Ash for firewood?

highcotton23 · #1 08/26/13, 07:59 PM

Someone told me that ash burns too hot thereby causing damage
To a wood burning heater. Any truth to that?

dizzy · #2 08/26/13, 08:02 PM

As far as I know, ash is great for firewood. Personally, I don't have experience w/it. Ash isn't that common around here.

jwal10 · #3 08/26/13, 08:03 PM

I love ash, straight grain and easy splitting. Never had a problem....James

plowjockey · #4 08/26/13, 08:09 PM

They are dying everywhere around here.

I don't have a wood burner, but those that do, burn it by the truckload, now that the dying elms, are thinned out.

DaleK · #5 08/26/13, 08:11 PM

Ash is great firewood. It will burn overly hot if it's dry, you have to be careful. It'll burn green better than just about any other species.

highcotton23 · #6 08/26/13, 08:44 PM

Thanks for the replies. I've got a good quality heater, cast iron with ceramic(?) plates inside. Mostly I burn oak but I had to cut the ash away from power lines and did not want to waste it.

Sawmill Jim · #7 08/26/13, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highcotton23

Thanks for the replies. I've got a good quality heater, cast iron with ceramic(?) plates inside. Mostly I burn oak but I had to cut the ash away from power lines and did not want to waste it.

Mix it with that oak you can't beat it .

Forerunner · #8 08/26/13, 10:19 PM

There is a quote floating around in woodlore of old that kinda suggests that ash is the firewood of kings........

Ash is some of the mellowest all around good firewood there is.

MNSteader · #9 08/26/13, 10:26 PM

I burn ash all winter long in my outdoor wood boiler. I have quite a bit of it in my woods. Burns better than a lot of others that's for sure.

TnAndy · #10 08/27/13, 04:36 AM

Black locust is the only wood I've ever managed to damage a stove with......that stuff is better than coal.

7thswan · #11 08/27/13, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

There is a quote floating around in woodlore of old that kinda suggests that ash is the firewood of kings........

Ash is some of the mellowest all around good firewood there is.

But Ash wet or Ash dry a King can warm his Slippers by.
I'll write the rest in a bit. We use Ash all the time , have on different stoves,no problems.

Forerunner · #12 08/27/13, 06:58 AM

I mightuh known you'd have it memorized, Swan.

Agree with TNAndy... black locust is pretty much top of the food chain for BTUs....save only hedge (osage orange), which will melt your stove if you can't shut off enough air......

7thswan · #13 08/27/13, 07:22 AM

Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year.
Chestnut only good, they say,
If for long 'tis laid away.
But ash new or ash old
Is fit for Queen with crown of gold.

Birch and fir logs burn too fast,
Blaze up bright and do not last.
It is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mold,
E'en the very flames are cold.
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for Queen with golden crown.

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke.
Apple wood will scent your room
With an incense like perfume.
Oaken logs if dry and old
Keep away the winter's cold.
But ash wet or ash dry
A king shall warm his slippers by.

JoePa · #14 08/27/13, 09:56 AM

Been heating with a wood stove for over 35 years - burn all kinds of wood - including ash - after all you control the fire with the amount of draft you let into the stove - if your worried about harming the stove get one of those stove thermometers - it will tell you how hot the fire is - best to have the temperature between 400 and 600 degrees - best for the stove and for the efficency - I burn pine also - just make sure it is dry enough - that burns very fast and hot - but still ok - you can get a thermometer from Amazon - around 10 bucks -

Sawmill Jim · #15 08/27/13, 10:04 AM

Now if you still have a fear just send it to me here .

Yvonne's hubby · #16 08/27/13, 10:12 AM

I always liked ash for firewood, splits easy, burns good even when green and a lot less creosote than other woods. These days however I love my free natural gas. no cutting, busting and hauling, no mess in the house and no ashes to take out.

suitcase_sally · #17 08/27/13, 10:33 AM

Tractor Supply has the wood stove thermometers also.

Sawmill Jim · #18 08/27/13, 10:50 AM

I use the wife for a thermometer when she opens the windows up stairs i know she is warm enough

ronbre · #19 08/27/13, 11:34 AM

heated for 42 years with wood, our favorite firewoods are oak, maple and ash

Twp.Tom · #20 08/27/13, 02:54 PM

Ash is great firewood-have burned it for years. As said previously by Dale,it has a very low moisture content,when green. Here in Northern Ohio,the ash trees are being devoured by the emerald ash borer. I have been foraging ash out of the local State park,the last two seasons. Folks around here do not want dying ash trees standing on their property,they will pay you to remove them.Only drawback-it seems to leave more ash in the firebox when burned-thus the name ash?