EAB in firewood

[thejdman04]

Let me start off by saying that I am well aware of the EAB (emerald ash borer) laws in IL and do conform to them when selling firewood. I sold a load of all ash firewood to a new customer a few weeks back. This was a new customer, so I don't know how credible of a person he is. When I dropped the wood off, he saw that it was bark free, and thought that is was "rotten" and "too dry since the bark had fallen off of it. Once he told me that, I knew he was no firewood expert at that point. He called me a few days ago insisting that the wood I dropped off was "junk" and I should bring over all oak right away. He is claiming that he is bringing the wood in the house, and stacking it near the fireplace and throwing it in as necessary. He is claiming that there are "worms" and "bugs" crawling out of the wood, and he went online and it is definitely emerald ash borers coming back to life (once the wood warms back up). I told him before I even took the wood there, that it would be all ash wood and he was fine with that. If there is truly a problem with the wood, or if there are bugs in it I have no problem refunding his money or swapping him out for all oak at the same price. I offered to come over and grab a few pieces of the wood to inspect myself, and he refused, he just wants straight oak. I have tried "slicing" some pieces of firewood as thin as I can with my splitter and do see a few "tunnels" the borers have carved (they don't go in very deep into the wood), but see no worms or bugs dormant in the wood. I know with other species of wood I have seen ant infestations that "come back to life" if you bring the wood into the house before throwing it into the fireplace, but is this possible with ash wood and the emerald ash borer? We just got the emerald ash borer in this area a few years ago, so I cut some of it down then and cut it and split in and am now just starting to use/sell some of this "infected wood", so I am not real familiar with it. I have brought a few pieces of ash in the house personally and have not had any bugs at all crawl out of the wood. I have tried to do some research online and found that the bugs primarily live in the surface of the wood, and under the bark, (but like I said most all of the bark has fallen off of this wood before I even cut the trees down). I cannot find, however, a website that tells if the bug lives in the tree dormantly over winter, or once the the tree is dead if they move on as most of this ash wood that I got was standing dead when I cut it. Being the wood has been cut and split for well over a year, I find it hard to believe the borer is still living in there, but was wondering if anyone else has any experiences with it.

 

[GM_DaddyMac]

I do not sell firewood in bulk, but have cut, split and burned my share of ash, and have not noticed any signs of the EAB -- live or dead. My limited understanding is once they have done their damage they move on.

Hopefully others more experienced than me will offer their insight.

 

[thejdman04]

I do not sell firewood in bulk, but have cut, split and burned my share of ash, and have not noticed any signs of the EAB -- live or dead. My limited understanding is once they have done their damage they move on.

Hopefully others more experienced than me will offer their insight.

That is my kind of understanding as well, and most of what I cut was dead standing (how long dead I dont know). Never noticed any signs of any bugs when I was bucking it or splitting it as well. Like I said, I took quite a few pieces and "shaved" them with the splitter ie sliced them, and even in the tunnels I saw, were no bugs that I could find. I think he is just a complainer, but if there is a problem, I want to make it right.

 

[dingeryote]

The larvae feed on the live tissues. Dried dead Ash with no bark=no live critters.

Sounds like your customer wouldn't be happy with anything but Oak, and even then, he's gonna find Oak worms and go bonkers.

Good luck with this one.:bang:


Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[Marine5068]

I would find some literature on line about the habits of the ash borer beetle and how it doesn't live in dead ash trees then send him it to his e-mail and tell him he needs to read this to understand that there are no ash beetles living in his wood and leave it at that.
Communication via e-mail is the best way educated someone about these beetles and to cover your a.s.s. legally.(You'll have all the conversations and dates to back up any claim made by him later).
I wouldn't worry about him anymore.
Ignore him.
Just my 2cents.

 

[goof008]

I have cut and burned ash almost exclusively for 3 years. All the trees were standing dead, or dead on the ground. I have never once seen and EAB...just their trails under the bark.

