Green ash.

[skyhuck]

IME, Ash does burn very well, even when green.

 

25 years ago when I knew very little about trees or timber, I was felling trees to heat my own home, I felled an Ash, still in leaf, it was hollow, the first thing I was struck by was how easily it split. We burned some pretty soon after felling, I can still remember saying to the farmer who land the tree was on, "its incredible, its like there petrol in the wood it burns so well"

 

Anyone who's been in the job long enough to have done "burning up" before chippers where as common, knows that Ash was by far the easiest brash to burn, burning fast and hot.

[timbernut]

IME, Ash does burn very well, even when green.

 

25 years ago when I knew very little about trees or timber, I was felling trees to heat my own home, I felled an Ash, still in leaf, it was hollow, the first thing I was struck by was how easily it split. We burned some pretty soon after felling, I can still remember saying to the farmer who land the tree was on, "its incredible, its like there petrol in the wood it burns so well"

 

Anyone who's been in the job long enough to have done "burning up" before chippers where as common, knows that Ash was by far the easiest brash to burn, burning fast and hot.

 

 

Spot on!

[skyhuck]

I agree, I burn/ sell mostly ash and have few complaints, we stack in 4m lengths (4-16") for a min of a year and process straight onto truck/trailer. It does dry very quick once split. Oak is great if you're prepared to store for a while after splitting.

 

Incidentally did you know you can speed seasoning of ash up by putting it in running water? A friend of mine used to form green ash poles and sling em in a stream for wagon shafts (very springy but strong) and according to John Seymours Self Sufficiency you can do this wit bigger ash for milling!

 

Thats more about removing sap than drying.

 

It was often done with summer felled Sycamore, which will stain due to the high sap content, "up ending" the cut boards is another way to get some of the sap out.

[timbernut]

Thats more about removing sap than drying.

 

 

 

It was often done with summer felled Sycamore, which will stain due to the high sap content, "up ending" the cut boards is another way to get some of the sap out.

 

 

Was told to do this by sawyer last year when he milled a big May felled sycamore but I had nowhere to put it upright and as they wer 3" boards I stocked it as usual, used a bit recently and the slight stains planed out!

[Tilio-acerion]

Ash, especially when slow grown, does take an age to season. I imagine the folks who are after it, in preference to seasoned wood, are the same types who don't want soft wood. Beech & Sycamore season quick, and that's what I find from producing billets with all three species.

[Mortimer Firewood]

Ash is so popular due to firewood merchants pushing it due to been easy to split and been able to sell it quickly.

 

They no even if they get a wet load if ash they can still burn it.

 

Sycamore & Cherry are some if the fastest drying woods but both suffer from mild problems if not stored correctly.

[Chris Sheppard]

 

Do you think it's just that stupid poem again which has influenced public perception so much?

 

 

 

Probably. I liked the new version someone on here came up with (think it was maybe Peter) - Wood burns; Water doesn't

[Ashes_Firewood]

If I could only deal in Ash I would! So easy to split. Only ever felled it in winter but it always seems so much drier in appearance than any other wood I deal with.

[skyhuck]

If your organised and cut your fire wood well in advance, seasoning it properly, Ash is nothing special.

If your disorganised and are always pretty hand to mouth with your fire wood, Ash is prized above most other woods.

 

I've heated our homes with wood for 25 years, I prize Ash.

[woodyguy]

People keep talking about the moisture content which obviously is directly linked to the heat output. But Ash isn't drier than other woods. I was under the impression that Ash would burn with a higher MC than many other hardwoods because it stores its energy in the form of oils rather than starch, so will burn wetter. Can't remember where I read it and please correct me if I'm wrong. In reality though, it may burn but it still has to use most of its embedded energy to boil off the excessive water, so the heat output can't be great.

Best firewood is any wood that's dry.