beech as firewood compared to ash

[cessna]

I have the opportunity of having some beech windblown,in a situation where I put in my labour and my payment is the wind blown timber,BUT I have never got on very well with Beech. Does Beech need splitting to dry out as soon as it is felled compared with Ash,to dry out. Seems to me as Beech will never dry out unless split compared to Ash. Thank you for any replies.

[adam_coverdale]

Wood is wood, split it, season it then burn it!!!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

dries in log, but harder to split once dry, unlike ash, at least older ash, young ash dried in rings can be tough

 

split it stackit

[Captains log]

Like all wood for burning and in particular a hardwood you've got to aim to mix your wood a bit. A good hardwood should be mixed with a fast or faster burning softwood to 'push' it along a bit then you'll get your hot burn from the hardwood.

 

Birch is a good one to put with beech or oak for example but anything that is a seasoned softwood will do the job.

[mendiplogs]

I have the opportunity of having some beech windblown,in a situation where I put in my labour and my payment is the wind blown timber,BUT I have never got on very well with Beech. Does Beech need splitting to dry out as soon as it is felled compared with Ash,to dry out. Seems to me as Beech will never dry out unless split compared to Ash. Thank you for any replies.

 

Hi MATE it one of the best hard woods out better spit when green mate then loads sun wind around timber it will dry fast thanks Jon

[mickdundee]

dries in log, but harder to split once dry, unlike ash, at least older ash, young ash dried in rings can be tough

 

split it stackit

 

I wondered why the last lot of beech I split was so tough. It had been in rings for a good while in full sun. Every days a school day

[cessna]

Thanks guys for your info,I best get splitting the beech ASAP. Great deal of truth in the saying "you don't get ought for nought."

[gensetsteve]

Beech is my wood of choice. Ash ok but tend to send out to customers as they love it. Could just be my wood burner it hates oak as well.

[NFG]

Hi

 

Ash burns quite hot with little residual ash, also the chimney dosnt soot up as quickly, goes a bit faster than oak, but excellent if the oven on Rayburn is required to run a bit hotter.

 

Ive burnt Ash within one year of felling and its fine as the sap dosnt seem as 'oily' as other woods.

 

Dont know about Beech, but would season it for a few years before burning.

 

As other people have stated its good to burn a mixture, Oak & Ash would be my choice due to availability.

 

N

[Logsnstuff]

I'd pick beech everyday ash burns too fast for me and I like a gnarly bit of oak to smoulder over night it doesn't need a couple of years to season if its split late spring as long as the logs are not too chunky its good to go in the autumn.