Has to be the worst splitting, most twisted ash ever!

[rdust]

I found some time today to start splitting the ash from that big 48" ash tree I scored a few weeks back. This is the most twisted wood I've ever seen! Almost every piece has a twisted grain, I have no idea why it grew this way, the only thing I can figure is the weight of the large branches somehow caused it?? I took a couple shots from flying pieces since it's almost like you're splitting across the grain on some pieces. This is mostly in the branches, the trunk doesn't appear nearly as bad. It's going to be fun "trying" to load the stove tight with these pieces, they also stack like crap!

Here are some pictures. Anyone have any ideas?

Notice how off center the heartwood is.

 

[smokinj]

Was the tree top at one point?

 

[rdust]

Was the tree top at one point?

It was 100 year old tree so who knows but I don't believe so. Every piece the heart wood is off center. I tried splitting a 6" round and it almost broke my hand due to it exploding. It was so twisted it acted like I was trying to split across the grain. Needless to say the smaller rounds will just get stacked. The pictures really don't due it justice, it's a 1/4 twist or more in just 16-18 inches. I love splitting squares and with this wood it just isn't going to happen. Hard to be disappointed with free wood but man is it a mess.

The trunk is also goofy, the grain is rippled like it is compressed due to the weight, I'll post a picture of that tomorrow.

Here is a picture of the tree before it was cut, doesn't look like it was topped.

 

[smokinj]

Its a big tree even silver maple will get twisted like that super firewood!

 

[zzr7ky]

Hi -

I really don't like taking down even Oak or Ash when it's grown up by itself in a yard or open field. They get so many branches, and bent by wind and who knows what.

I finished on for afriend in the Church that had 'run out of saw' this afternoon. My 20" Makita 6401 just made it to the center of the trunk working from both sides. Several wedges also helped. Another neighbor needed wood more than I so I left it. I did learn that my Start-rope catch isn't catching anymore so I'll have to tear into that tomorrow.

ATB,
Mike

 

[Backwoods Savage]

rdust, I have a few that are worse that that but I agree they are a bit troublesome when it comes to splitting. I've had a few pop in the splitter but as always, if they are going to pop open they will do it on the sides. I am always on guard against that.

You are doing right though. Split what you can but don't try to split those into small pieces as generally it is not worth the trouble. Use them for your daytime fires.

 

[Cowboy Billy]

Wow Rdust

That sure is twisted. I have notice the most twisted trees seem to be ones that do not have a balanced canopy. With big branches sticking off one side and where its open and the wind can get to it.

Billy

 

[LLigetfa]

Ja, I come across some twisted Ash from time to time but it's usually not too hard to split with hydraulics. The twisted stuff gets relegated to the tops of the stacks and IKWYM about packing it in for overnight burns. Best for daytime burning.

 

[webie]

Most of my ash I get is pretty straight for the most part , but it is hard to split just the same ass it is usually very stringy and even with the hydraulic splitter most times it has to be pushed completely through .

 

[rdust]

Ja, I come across some twisted Ash from time to time but it's usually not too hard to split with hydraulics. The twisted stuff gets relegated to the tops of the stacks and IKWYM about packing it in for overnight burns. Best for daytime burning.

The splitter does make easy work of it. I think the frustration is more from the stacking side and knowing it's going to be a pain to load the stove with it. As for moving it to the top of the stack, it's hard when you have 2 plus cords of it that's a twisted mess. This isn't just a piece of two, this is the whole tree. :lol:

 

[wsorg]

Looks nasty...wind and weight will do that though.

 

[rdust]

I've had a few pop in the splitter but as always, if they are going to pop open they will do it on the sides. I am always on guard against that.

This piece hit me in the hand running the lever, always kinda hard to protect against that one. Just happened to come off just right I guess.

 

[Todd]

It looks like a city Ash tree, could be some kind of fast growing hybrid. Last year I scored a dead city Ash and it was twisted like that, what a pain it was to split.

 

[rdust]

It looks like a city Ash tree, could be some kind of fast growing hybrid. Last year I scored a dead city Ash and it was twisted like that, what a pain it was to split.

Yeah it was a city/street tree. We figured it was 100 plus years old, it's the biggest ash I've ever encountered. I've never seen a white ash hybrid, who knows though!

