Bur Oak moisture test

I found two pickup loads of bur oak, wow is it heavy. I c/s/s it on Monday and didn’t feel like taking it to the shop so I stacked it in my garage. I read some previous posts on here about moisture loss over time and using a moisture meter.

I decided to test three different pieces, using a scale, and storing in different locations. I have the first piece in the garage(attached not heated), next outside under covered stack and third piece in my basement.

I’m going to weigh each piece throughout the next few months and record the results. I know the basement one will lose the most but I’m actually more interested in the garage vs outside. I will post results as I weigh.

Garage piece: 3 lbs 12.4 oz’s

Outdoor piece: 4 lbs 6.8 oz’s

Basement piece: 4 lbs 0.4 oz’s

 

This will be interesting..

 

I know red oak is some heavy stuff so i imagine that is as well. Cant say ive cut any or if its around here. It'll be interesting to follow the drying.

 

Interested in watching this

 

Can you share the diameter and length of the pieces? Just curious and will follow along w/ the progress.

 

I got a little bit of burr oak a couple years ago. Fire killed and standing dead with no bark. Fire was probably 7 years previous. Biggest rounds were probably 8-10”. checked with the moisture meter when I split em, I was shocked to see it was in the mid to upper 30s. Plan to burn it next year

 

I burn it all the time, pretty much in line with the other Oaks for drying time. Once in a while I cut some dead standing that is ready to burn with a very short drying time but that is rare.

 

Going to follow this for sure. I love oaks but hate the drying time associated with them

 

I cut 16” length, I will add pictures of each piece next weigh in.

 

The results I am sure it will be interesting. But do it bear in mind that the smaller pieces will lose moisture quicker, all else being equal.

 

I had to find pieces that were under 5 pounds in order to use my scale. I’m just interested in the time difference for garage vs outside. I have enough room in my shop/cold storage to store a huge amount of wood. I’m just trying to judge how much extra time it will take sheltered but with no air or sun.

 

Understood. And probably in this case there isn’t enough difference in weight to be much concerned with.

 

I was css some wood in my pole barn. In the summer it gets up to 100 degrees in there with the doors all shut. I thought the heat would help it dry. I didn’t do a test like your doing but it didn’t work out. There was actually some white mushrooms growing on a couple splits. I basically waisted a year of drying in my opinion. Air moving is the key to drying in my experience. Thanks for doing this test.

 

The difference in drying will depend a lot on how much rain/snow gets on the wood that is outside.

 

10 days after being cut weight:

Garage piece: 3 lbs 11.0 ounces, initial weight 3 lbs 12.4 ounces. Total loss 2.31%

Outside piece: 4 lbs 3.4 ounces, initial weight 4 lbs 6.8 ounces. Total loss 4.8%

Basement piece: 3 lbs 4.2 ounces, initial weight 4 lbs 0.4 ounces. Total loss 19.73%

 

Maybe I missed it but what’s the temp difference between garage and basement?

 

I’m guessing that your stove is in the basement.

I’ve ‘watched’ a lot of red oak dry using a scale to get a handle on it. Pin and Northern tend to lose a little more than 40%. The first half of the loss (20%) takes 1+ months in the summer. 10 days is real fast.

 

Bur Oak is definitely heavier than any of the Red Oaks Ive cut. Got some in the stacks drying right now cant wait to test it.

 

Garage is attached but not heated, so the difference is substantial. The outside side piece is in a stack that is covered. The temperature here has been single digits to low 30’s