I know..I know...I know that a alot of you love your ash. But I'm pretty much done burning my shoulder season wood. I'm into my 3 to 4 year old cube. In which most of the first portion of almost 2 cords is Ash. Never really have burnt much of it before. So here is what I'm experiencing from my first 1/4 to a 1/3 cord of Ash: * approximately only 50-60% burn time as Oak and Locust? * Burns down to ashes, not much coaling up * Starts up pretty darn fast and hot The positives that I've found in my situation is: * Maybe a very good shoulder season wood for me * Excellent paired with my Hedge, since it will start off the hedge that otherwise has issues getting started * Starts very easily Is this normal? I just had higher expectations for it, was really hoping for a bit more burn time. For example I can normally do fine with oak and locust from 10-14 hours and I'm seeing 5-6 good hours from Ash... Now I'm still getting heat from the stove, just not a whole lot more.
That doesn't sound like what I see with ash, you're saying oak and locust gives almost double the burn time. My experience is 10 to 12 (occasionally 14) with oak and locust and 8-10 with ash. Same size splits ?
I'd say you're close. Burning all ash in my Buck 80 I can get eight to ten hours on a low to medium low burn. I think burn times my vary depending on how dry the ash is and how hot you run your stove. You're right on about mixing it with harder to start woods like locust and hedge and even oak it's a great "mixer - starter" wood. Them best part it usually dries to a burnable moisture content within a year unless you make really large splits.
Actually yes, this is my first round of stuff that was cut with the NC30 in mind. Thats why I've been scratching my head, on this stuff. I've read sooo much great stuff about it, just thought it last a bit longer and be a bit stronger in the long run. Dont get me wrong, I like the stuff, just not what I've geared myself up for...Still better than some of the stuff that I've gotten...
Now youre getting me worried, ive ot a stockpile of white ash to back up the mulberry. Havent burnt a single piece of the ash yet because it is in the next row back, but i was counting on it giving a longer burn than my lesser stuff.
That's odd, I know there are different species of ash. The burn times I stated were in my cat stove but even in my old stove I did better than 5 - 6 hours with ash. Is all 2 cords from the same tree or area ?
I'll try to take a picture of it later on. But if I remember right it might be the other variety that isn't so common. Maybe that is where the problem lies? Valued point...
I'd be interested in your thoughts since your in Iowa... Speaking of Iowa... How far away from Cedar Rapids are you? I'll be in Cedar Rapids in January over the weekend for a basketball tournament....
For me in my stove I can't really tell the difference between ash and red oak. If I was told to pick one wood that I would always have it would be white ash. The BTU chart on chimney sweep has white ash at 21.6 and red oak at 22.1. No way should you being seeing burn times half of oak or locust.
I burned some white ash last year and thought it was great. Burns longer/hotter/more coals than the soft maple that I'm used to at least. Maybe you have some green ash? It looks a lot like white ash, it just not as dry. Just kidding. It's supposed to be closer to soft maple in hardness/btus. I'll be burning some green mixed with some white ash next. It'll be on the my menu for next year too - soft maple and ash for a few years until I can dry out the locust. Looks like locust forever after that though... Did a nice thorough walk of mine and the neighbor's woods today. There's a lot of locust.
I just burnt some ash and got about 12 hours on a low burn and it gives off some good heat. I had the stove crushing over 400 with no problem..
You'll be set with that locust. ... But until then.......You'll be burning some good wood. It may very well be green ash, I know its at least ash. I just started noticing this after burning a 100 percent. I just found it rather interesting.
....Oh its fun to cut and split, almost pleasurable in fact. I wont disagree with the nice burning wood fact, just not what I thought it was going to be. But I'll try to get the species of Ash today. What species do you get up that way?
Up this way we get white ash, specifically dead white ash. I just got a nice overnight burn in my 1975 defiant with all white ash so something must be different with yours. This works for me nearly every night.
No doubt shawn locust is awesome wood..can be a pain to get started..i have to leave the air open a little more to get it to burn right..
ash in my experience has been comparable to soft maple. very easy to split but i much prefer my oak, black birch, and BL.
