Hello all! I have access to about 2 acres of dead standing ash. It's been dead for at least 2 years. Anyone have any ideas on approximate MC? I don't have a moisture meter yet so I can't really get an exact number. I would like to burn it this year if possible but will wait if it's above 25%.
Guesses on MC of standing dead ash
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Pennsyltucky Chris
Minister of Fire
It's 28-30% in the trunk, maybe a bit better in the upper branches. You can do what I did; Stack half a cord in the house with fans blowing on it. Went from 25 to 20 in a couple weeks, but it was split small.
Just cut this yesterday, those big rounds toward the trunk were at 26%. Pieces about 20 feet up, about 14" diameter were 23%. Haven't checked any from the tops. This tree is about 50 yards from the river and was under 10 feet of water this spring.
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This year I was not prepared at all, but thankfully our ash trees have been dead 6-8 years abd seem to burn pretty good.
This year I was not prepared at all, but thankfully our ash trees have been dead 6-8 years abd seem to burn pretty good.
kennyp2339
Minister of Fire
We have a saying here in NJ, if you don't have the seasoning time go with ash, because it makes ash. Ash dries out fairly quick, then silver maple. Smaller splits also work better.
Cool thanks for all your opinions. Sounds like I can burn most of it right away or in a month or so at the latest. I'll post readings and pics once I get started cutting.
Soundchasm
Minister of Fire
I worked an ash this fall that was bucked for a year. Don't remember the numbers but it wasn't dry. But single stacked in a decent location it's burning fine now.
I would burn that any day in my old stoves! Since getting a epa stove I prefer my ash much dryer than what I used to think was dry. Just my two cents.
What kind of stove? Particularly if you have a modern stove, it may be hard to get much heat out of that wood until next winter, and I wouldn't split it real big if it was for next winter. I think you'll find it's still fairly wet, seeing as it died only 2 yrs. ago.
Since you have 2 acres of dead ash and need wood now, start burning the tops which will be much dryer.
If you build yourself a saw buck it will be a lot easier to handle this small stuff and enable you to burn the whole tree .Every time I fill the saw buck and make my cuts I end up with about 1/4 face cord.
Of course you will want to process the bigger stuff for the future.
It's a lot of work but worth it, I processed over 100 face cord this way my first year burning and am still burning some of that wood 6 years later.
If you build yourself a saw buck it will be a lot easier to handle this small stuff and enable you to burn the whole tree .Every time I fill the saw buck and make my cuts I end up with about 1/4 face cord.
Of course you will want to process the bigger stuff for the future.
It's a lot of work but worth it, I processed over 100 face cord this way my first year burning and am still burning some of that wood 6 years later.
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j7art2
Minister of Fire
Jeff S, can we get a pic of your saw buck? I'm looking at making one. I posted a thread in the gear called 'my bucking back...' because I've been bucking branches on the ground and killing my bucking back all day. Argh.
I'm looking at ideas and designs. Sorry if I derailed the thread. I'm also looking at grabbing some ash outta the woods.
I'm looking at ideas and designs. Sorry if I derailed the thread. I'm also looking at grabbing some ash outta the woods.
Paulywalnut
Minister of Fire
It's a portage and main ml25. It's a conventional owb. Not too bad on wood either. I go through about a cord per month. Maybe a bit more when that arctic blast came through in November. I asked the owner of the wood lot and e said it's been closer to 6 years dead. I'm gonna be cutting it real close on wood this season and I don't want to dip into next years yet as it is a lot of oak that was fresh cut in June or July. I think the dead ash is better than the oak alternative.
I am burning ash I cut this summer - actually some I've cut as recently as last week. The ash in my woods has been dead for 5+ years. I heat my entire tri-level house with a cast-iron wood-burning fireplace insert. We find the ash to be plenty dry enough to provide great heat, long fires, and lots of nice embers. I love burning ash - in fact, I love everything about it. Except for the fact that all my ash trees are dead.
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