Oak..Sure takes its sweet ole time..

I'm seeing how long my oak will take to season.Split last September covered half way down with rubber roofing which generates serious heat.I did notice that my stack has shrunk so something is happening.We'll see by next winter.

 

I might hafta call my log guy to come take the red oak he just delivered back...

 

It's good BTU's, just not this year, or next, or the year after...but then...!

 

Patients grasshopper. When ready, it’s worth the wait. When it coals up in my firebox, it lasts and lasts, then doesn’t leave much behind.

 

you mean it won’t burn my houses down like pine?

 

No, lol. If you split it smaller and have really good conditions, might be 2 years to season. I know I can get it there quicker than 3, as confirmed by a mm.

 

It’ll be good by next year! I spilt my stuff pretty small as well! All in how it’s stores and how big the splits are. Single stack with good ventilation and split relatively small. Double check with moisture meter and let us know a year from today!

 

I'm burning some 3 year old pin oak right now. Burns ok in my fireplace but I wouldn't want to use it in an EPA stove. Will probably be better next year.

 

The way I split I consider that kindling size. Next time split normal size and find another faster seasoning wood for next year.(soft maple, ash etc). Here is my bucket I put “filler” pieces in.

 

Properly dried oak... I inherited some 4-5 year seasoned red oak this past year and was like AHHHHHH this is what they're talking about.... Whereas in the past I was lucky to be burning 2 year old splits. Now I'm in the boat where I have plenty on hand, but it won't get touched before 2023 at the earliest and even then, only the smaller splits. I think the trick is hoarding a little every year so you'll always have some ready to go. I heard a good one yesterday. My stepdaughters' grandmother was over and commented about all my wood in the backyard. I explained that yeah, the goal is to maintain 3 years' worth on hand at all times. At which point she educated me that it will all be rotten in 3 years, sitting outside. Some things you just have to let go.

 

Boy oh boy, that's a good one. You have more restraint than me not saying anything. I wouldn't of been able to let that one go.

 

I just started re-splitting some nice oak I had originally c/s/s in Nov 2019. And will stack it in a better spot now that I have some room available. Figure the smaller splits might dry faster, I just finished burning some red oak that was c/s/s in good sun and wind and some splits would still hiss a bit in my fireplace and they were not big splits at all. I need to find some Maple (lmao)

 

We happen to work in the same building oddly enough, about 100 feet apart. So I’m “lucky” I have the privilege of seeing her 5-6 days a week Otherwise I’d love to tell her a thing or two. She of course told me last year to never burn pine too, after seeing pine kindling in my house. Good thing she’s around to keep me in line otherwise I’d be torching my house down with her grandchildren inside burning pine and rotten 3 year old wood!

 

I just went out and checked the sides of three splits. They are between 16 and 21%.
I'll split one again tomorrow and get an inside measurement.

My stove is a 2020 VC Aspen C3, and it needs very dry wood. It's also pretty small, so small splits are necessary.

 

I feel the same. So much more work because of having to split it so much smaller than Beech/ Ash/Maple.. Plus all the space it takes up waiting for it to season. Years ago I used to think Oak was the best because of all of the sites saying it was the best. But I definitely don't feel that way anymore. I'd take it if I couldn't get anything else but will avoid it if I can get one of the others mentioned above. And Beech is the best in my area-more BTU's than Red Oak and season's in one year.

 

I've got mixed feelings on oak. Love it for cooking. Makes less ash in a week than a single load of elm or ailanthus. Does take forever to dry- I've got some that is 2015 vintage, covered in an open pole barn for 4 years, single stacked, plenty of ventilation, never rained on, then another year on the covered porch and it still sometimes hisses. Takes forever to get going. I had complained earlier that it doesn't hold coals that well, and it doesn't if I just fill the stove and run it on low, but if I bury a piece in ash, I will still have a good solid coal 24 hours later so it is good at this time of year when I don't need much heat and just want to keep the fire going so I don't have to relight all the time. I think the low ash residue is why it doesn't hold coals if left to its own devices.

On the other hand, it is a lot of BTUs. I can fit two cords on my porch reserve and two cords of oak is a lot more heat than two cords of pine.

The longer I do this, the more I understand each wood and the better I can utilize what I have on hand.

 

I have wondered, not advocating, about heaping oak on the ground for a year until the bark falls off and then stacking it for a year. To see if it gets drier quicker. I have heard the premise before and think it might be worth testing with a small pile. Something about breaking down the cell walls. I also remember someone saying they knew a guy who would hose down their new stacks with the garden hose. I wouldn’t take it that far, but leaving a heap is pretty minimal effort.

 

Have you burned any of the red oak from that big tree you had taken down next to your house Mike?

 

If its close by and real easy ill take it or if an"exotic" oak i havent/rarely score. I have a score where i can cut some chestnut oak which im going to do soon...if its still there.

 

Yes, just started burning some of it in my fireplace. I have been re-splitting some and the majority has been under 20% mc. And some splits will still hiss as well.