Ash worth it?

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Bad Wolf

Bad Wolf

Minister of Fire
Jun 13, 2008
523
Eastern CT
A friend called me with a big maple branch that came down in last weeks storm. Turns out its more of a tree, 20" across at the base. Nice score. While we were cutting it up a neighbour comes over and says he has several ash that came down would I be interested. Its kindof on my way home so its no big deal, I just drive the truck with trailer to work that day. If I remember ash is not real high up the scale of BTU rich wood. I've already got 8 cords put up for this year, I'm working on next years pile. With the maple I've probably already got 5 of the 8 cords I'll need. Between my friend and his neighbour there are probably four 10" to 12" ash available.

Worth the effort?

Thanks
 
What kind of ash? White ash is primo firewood in my book, but, unfortunately, they're all dead here. Doesn't matter which ash it is, I'd still get it.
 
Ash is premium firewood, I don't know where you heard otherwise. It is above all of the maples except for sugar maple, way above red maple. It has superior burn characteristics: ignites well, burns clean, and makes a real nice coal bed. IMO you should get every bit you can.
 
Around here, people would rather buy/burn silver maple than ash. It must be pretty amusing to the firewood guys. Go get the ash.
 
Ash is wonderful. It's about 80% of my supply this year. I'm burning pine now that it's shoulder season up in VT. I do toss some ash in if I want some coals in the morning. Burns wonderfully. I love the stuff.
 
Some people around here seem to think ash isn't worth as much as other hardwoods, because they are mostly all dead from the ash borer. For some reason the fact that they are all dead makes them easier to cut? Not burn as well? Don't know, makes me chuckle.
 
If someone gave you a free tank of gas that was the same gas you always run except that it only get 2/3 of the miles per gallon would you turn it down?

Pine, Poplar, Ash, Cedar, it all burns, some just not as long as others ;)
 
KB007 said:
If someone gave you a free tank of gas that was the same gas you always run except that it only get 2/3 of the miles per gallon would you turn it down?
Click to expand...

I haven't looked at a chart lately, but I don't remember any with half again more BTUs than ash. At least not any that get dropped in my lap regularly.
 
Battenkiller said:
Ash is premium firewood, I don't know where you heard otherwise. It is above all of the maples except for sugar maple, way above red maple. It has superior burn characteristics: ignites well, burns clean, and makes a real nice coal bed. IMO you should get every bit you can.
Click to expand...
+ 1 - about 4.5 cord of my 5 cord for this year is ash. Bucked and split in January, it is reading about 20% moisture and it burning VERY well. Not only does ash burn well and provides a lot of heat, it is also a great wood to haul (a little lighter than oak, sugar maple, etc.), great to split, and fast to season. Get ALL of it! Cheers!
 
Greg H said:
A friend called me with a big maple branch that came down in last weeks storm. Turns out its more of a tree, 20" across at the base. Nice score. While we were cutting it up a neighbour comes over and says he has several ash that came down would I be interested. Its kindof on my way home so its no big deal, I just drive the truck with trailer to work that day. If I remember ash is not real high up the scale of BTU rich wood. I've already got 8 cords put up for this year, I'm working on next years pile. With the maple I've probably already got 5 of the 8 cords I'll need. Between my friend and his neighbour there are probably four 10" to 12" ash available.

Worth the effort?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Leave the ash to fellow hearth members in need. You have enough.
 
Is ash worth it . . . most definitely yes . . . fantastic wood . . . one of my favorites . . . easy to split (just stare at it and it usually splits cleanly and easily), seasons quickly, good coaling and great BTUs compared to many other species of trees . . . oh yeah . . . get as much of this as you can.
 
Is ash worth it? Does a bear.... Is the Pope Catholic?


If ash is not worth it, I'm in deep trouble. Ash is our primary stove wood.
 
Backwoods Savage said:
Is ash worth it? Does a bear.... Is the Pope Catholic?


If ash is not worth it, I'm in deep trouble. Ash is our primary stove wood.
Click to expand...

Oh, oh . . . I'm good at this game . . .

Does Backwoods insist on splitting all his wood vertically while in a sitting position? Does Backwoods love his Woodstock? . . . ;) :)
 
OK OK I'll get the wood. I always like free wood, its just that I wasn't going to be hurting and I have a ton of other things to do as well.
As long as this guy is OK with me just stopping by after work intermitantly I'll go for it.

Thanks
 
bearshtwoods.jpg
 
I would take the ash over the maple. My saw is sitting on some rounds in my avatar... Like everyone said grab what you can get whenever you can get it. I never pass up wood.
 
You bet your Ash you should go get it!
 
Ash is crap wood, dont bother, where is it at so I can avoid it. :cheese:
 
Ash is great wood. It's 95% of my supply for this year and next due to the EAB. IF Its been dead a while be sure to have a couple sharp chains as it gets harder to cut the dryer it is.
 
What I would like to know is how can I easily tell the different ash trees apart?

I am pretty sure that most of the ash in our area is green ash which is still pretty good wood on the charts and in our stove.

We have three cords c/s/s for this year and a huge pile for next year that I have yet to split and stack. If I can get at it in time I am hoping to cut more standing dead ash throughout the fall and possibly through the winter to get ahead.
 
Splits easy,Dries fast,burns great its a no brainer jump on that offer.......
 
SolarAndWood said:
Around here, people would rather buy/burn silver maple than ash. It must be pretty amusing to the firewood guys. Go get the ash.
Click to expand...

Crazy people , probably started as a firewood guys way to sell the big pile of silver maple he had sitting around.
 
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