Long term storage of ash for firewood - how best to go about it?

[carbs for arbs]

Hi all

 

Had around 20-30 poor roadside ash taken down this week   But every cloud and all that = more firewood   

 

In fact, I think we'll have enough to last quite a few years.  Who knows, maybe even a decade+....  

 

We'll do our best to get it all off the ground and under cover; even if just covered with tarps for now.  But aside form that, does anyone have tips as to how best process it for long term storage?  Instinct tells me to keep in long lengths and to not split it, but that's just guess work.  So any knowledgeable views would be helpful.  

 

I'm also interested in whether people think it's even possible for it to last many years without rotting / decaying.  It's very wet where we live!  

 

Cheers   

 

 

[Honda]

My chopping block is ash that was felled and cut over 20 years ago. It is as hard as steel. Cut, split and stack it under cover now and it will last for years. It will be hard to cut and split if you leave it.

 

Edit to add: By chopping block I mean firewood chopping block that I keep in a barn. 

Edited February 19, 2021 by Honda

[Stubby]

13 minutes ago, Honda said:

My chopping block is ash that was felled and cut over 20 years ago. It is as hard as steel. Cut, split and stack it under cover now and it will last for years. It will be hard to cut and split if you leave it.

 

Edit to add: By chopping block I mean firewood chopping block that I keep in a barn. 

I have a lump of ash that is at least 20 years old and I use it for sharpening up on the back of my truck . It has 2 holes for the stump vice and as you say its like concrete ! 

[woodwizzard]

Jeez, any excuse to post a picture of that bloody saw!! 🤣👍

[Stubby]

8 minutes ago, woodwizzard said:

Jeez, any excuse to post a picture of that bloody saw!! 🤣👍

Its of the lump of 20year+ ash you wizzard you ! 😁

[Paul in the woods]

49 minutes ago, carbs for arbs said:

In fact, I think we'll have enough to last quite a few years.  Who knows, maybe even a decade+.... 

I may well be in the same boat in a year or two. Loads of ash that may need to be removed and a supply of firewood that could last a decade.

 

I know ash kept dry will last years but I don't have the money to build a vast wood shed.

 

I've got some fallen ash trees that do rot quite quickly after a couple of years.

 

So, how to keep it from rotting without spending vast amounts keeping it covered.

 

I've been logging some young ash that's been down several months and I was surprised how easy it was to split. But it's already getting a bit dusty to cut.

[Dan Maynard]

I'm not a big fan of tarps, they cling tight to the wood, stop airflow, leak and keep condensation in.

I've seen huge stacks in Germany made from 1m billets, square towers each end with layers at 90 degrees to the one below and then infill between the towers. I reckon a few bits of batten and screw some roofing sheet to the billets will keep it all dry.

Need something to keep it up off the ground too, else the bottom layer will go soft.

[Wonky]

Don’t the sweeds put a pallet on the top of the stack, so to maintain an air flow when the cover (what ever they use ) goes on. 
 

simple idea but it allows moisture to be wicked away with the air

[s.varty]

3 hours ago, Honda said:

My chopping block is ash that was felled and cut over 20 years ago. It is as hard as steel. Cut, split and stack it under cover now and it will last for years. It will be hard to cut and split if you leave it.

 

Edit to add: By chopping block I mean firewood chopping block that I keep in a barn. 

This

[Gav73]

4 minutes ago, Wonky said:

Don’t the sweeds put a pallet on the top of the stack, so to maintain an air flow when the cover (what ever they use ) goes on. 
 

simple idea but it allows moisture to be wicked away with the air

I tried this one, it works great when you’re seasoning, but when you start using some of the firewood, the pallet doesn’t staying in place because the stack isn’t even - I ended up ditching the pallet and just relying on the cover which wasn’t as good as some water got in. I’ve since upgraded all the covers to proper roofing materials. More expensive, but much more practical