Ash or Norway Maple? Wood ID

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
Razo

Razo

Burning Hunk
Jan 8, 2014
215
NEPA
I was offered this tree that came down on a friends property. I'm taking it no matter what and think it is ash. Then I just saw another thread where someone has Norway maple and it looks very similar.

I can KICK myself for not paying better attention to whether or not it has opposing branches. I didn't pay close attention to dead leaves on the ground either. This tree knocked down a small black birch on its way down and I'm taking that too. A lot of the smaller branches you see in the pic are the birch branches so they are of no help.

It splits fairly easy and it was bright white...it is a slightly different color in the pictures because it rained last night. I snapped these pics over my lunch break. I have a pic of the other side of those two splits but it was completely washed out/over exposed when I checked the pic back at work. I can take better ones tonight if need be. I included a pic to try and show the grain best as possible. I'm starting to think more and more that this might be maple.

upload_2014-4-2_13-53-27.png

upload_2014-4-2_13-53-51.png

upload_2014-4-2_13-54-8.png

upload_2014-4-2_13-54-18.png

upload_2014-4-2_13-54-30.png

upload_2014-4-2_13-54-41.png
 
Looks like norway to me.
 
I can live with that, from what I'm reading it sounds like it has similar BTU's to Ash, slightly lower than sugar maple. safe to assume what I cut now will be ready for use 2 seasons from now?
 
Razo said:
safe to assume what I cut now will be ready for use 2 seasons from now?
Click to expand...
Yes, but you will have to split and stack it as well.... ==c
 
yes of course, split and stacked
 
Norway maple can be ready for next year if you do it soon and do it right....
 
  • Like
Reactions: BillLion
Get is split and stacked in a good spot should be ready next year, I have some I burned this year, very similar to ash as far as burning goes.
 
Thanks for the input guys! This makes me feel better about it not being ash.
 
I'd have to agree with Hickorynut - it's a white ash. Th brown butt staining (yes you read that right) is by no means unique to maple. If you look at pic #3, you can see in the lower left of the stain by the growth rings that the tree suffered some injury when it was a 2-3" diameter sapling, which resulted in a lifelong infection and ultimately led to the staining we see throughout. May have even contributed to its ultimate demise(?) Brown heart aside, the bark screams white ash to me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: OldLumberKid
I think it is Ash based on the bark of the smaller rounds in the second picture. It doesn't matter much because as firewood Ash and Norway Maple are similar.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JustWood
It is ash maybe green ash but ash.
 
Norway Maple for sure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kool_hand_Looke and jatoxico
Where is BWS? He Is an ash connoisseur.......
 
The mystery thickens! Maybe its a Norway Ash? Haha, I want to take a better pic of the grain side of a split and post it over my lunch break just for fun. I'm happy with it being either but I really like wood ID and hearing everyone opinions.
 
Shes a hot piece of Norway Ash. lol.
okay I just did a study. I have splits of white ash in the log hoop.
I have a Norway maple next to my driveway that someone backed into(bark has peeled).
And a Green Ash in the hedgerow between house and horsebarn.
My vote goes to green ash.
Too bad Maples and Ash both have opposite branching.
But...Norway maple leaves last forever...Im raking mine right now. Go see if you can find some.
 
Good idea about the leaves, the ground was loaded with birch leaves while I was up there and I didn't take notice to any other type. I'll have to look when I go back up next Tuesday to start bucking the rest of it.

So here is a fresh round of pics for fun. Tried to get some close up of the grain. Doesn't help much I guess because Norway and Ash are so similar but maybe something in one of the pics will strike someone.

upload_2014-4-3_13-11-18.png

upload_2014-4-3_13-11-30.png

upload_2014-4-3_13-11-41.png

upload_2014-4-3_13-11-54.png

upload_2014-4-3_13-12-2.png
 
And you mentioned Norway and Ash both have opposing branches? I didn't know that. I was going to look at the smaller limbs next week too to see if that would be definitive but now it sounds like even that won't help. Can't wait to look for leaves.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
Anyone know this wood?
Replies
8
Views
688
The Wood Shed
30WCF
30WCF
T
Wood ID: red, dense, very slow seasoning
Replies
19
Views
2K
The Wood Shed
Youp
Y
F
Wet ash?
Replies
1
Views
912
The Wood Shed
NickW
N
P
One less big White Pine
Replies
9
Views
2K
The Wood Shed
Simonkenton
Simonkenton
S
Wood ID Oak or Ash or something else?
Replies
6
Views
1K
The Wood Shed
DonTee
D
Top Bottom
Back