When i first joined FHC i was skeptical about three years for oak seasoning. Had never heard of it nor the three year plan. The other day i checked 23 month old white oak splits and over 20%. Wood was SS October 2018. Halved split for checking moisture content. Average sized, maybe 4x4. Not taking that much oak anymore. Sad as i like processing it.
I love processing nice oak trunks, splits come out perfect. However, after trying to burn some not so dry oak in the fireplace last winter I will now be going after other species, red maple, cherry.
Does take quite awhile to season. Every wood has its own issues though. Some get bugs like Hickory, some get punky quickly like Popple, Birch and Red Maple. Some are a pain to process split like Elm, and some are non existent in your area like Black Locust or Osage Orange for me. One tree I have in abundance here is Red Oak. My go to woods are probably Red Oak, Shagbark Hickory, Rock Maple, and Cherry. With a little Pine thrown in here and there.
Fortunately for me, I have room on site, for 12+ cords. We burn 3-4 cords each heating season. I'd guess, 85% of my stacks is red/white oak. So, I can wait the 3 yes for it to season. Shoulder wood for me, is maple, Ash, and fruit woods. Very fortunate to have the varieties available.
I suppose you could always just keep on processing oak and let people know that it’s a little bit wet still when they go to buy it. Processing it smaller should get it drier too.
Last oak I scrounged was red or pin. Gave it to a friend to deal with. My best friend has tons of white oak on his place, some on the ground for a few years now and needs processed. We will get to it, but like the faster drying woods like locust, mulberry and ash so much better.
Yeah, its already 10-15% drier than most of the "seasoned hardwoods" that are being sold by most places right now...
I started into some 4 year old oak last year... it was burning good last year... this year it should be even better... I just put a tarp over my splits from this year, to keep the leaves off...
I heard when they first opened king Tut’s tomb there was some red oak piled in there for the afterlife that had just dropped to 19.999% MC
You guys just don't know... My neighbor has proved me wrong. He started burning a few years ago and found all he needed to know off the Internet. Cuts oak in the fall and it keeps him warm all winter while we suffer in our house burning this terrible messy old dry wood.
I also don't take oak unless it's a last resort. Takes way to long to season. And if it's stacked mixed with other wood that does season fast you still need to wait for the oak to dry.
I'm way ahead so I'll be happy to take all the oak I can get. I love burning 4 and 5 year seasoned oak.
All we really get up here is red oak from the gypsy moths and luckily I have lots of room and crib stack all of my red oak. Stacking it this way has been a real difference maker for me. This past summer was fantastic for drying, had a constant breeze and many warm days with minimal humidity/dews. The neighbor had about 3-4 large red oaks cut in October last year, I split them into 16-18" toothpicks about 2-3" wide and here they are right now. My 2 year old stuff is in the 8-12% range. Had it recently rained or been wet? Stuff is a sponge and will fluctuate a lot in a couple days.