From what I've read, the EAB has moved on before the tree even dies.

I think that guy is just trying to get an upgrade on his wood! Tell him to catch one of the bugs coming out of the wood!

Firewood too dry....is like a girl too pretty or having too much money?!?!

 

[coog]

Firewood too dry....is like a girl too pretty or having too much money?!?!
HAHA! First laugh of the day! Thanks.

 

[Uncle John]

Very possibly this guy has heard oak is better than ash and he's trying to con you into trading. I wouldn't.

 

[riderup]

Do yourself a favor and call the guy up and tell him you are heading over to rectify the problem. Pull up and hand him back his money then take the wood he has not burned yet and let him know he can get his wood from someone else. This type of person is not worth dealing with especially for 250 or 300 bucks. You will never make him happy.

 

[beerman6]

Do yourself a favor and call the guy up and tell him you are heading over to rectify the problem. Pull up and hand him back his money then take the wood he has not burned yet and let him know he can get his wood from someone else. This type of person is not worth dealing with especially for 250 or 300 bucks. You will never make him happy.

I agree.

 

[bump_r]

As do I. Life's too short and the bad word-of mouth just isn't worth it. Chances are, if you refund and take your remaining wood back, anyone he tells the story to will surmise that he's the problem.

 

[TMFARM 2009]

say maybe the bugs came from his neighbors yard....:highfive::laughn: then tell him he's a :looser:

 

[hoosier daddy]

charge him extra for the bait

I had several loads of ash deliverd from a contractor widening a raod in indiana this summer...it was all ash. I worked up a bunch of it and have found many larva in some trees as I split it, some of them are quite large...1"-1 1/2...most of them are a little bigger than "Bees moths"... so he may have a legitimate complaint??? Not saying you are hoseing him it's just possible that there are bugs in there...I have found them quite deep in the wood...I really think that one earlier poster had it right when he said to "go back, take him all his money and collect all the unburnt wood"...if he gets excited explain that this wood was delivered by mistake...This wood was the sportsmans package and it's specially blended for ice fishing and it is actually $25 more so unless he's going to pony up you need to deliver it to another customer...

you may have to explain that these "pests" are actually great ice fishing bait...been using them for 3 weeks...it does slow down splitting though...digging thru split wood for bait...once I find enough...drill holes in farm pond...Must be my ADHD...

Good luck with this joker any way...

HD

 

[bluesportster02]

Do yourself a favor and call the guy up and tell him you are heading over to rectify the problem. Pull up and hand him back his money then take the wood he has not burned yet and let him know he can get his wood from someone else. This type of person is not worth dealing with especially for 250 or 300 bucks. You will never make him happy.

thats what i would do

 

[blackdogon57]

If you are sure you sold the guy dry ash that was not rotten or dirty and the quantity was what he agreed to you should have no problem telling the guy to pound sand. Its not like you are going to want to do business with him again. Some people just like to complain about everything. Sure he can bad mouth you, but he sounds like the kind of guy who nobody listens to anyway.

 

[ray benson]

Emerald Ash Borer found in 2 southern Illinois counties, bringing total to 20 confirmed counties.
Illinois.gov - Illinois Government News Network (IGNN) - Search the News Results

 

[thepheniox]

Hoosier daddy EAB does not tunnel very deep at all. Maybe half inch at most. If your finding deep tunnels it probably is a different larva. Have you identified the larva.

 

[stumpy75]

I have been burning exclusively ash for the past 4 to 5 years, and really like it. I'm just south of where the EAB was originally found. I have cut mostly standing dead trees that vary from 1 to 4 years since they died and I have never seen bugs come back to life, or had any problems with bugs coming out of the wood. The EAB eats the cambium layer of the tree, girdling and killing it in the process. This layer is just under the bark, and is what you see in the tunnels as the bark falls off. The EAB does NOT bore deep into the wood. Me thinks your customer wants oak instead of ash for some reason... :msp_mad: