Replies

1. 
   Floss | Mar 13, 2009 03:18am | #1

   I have a wood stove and burn Ailanthus as well as all other hard and soft wood.

   It burns pretty much like poplar or box elder, fast and not too many coals left over.

   Dries fast, about 3-4 months in the summer/fall is about all it needs.

   F.

2. 
   joinerswork | Mar 13, 2009 04:53pm | #2

   Frank,

   What Floss said.  I burned some ailanthus last year, just to get rid of it, like you are considering.  It put out more heat than I expected, tho it does burn up fast.

   A friend of mine sawed up some into boards, just for a lark.  The wood looks a lot like ash, and the little bit I worked was a pleasure.  Not stinky either, once it is dry.

   Ray

1. 
   Biscardi | Mar 13, 2009 08:35pm | #3

   Cool beans.

   I bet it will be easy to split.

1. 
   joinerswork | Mar 14, 2009 03:48am | #4

   Frank,

   Splits easy, you're right.  You still getting up this way to buy wood?

   Ray

1. 
   Biscardi | Mar 14, 2009 03:59am | #5

   Ray,

   I've got about 300 bd ft of wood lying around so I'm Ok for a couple of years. I have some 4x4x8  lovely red mahoghany I want to turn into a Sheraton 4 poster bed.

   Ill burn the ilanthus as it is readily available. I'll let you know how it goes. By the way, did the wood warp or twist or was it mostly stable?

   Thanks

   Frank

   Edited 3/13/2009 9:01 pm ET by Biscardi

1. 
   joinerswork | Mar 14, 2009 05:50pm | #6

   Frank,

   My experience is with only one log, so it may or may not be typical for the species.  I was present when my friend had a large (for ailanthus) about 16-18" dia, 8' log cut into 4/4 boards.  The sawyer squared up the cant, then sliced off a board.  By the time the bandmill had advanced the length of the log, the loose end of the board had risen over a foot in the air. The sawyer then turned the cant 90 degrees, and proceeded to saw the log through and through with no problems at all.  Boards stayed perfectly flat.

   Working one of the boards a few years later, it had split probably 2' in from each end, not surprising; and I expected the 12" wide board to move significantly when I ripped into it.  But it stayed remarkably straight, and flat.  Altogether it was a pleasant wood to work.

   Ray

2. 
   Biscardi | Mar 14, 2009 10:24pm | #7

   Who would have thought?

   I'll play around with it.

   Thanks

   Frank