Cut an Ash Tree Yesterday

[johnk]

The Emerald ash borer is killing a lot of trees in my area so I might as well start using the wood before it's too late.. Kubota worked out well as I was a 1 man work party.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Well we didn't take any pictures but our day resembles yours plus or minus a quarter cord. Might as well make the best use of them before they rot.

 

[square1]

before it's too late

You're right, get them down before they go soft and get unpredictable. Ash doesn't take long to go punky once it's dead. I took one down this morning about that size. Tree snapped with over 2" of holding wood still in place. Heard the "crack" and I beat a path down my escape route. Tree & running saw ended up in the creek. Took me an hour to get the tree out. Pulled the plug on the saw, pulled it over a few times, put the plug back, primed it and she started right up

 

[vtsnowedin]

You're right, get them down before they go soft and get unpredictable. Ash doesn't take long to go punky once it's dead. I took one down this morning about that size. Tree snapped with over 2" of holding wood still in place. Heard the "crack" and I beat a path down my escape route. Tree & running saw ended up in the creek. Took me an hour to get the tree out. Pulled the plug on the saw, pulled it over a few times, put the plug back, primed it and she started right up

Oh , been there done that! Any day without a trip to the ER or the mortician is a good day. Had one fall ninety degrees to my plan today. No harm as there was plenty of room but I would like to improve my accuracy a lot as it will only take one sudden misdirection to close my book.

 

[johnk]

I used 3 wedges on the back cut and only had 1 wedgie in my drwaers. It fell where I wanted it. Ash is great firewood.

 

[skyhook]

I used 3 wedges on the back cut and only had 1 wedgie in my drwaers. It fell where I wanted it. Ash is great firewood.

Yes it is, you can burn it right away, no need for drying out.
I think it's the only one you can.

 

[square1]

only had 1 wedgie in my drwaers

BTDT

I've been taking ~10 full/federal cord a year for the last three years and I'm only 1/2 done cleaning them out. Sadly, the majority of what's left is getting pretty punky and I'm leaving a lot more of each tree in the woods to rot. They still have to come down though to keep them from falling on their own.

 

[AStanton]

Nice pics, John.
Kubota also work well on oak trees.

 

[johnk]

I'm trying to stay focused on my ash trees. Might as well use them while I can. I have plenty of 20-26 inch red oaks that are healthy as heck even after the onslaught of the Gypsy moth catapillars eating up the crowns last year.

 

[grnspot110]

I suspicion the Emerald Ash Borer is already in our area, although there are other bugs that look similar! I have plenty of various types of wood available; Ash, Oak's, Hackberry, Elms, Honey Locust, Walnut, Hickory & more. My problem is, I'm already 2-3 years ahead on my cut wood supply! Some of my Black Walnuts are dying, along with some of the Oaks. Farm is 30 miles from home, hope to bring some cut Pig (Bitternut) Hickory home tomorrow. ~~ Lowell

 

[rekees4300]

There are all sorts of regulations concerning the transport of Ash.

Moving Firewood | Emerald Ash Borer Information Network

 

[Freddieboy]

Yes it is, you can burn it right away, no need for drying out.
I think it's the only one you can.

Camping once, the guy next to us used fresh cut ash for a campfire and I swear it was the hottest fire I have ever seen.

 

[2458n]

That is my goal for the year- just get a year ahead for a change. 85 degrees for several days now. It seems like a week ago it was winter. Not a fan of splitting wood at these temps. Gotta do it or storage becomes a issue.

 

[TnAndy]

Makes nice furniture too. Here's a table and benches I built out of one 16"x12' ash log. Small amount of walnut was used for the butterfly inlays and bench leg wedges.

 

[jaotguy]

nice tressel table & bench

 

[msb1766]

I am in eastern NY near Albany all my ash trees have been gone for a few years now, I cut some down and they too were destroyed by the emerald ash borer.

 

[Deerherd]

I had to cut 50+ nice size ash trees that were in danger of hitting the house. I brought in a tree service to get the difficult ones that were real close or leaning over the house. (A guy has to know his limitations!) here's a picture of before and the progress so far.