Oak..Sure takes its sweet ole time..

A few years ago about 3 I got some oak logs and split them up into normal size splits....They are all dark gray now and I thought they would be ready to move for next winter..I took an average split and measured the moisture.. Great 12%.....on both sides..Then I split it in half...Wow..was I wrong...23%!!!!! on the inside...Looks like I will either have to split them once more.or...rotate to a better spot...or just let them sit another few years..Wow!!!

 

They’ll be good by next winter.

 

Top covered? I'd say they'll be fine next winter too.

 

Yeah, it does take its sweet ole time! But....next year, it'll be worth the wait!

 

I'd say so too. 4 yrs is about right for oak. 23% mc should get a few more percent lower after another nice summer of drying.

 

You will be good. Good heat and very little ash.

 

I have a love/hate relationship with oak because of this. I split big and usually it’s good after 3 summers, single rows, top covered with 4’ or so between rows.(so I can get the riding mower between them)

 

I don't get a lot of oak, I do have some on my property though, mostly sugar maple and ash. For the past year I've been behind so I've been making all of my splits on the small side to lower the seasoning time and it really seems to make a difference with the maple. Late spring splits can usually be ready to burn by fall. Does anyone know if making fairly small splits with oak can maybe make it serviceable within one season?

 

I cut a lot of oak, most is either standing dead, or was cut 2+ years ago and laying in log piles. Fresh split 6-12” range I will be about 10-20 moisture content. The bigger rounds will be 20-30%. Here in far northern CA, we are in the hundreds in the summer. Last year we didn’t drop below 200 for over a month. I will get oak down to 7% moisture by the fall stacked in pallet racks. Keep in mind that is also in a very hot climate with wood that is already been dead/down for years.

 

That must have been ROUGH!

The oak I am burning this winter was processed 4 years ago. I too thought I could have used it last year, but found it to be in the low 20's. I moved it all out into the sunniest part of my yard in single rows top covered, and it was GTG for the next year. The largest splits I checked were in the 17-18% range when split.

 

I just finished stacking about a cord of fresh red oak. It was wet to the touch in the middle.
I've split it into 2" square by 16" and stacked it under the covered lean-to where it gets good ventilation.
I'm hoping it will be dry enough to burn by this time next year.
I'll check it's MC occasionally and report back.

 

Your info says Redding, but I think you actually live in Hell California...

 

How/where do you have it stored?

 

Where was it when this pic was taken?

Gives new meaning to Death Valley!

 

I took that picture just this morning when I went to get more wood for the wood stove.
Those splits were split and stacked yesterday from a big log like this one.

 

I meant moisture content wise. Did you take a reading on a fresh split?

 

Hahaha ok ok it was 100 but still! My poor wife hates the heat.

 

X2!

 

I have really fallen out of love with oak for that reason. Im not knocking it as firewood, but id rather expend my energy with a one year drying wood (sugar maple, ash, beech etc.)
Around here i see guys selling fresh split oak as seasoned...even if it was in log form for a year or two.