If I had to be restricted to only burning one species of wood it would be ash . . . splits like a dream most of the time and is just an all around decent burning wood.
Burning Ash.
- Thread starter Erichomeowner
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If it isn't burning hot enough you do not have it dry enough. I have no problem reaching above 700 deg.F in my NC30 with just ash. Not that I want the stove running that hot, but if I do not keep an eye on it shortly after it gets going good it will zap right up there. got to play with air control to keep secondaries going but slow it down.
Agreed! When I was burning 15-18% ash I had to watch it close on startup - went over 700 a couple of times. Burning maple around 22-23% now, so it's not really a good comparison; but I barely hit 600 most of the time with it now... not that that's a bad thing with the weather starting to warm up a little. Only making an overnight fire most of the time now.
Speaking of ash trees has anyone seen this article yet?, it came across my google feed and it's in my neck of the woods
www.wgbh.org
The Great Ash Tree
On March 31, 2020 an iconic 80-foot tall American White Ash Tree (Fraxinus americana) that had stood for an estimated 200-250 years at the…
www.wgbh.org
Old age got that one? That's an oddity. The damn bug has wiped them all out here. I have alot of saplings I can only hope some come back.
The white ash I get around here is the opposite. It burns hot with lively flame...just doesn’t last quite as long.
IME if it's a decent log to start with (no dry/death rot) if it's off the ground on a couple rounds with some sun exposure...3 years and counting.
EAB hit our county over a year ago but I'm not seeing it here yet, I started taking down Ash last year and this spring with 21 face cord stacked.
I've always heard good things about burning Ash so I'm hoping it's true.
heavy hammer
Minister of Fire
The last couple of years I have come into a lot of ash. Keep it off the ground and it will last. Very good firewood.
kennyp2339
Minister of Fire
One of the nice things about ash that I've noticed is that if you stack them in log form for a year, when you go to process them for splitting, the bark generally falls right off with little effort, makes for nice clean splits and awesome springtime bark bon fires after a day of splitting.
A few years ago I was saying if I had one type of wood only to burn it would be maple, I'm now adjusting that and really like ash, it burns well, splits easy, stacks nice, and now with the bark falling off, the cleanliness of my stacks is awesome.
Also just thoughts here, do you think that this species got the name of Ash because that's all that was left of peoples fires way back when? I suppose people would cut wood for heat in the winter and since tools were limited it would take a lot of energy to cut, split stack not giving piles more then a summer to season, ash wood would burn very well compared to oak since seasoning time wasnt there.
A few years ago I was saying if I had one type of wood only to burn it would be maple, I'm now adjusting that and really like ash, it burns well, splits easy, stacks nice, and now with the bark falling off, the cleanliness of my stacks is awesome.
Also just thoughts here, do you think that this species got the name of Ash because that's all that was left of peoples fires way back when? I suppose people would cut wood for heat in the winter and since tools were limited it would take a lot of energy to cut, split stack not giving piles more then a summer to season, ash wood would burn very well compared to oak since seasoning time wasnt there.
walhondingnashua
Minister of Fire
(To David.Ervin) -I-O
I can always find an ash to cut down and split on my property or the neighbors. Anything from 3" diameter to 30". Everything about splitting well, burning well, etc is all correct for me too. Since I am cutting ash that grew in the woods, its all pretty straight with few crotches so its a breeze to process. Seems to withstand rot while standing so well that I am in no hurry to cut them down. Other than moisture from rain/ snow, they are dry when I cut them so very little seasoning needed.
Speaking on the bark, there is a fibrous layer underneath that bark that makes a great fire starter and the bark in general is a great kindling so I keep a good bit of it.
Last, my favorite thing about ash is the smell when it burns. I like the way different woods smell when they burn and ash is maybe my favorite.
I can always find an ash to cut down and split on my property or the neighbors. Anything from 3" diameter to 30". Everything about splitting well, burning well, etc is all correct for me too. Since I am cutting ash that grew in the woods, its all pretty straight with few crotches so its a breeze to process. Seems to withstand rot while standing so well that I am in no hurry to cut them down. Other than moisture from rain/ snow, they are dry when I cut them so very little seasoning needed.
Speaking on the bark, there is a fibrous layer underneath that bark that makes a great fire starter and the bark in general is a great kindling so I keep a good bit of it.
Last, my favorite thing about ash is the smell when it burns. I like the way different woods smell when they burn and ash is maybe my favorite.
I normally burn oak,locust...but this year I found a guy cleaning up dead ash trees on his farm for $30 a face cord...I called him up to verify the price ...asked him if he would cut it to length for me...sure no problem...I asked if i could bring my dump trailer and he just load it? Sure no problem...lol...Just brought the first load home and it is a excellent load of wood! I am liking this! I just have to hit a button when I get home and dump it! I told him i would keep bringing the trailer back till he ran out... 
