Seasoned versus wet wood

The vivid colors are effected by UV Ray’s not moisture levels per se. Toss those bright colors in the sun and they’ll fade to dirty brown in a couple weeks.
I’ve yet to find any product or person that can stop that. Shame really, but imagine how expensive cedar would be if it could be stopped

 

Yeah it is ashamed. I have some lattice stock cedar behind the shed shielded from the sun and its fading. The prettiest wood IMO.

 

I split some cedar the other day that seasoned in 1 week. I haven't put a meter on it (and don't intend to burn it this year), but it's pretty clearly seasoned based on knocking it, and it's lost half its weight.

Looks like cedar starts at 25% so it's at least plausible this could happen if you started with deadfall (I did) and had unusually dry weather.

 

My dad uses some in the wood shop, making clocks and picture frames. He sprays them with lacquer and they stay......but they also stay inside. You are correct with the fading, but leave it as cut and it stays red forever I swear

 

Yep. I'm sure the meter is accurate, but this will confirm.

A reliable moisture meter is still the only way to know the actual moisture content in firewood. Anything else is guessing, even if it's a well educated guess

 

You should put those cedar splits in your closet. They help with moisture and bug control. Put a small splits in every closet, that's what I did when I had a cedar score

 

Yeah we do the same thing.

 

I see someone above mentioned this already but I thought I would mention it again. It is recommended that wood be tested with a meter at 70f. If I want to measure a rounds mc I will bring it inside overnight and split it the next day once its warmed up. Wood drying in the round or standing dead is more common that people think. Here is a pic of the moisture content of a larch (19 mbtus) that was standing dead. I dropped it, bucked it and split it on October 2 of this year. Ive been burning it this last month. Its been very nice!

 

I never noticed much difference in the moisture meter reading outside vs inside to speak of, never did any readings much below 40 degrees outside though.

 

I've seen comments that wood doesn't dry in rounds, thats far from the truth, wood drys a lot from the ends, cell structure is like a group of straws.

 

Some meters indicate that they need to be tested above a certain temperature. Others don't make mention of any temperature limitations, or have temperature compensation built in.

TBH I haven't seen much difference in any regardless of temperature, as long as it's above freezing.

 

Some does, some doesn't...depends on species.

 

Never heard that, got some examples of wood that won't dry in rounds.

 

Oak...you buck up a big Oak log and expect it to dry within a reasonable time frame (say, less than 5 years) you are going to be disappointed.

 

Been burning oak for over 40 years and it will dry in rounds, use to burn quite a few. Not as big as you suggest but quicker then some might think.

 

We must have drastically different environments...big oak rounds will hardly dry one whit around here...let 'em sit and then one future day split 'em open, still sopping wet in the middle. Small rounds (like stuff that doesn't need split) will do much better...still better wait 3 years though

 

They will need to be off the ground and get good exposure to the elements.
It is very windy here.

 

Same here.

 

Same here. When I was pulling big oak rounds out of my grandmothers property across the street, I had to get it fast. I let rounds sit a good while before I split em and when I did, they were visually wet in the center. Was red oak.

 

I've had similar experience. I've checked fresh splits right off the splitter when outside in the cold, then brought it in to warm up for several hours. My meter showed very little difference. If I recall correctly, it was a point or 2.