile and try again. Personally I’ve never tried such an experiment. Let us know if it changes your readings.
Theoretically yes, longer slower burn. Tried and true wisdom in a non epa stove. Since I and my family moved up to hybrid stoves I’m getting the orders for smaller splits. I already was splitting them smaller to aid drying times but the womenfolk are asking for smaller yet. Stark contrast to years of past where “all nighters” were on the menu. In a cat stove the smaller splits will come up to temp faster allowing you to kick in the cat quicker. They won’t last as long but they seem to burn better with less chance of stalling the cat. And they last much longer than they would have in a non cat stove. My experience anyways. Anyone else like em smaller than years ago?
To clarify testing moisture on the end ,You won't be able to just slice off an inch And then test it ,That won't l give you an accurate Reading of the inside of the wood . If you test it a couple of hours after you have cut it or split it It will not be accurate either
Not really the norm but I have Split old 20 inch oak rounds that were 18% Looks like the stuff he's got there has been up off the ground too
