Please Identify this Wood.. ASH???

Murphy2000 · Jan 17, 2011

Hi folks,
I've been trying to identify some wood and am having issues. Google's been helping but I'm so new at this I thought I'd ask here instead to get some real time answers.

I've spent the last three weeks chopping up apple tree's for firewood. The owner of an apple orchard down the road bulldozed the whole thing over and is letting me harvest as much wood as I can cut.

At the tail end are a bunch of non-fruit trees laying on the ground. They all look identical to me and I chopped one up and brought it home but I can't tell what kind of wood it is.

Picture below of a piece about 6 or 7 inches diameter.
Any ideas? Google images make me think its a green ash but I'm not sure.

3fordasho · Jan 17, 2011

Looks like box elder to me.

Naandme · Jan 17, 2011

Maybe box elder but looks a little like hackberry hard to tell from pictures

Thistle · Jan 17, 2011

Forget what kind of tree that is (looks like younger Green Ash to me,there's lots of them on the grassy strip next to curb all over my part of town that the city planted a few yrs back).I just hope you're putting all that Apple wood to good use.... ;-P

Thistle · Jan 17, 2011

Thistle said:
Forget what kind of tree that is (looks like younger Green Ash to me,there's lots of them on the grassy strip next to curb all over my part of town that the city planted a few yrs back).Though the heartwood does resemble Boxelder a great deal....I just hope you're putting all that Apple wood to good use.... ;-P

Murphy2000 · Jan 17, 2011

I'm going to settle on Box Elder because the google images I'm finding are now leading me to that conclusion after your replies.

Doesn't seem like its worth the effort to cut and split it all up in light of the 10 or 15 cords of apple I just got.

Any different opinions?

Murphy2000 · Jan 17, 2011

Thistle said:
Forget what kind of tree that is (looks like younger Green Ash to me,there's lots of them on the grassy strip next to curb all over my part of town that the city planted a few yrs back).I just hope you're putting all that Apple wood to good use.... ;-P

The apple trees were bulldozed over last summer but they were left whole, albeit a bit broken up from all the dozing action, so nothing dried out much.

I got most of it cut into 16 inch lengths and thrown into piles but am going to have to wait until the temps climb above 30 before I start splitting it.

I seriously doubt that wood is going to dry out before its burning season again. I figure I'll have to wait at least 2 years and that's fine with me.

EatenByLimestone · Jan 17, 2011

If you take a look at the twig of a green ash, and look where the leaves attached to it you will see a definite D shape with a bud just above the D. If X is the bud, it will look like XD. If It's a white ash, it will look like X inside a smiley face. Sort of like X). The twigs of a box elder will have a waxy coating on them. Both trees have opposite buds so you can't use that as an indicator. I never memorized what the BE buds looked like because the waxy coating always gave them away.

Matt

JustWood · Jan 17, 2011

Eye dunno but it ain't ash!

Wood Duck · Jan 17, 2011

I'd say maple of some kind. Maybe Box Elder (really a maple), maybe Norway Maple.

3fordasho · Jan 17, 2011

Split a round and if there is red streaks towards the center it is very likely box elder. I think I see red in the pic the OP has shown us. It's junk wood compared to apple, that said I use it for shoulder season wood. Seasons fast, goes punky fast if not split and stacked, 18Kmbtu rating makes it better than the likes of cottonwood and willow.

Superlite · Jan 17, 2011

I'd say Maple also. The Norway Maple that I have cut has that reddish heart wood. I have split some large rounds and the heart wood will split out into a "new" round, leaving a shell of outer wood.
Where in the country are you? That could make a difference.

Murphy2000 · Jan 17, 2011

It is definitely a box elder tree. It has red stuff inside the core.

I'm an hour or two north of detroit.

Thanks for all the help everyone!!

Thistle · Jan 18, 2011

Murphy2000 said:
I'm going to settle on Box Elder because the google images I'm finding are now leading me to that conclusion after your replies.

Doesn't seem like its worth the effort to cut and split it all up in light of the 10 or 15 cords of apple I just got.

Any different opinions?

Holy Crap. If I had 10 cords of Apple I'd be a happy camper.Any BBQ joints around near you? They'll pay good $$$ for any fruitwoods or Hickory,even in areas where the wood is plentiful. :coolsmile:

mainstation · Jan 18, 2011

That's Basswood

bboulier · Jan 18, 2011

Murphy2000 said:
I'm going to settle on Box Elder because the google images I'm finding are now leading me to that conclusion after your replies.

Doesn't seem like its worth the effort to cut and split it all up in light of the 10 or 15 cords of apple I just got.

Any different opinions?

I agree with Thistle. See if you can find BBQ joints to purchase the apple wood. Should be a good market. If not, be sure you save some for grilling and smoking. Wonderful wood for cooking.

Thistle · Jan 18, 2011

bboulier said:
Murphy2000 said:

I'm going to settle on Box Elder because the google images I'm finding are now leading me to that conclusion after your replies.

Doesn't seem like its worth the effort to cut and split it all up in light of the 10 or 15 cords of apple I just got.

Any different opinions?

Click to expand...

I agree with Thistle. See if you can find BBQ joints to purchase the apple wood. Should be a good market. If not, be sure you save some for grilling and smoking. Wonderful wood for cooking.

Yup. Even if you dont sell any or just part of it,any leftover will save you a pile of $$$ from having to buy it at retail in the future.I dont get the chance too often,but whenever I can cut any Apple,I save all the 1" to 3" diameter branches or limbs,cut them 2" to 4" long with bandsaw & stockpile them in a couple sturdy cardboard boxes along 1 unused wall of the shop.For smoker & BBQ grill at a later date.Even at a quantity discount,the going rate for dry Apple in bags or boxes runs from $1.50 to over$2 a pound,even at your local store.Ordering by mail/internet can raise the price even more.

Murphy2000 · Jan 18, 2011

Thistle said:
bboulier said:

Murphy2000 said:

I'm going to settle on Box Elder because the google images I'm finding are now leading me to that conclusion after your replies.

Doesn't seem like its worth the effort to cut and split it all up in light of the 10 or 15 cords of apple I just got.

Any different opinions?

Click to expand...

I agree with Thistle. See if you can find BBQ joints to purchase the apple wood. Should be a good market. If not, be sure you save some for grilling and smoking. Wonderful wood for cooking.

Click to expand...

Yup. Even if you dont sell any or just part of it,any leftover will save you a pile of $$$ from having to buy it at retail in the future.I dont get the chance too often,but whenever I can cut any Apple,I save all the 1" to 3" diameter branches or limbs,cut them 2" to 4" long with bandsaw & stockpile them in a couple sturdy cardboard boxes along 1 unused wall of the shop.For smoker & BBQ grill at a later date.Even at a quantity discount,the going rate for dry Apple in bags or boxes runs from $1.50 to over$2 a pound,even at your local store.Ordering by mail/internet can raise the price even more.

Are you kidding? All I did was cut up and take the stuff that was 3 to 4 inches and larger. I left all the little branches out there. There is enough little stuff to fill my truck 20 times!
If I find time this week. I'll have to look into this to see if its worth my effort to go pick up the droppings.

Thanks!!

scottandlorig · Jan 18, 2011

3fordasho said:
Looks like box elder to me.

Agree

Please Identify this Wood.. ASH???

Member

Attachments

Minister of Fire

New Member

Minister of Fire

Minister of Fire

Member

Member

Moderator

Minister of Fire

Minister of Fire

Minister of Fire

New Member

Member

Minister of Fire

Feeling the Heat

Minister of Fire

Minister of Fire

Member

New Member

Similar threads