Been doing some reading on ash seasoning time. Ironically I've not burned a lot of ash. Mostly oak hickory maple. Anyways I've come into a lot of ash here lately. I'm quite surprised at some of the stuff im reading. Some cut split and burn, and I see that a lot around here and I won't be doing that. Some css for 4 months and burn. Read one that stated you can get ash to dry and have to mix green with it. My personal plan is to stock pile all the ash I can and let it sit for two seasons if possible or longer I burnt some ten year old ash this season that hadn't seen a drop of water since the day it was cut and I can promise you can't get it to dry.
There's no such thing as too dry unless you're using a kiln. Ash actually will burn pretty good green right off the stump, but you'll get more heat and less smoke if its dry. It's the type of stuff that can dry over a summer if it's split small. It's a mid-range wood - better than soft maple, but not as good as oak. I think it's one of the best bang-for-your-buck woods around. Easy to split, dries fast, great heat, what's not to love?
Ash is a great wood that dries quickly. Cut it and split it now, it will easily be ready by fall. I don't know why do many think it's really less btu than either oak? In reality its practically on par btu wise with the white and red oak ( 23.6 million BTUs per cord, versus 24 million btu per cord of oak), but it dries in a fraction of the time of oak. For me, the quicker drying time makes ash better than oak, and it splits by maul better than oak too.
I cut some ash trees down last winter , split and stacked them in early spring. They lit right up and burned great, with very little smoke.
Ash has got to be one of the best species available for firewood. Cuts easy, splits easy, dries fast, burns well, good coals, etc. I'd be happy to have a wood shed full of dry ash and nothing else. Only problem is, it's boring. White wood, straight grain, little to no odor. I don't know what it is about it, that I'd just as soon find something else to burn. It's the Wonder Bread of firewood. I like to have a wide variety of species in the woodshed I guess.
Now there is one for the books. Have to mix some green wood with it so it will burn. Right.... It simply amazes me all the baloney you hear and read about ash. I predict the baloney will cook just about as long as that thing about pine causing creosote and causing chimney fires, etc. Good for you for getting that ash. Get all you can as it is super firewood. As for getting a bad rap because it is not as good as oak, I've burned lots of both and will say that ash is very close to oak. If we have a winter with no oak for those long January cold nights, we still have no problem burning 100% white ash. It might make about a hour or so difference in the length of the fire and as for heat, both oak and ash will take out stove temperature right up to the top with ease. Oh boy! Here's another good one. It is boring! Jon, did you just think that one up? Stick with the Wonder Bread but there is no problem if you want to add a little spice to things.
I've been burning freshly cut ash all winter. Not by choice, mind you. I recently moved into a house with a woodstove. Couldn't justify buying wood when I've got some dead ash out there. Of course it would be better when seasoned. But in a pinch, you can cut dead ash and burn it immediately. It is hard to light, but once you get it going, it burns hot! My favorite wood, by far.
Frank, I've posted several times about the time we ended up burning fresh cut white ash. Yes, we got through the winter. No, we did not freeze. No, we were not comfortable. No, we never want to do it again. But, if forced, one can get by. However, it is best that mother is not around to hear some of the language that may be used at these times.
I am looking forward to next winter, when I can burn some ash that has had a year to season. Eventually, I will have enough wood stockpiled to be on the three year plan, but that's at least three years away! I am just getting started in this woodcutting thing, but I am all in! I cut every weekend and am pretty much obsessed with it. Cutting wood is my new addiction. Five more days till my next fix, and I can hardly wait.
My for sale pile (the last pile I ever intend to sell) is all ash. It will have over a year piled like this, so think it will do well for the guy. I have one customer who buys six cords per year. But with my boys moving to college and my gear all paid for, I don't plan on selling any more. But this load is the cleanest pile i've made for him, so he is getting the best load last. have ever made for
I have burned plenty of ash that Was just cut and split but mind you they were all dead standing, but the bottom part of the trees was still too wet to burn
It hurts me knowing your selling that lol I don't sell wood but have thought of it though. I have about that much now but stacked Would love to see your not for selk pile lol
Here's fresh cut ash, cut up yesterday and on fire cleaning up today. It's nearly as green and unseasoned as possible.
The not for sale pile is getting s/s in mid April, pictured below. Not positive but think it will fill my lean to, 13.8 cords. Pretty good pile on back side of this from where picture was taken. We will soon see. Goal is to fill lean to and then spend the next nine months rebuilding the pile. The guy getting the ash has been an ideal customer, six cords per year, bring it whenever i wanted to, and paid off my gear. So glad he's getting a great load to close out our relationship.
The stuff I split today there would be no way I would even attempt to burn it right now I could see the water coming out when the spitter made contact. Which also leads to another myth I bought a moisture meter today and it was showing 14% for the middle fresh split today from a live tree. Either I have a turd of a meter which im thinking they all are or it shed water damm fast. Just glad I didn't spend a bunch on it because I don't trust it