 

[Uper]

Looks like the Ash Borer took it's toll on that one judging by all the galleries in the first picture!

 

[maplewood]

Looks nasty...wind and weight will do that though.

+1. I just learned that last year myself. I got two deliveries of tree length. The first split like a bugger - all twisted - took 4-15 hits to split. The second was too easy - we laughed when it split with one hit. My neighbour said, "That first load came from a windy knoll. The second must be from a calm hollow."

Live and learn!
Happy burning!

 

[fyrwoodguy]

i once had a load of wood delivered , that came from wildcat mt. (across the street from mt. washington) in it was a yellow birch about 20" in diameter when cut to 24"stove length and split it would take a full turn every 2 feet !! THE twistiest wood i've ever seen!......wood from the hurrican district

 

[rdust]

Finally got around to taking a picture of a trunk piece. The trunk isn't nearly as twisted as the limbs so that's a plus.

 

[Gator eye]

Ja, I come across some twisted Ash from time to time but it's usually not too hard to split with hydraulics. The twisted stuff gets relegated to the tops of the stacks and IKWYM about packing it in for overnight burns. Best for daytime burning.

The splitter does make easy work of it. I think the frustration is more from the stacking side and knowing it's going to be a pain to load the stove with it. As for moving it to the top of the stack, it's hard when you have 2 plus cords of it that's a twisted mess. This isn't just a piece of two, this is the whole tree. :lol:

That's gonna mess up those neat stacks and getting a full load in your stove is going to be almost impossible.......let me help you out, give me a address and I'll grab the trailer and take that troublesome wood off your hands. I won't even ask you to stack it in the trailer. :cheese:

 

[billb3]

We have a maroon norway maple in the back yard that has grown stronger on the South side and having been out in the open subjected to twisting it wind.
It cracked from top to bottom in a hurricane and has healed. The crack and healed ridge goes almost completely around in a circle top to bottom. Probably looks a lot like that inside.

 

[CrawfordCentury]

Trees growing in the open exhibit this kind of growth. It's a function of the location of the sun during the growth season, as well as a hedge against predominant winds.

For example, in New England where I'm from, trees grow in a way to protect them from gusts from the north and west. Which is why the Hurricane of 1938 was so devastating - huge gusts from the southeast. The severe winds actually made the tree structure itself a liability. As a result, literally millions and millions of board feet worth of trees got grounded. It would take the lumber shortages of WWII production to create enough demand for them to finally get milled.

 

[rdust]

Finally done splitting this mess of a tree except for a cord or less. I won't be burning it for a few seasons so I'll finish splitting it at some point before then. I tried to split it this weekend but due to the heat, slow work since the wood just doesn't "pop" I called it quits after a third of a cord and just stacked the rounds that remained. It looks it totaled 4 + cords give or take of "usable" wood. I gave away 3 truck loads of twisted/knotted up pieces over memorial day weekend. I figure if all the wood was usable I would've had close to 5 out of it.

Heck I don't even know if most of the wood I stacked is considered "usable". The trunk wasn't too twisted up but the branches are an absolute mess. :lol: It stacked into the worst looking stacks I have!

I should have about 16 cords stack and almost all of it split so after I get my splitting/cutting area cleaned up I think I'm taking the summer off unless something falls in my lap.

 

[andybaker]

That looks simular to one I got two years ago from our church's front yard. Everyone else took what they could, I couldn't help since I'm making donuts every Friday night, and church work days are saturday mornings. What was left was the trunk. It must have been close to 4' thick. I told them I'd get it outa there since no one else knew what to do with it. I went over and started, it was the toughest piece of wood I've ever encountered. The saw wouldn't reach half way through so I had to noodle it. I have a 20 ton splitter and while splitting some of it, it twisted the wedge and broke it, it bent the guides for the wedge and the things to help knock off wood that is stuck, it bent and twisted those so bad they were useless afterwards. Some of the splits the grain would turn 90 degrees. The pieces were such a mess I just piled it all up and burned it as I could. I had a friend repair the splitter, it's a Huskey, now it's better than ever. He only charged me $65, pretty much to cover the cost of the supplies. I won't be touching anything like that again. EVER!