Hello... lurked for a while and finally decided to join. Seems like a great bunch of people here willing to provide real world feedback and help answer questions. Happy to be here to learn and laugh along the way. Little about me... wife and I made a move out to a very rural part of RI last March into a large house set way back off the beaten path. House came with a 1977 VC Vigilant that I could not control a burn on to save my life. We agreed it needed to be replaced and settled on a Quadra Fire Explorer 2. Initially purchased 3 cords of cut and split seasoned oak (and yes it was actually seasoned) soon after moving in. So far we are loving the new stove and can get a great over night burn. Have since C/S/S 6 cords of oak, sugar maple, and black birch that will be ready for the 17/18 season. Plan is to continue processing log length wood until my wife starts questioning my sanity, that may take a while as she loves the heat from the wood stove. Look forward to getting questions answered as they come up and to read posts from other members. Anyone on here from RI or Southeastern Mass?
Welcome to the club, Dan! Glad you joined up and jumped in. Your gonna like it here. Always friendly and helpful people . And a little silly sometimes if you haven't noticed yet.
Oak usually takes 3 years to dry (c/s/s and top covered if your in a moist area) down to 18-20% moisture content. You may have read about The 3 Year Plan here already? Oak is the slowest drying wood.
Welcome glad your here I hate to be the one to tell ya but no way that oak will be ready in 8 months unless you search for a thread umm.. solar kiln! put in the search menu and have a read... til then we will help you along Dan! Turbo beat me... but look up solar kiln Eric VW will be along shortly.. to help can not see to do it on this phone
Speaking of silly....... You will get frustrated and disappointed when trying to burn 1 year old oak for sure!!!
Hello and welcome; I am still a noob myself. The only thing missing from your welcome post was some photos
Yes, I cut a dead oak and when I split and tested the moisture, it was at 30% and that tree had been dead for a few years. A moisture meter is your friend and is a necessary tool for optimal burning.
Yes. If your not ahead, the MM is good for separating out dry wood. At three years, you'll find there's not much need for a MM.
Welcome RI Dan Yes there are a few of us from RI and S E Mass. One thing you must remember we like pictures. How did you make out with the snow this morning? We were told 1-2 here in Fairhaven. More like 4" and talking 6-10 tomorrow.
Hey RI Dan , welcome aboard. I have absolutely NO IDEA what TD is referring to. Eric VW might though. I'm going to jump on the bandwagon re: the Oak not being dry enough next year. Was it dead and/or down on the ground and barkless? That might give it a head start.....might not. That QF stove is beautiful.
I hear you on the oak taking time to season, what I did not mention is it was cut, split and stacked in April 2016, so that will get me to ~19+ months seasoned before I get into it. Uglies and lots of mis-sized pieces will get burned in the October/November shoulder season. Will have to burn what I have at that time, but I expect to have left over wood from this season if the weather stays as warm as it has. Ahhh... yes, I did forget the pictures, hope these upload ok, if not i will keep trying.
Hi papadave... good to know there are a few locals on the forum. We got about 3 inches, just enough to make me put the plow on. Looks like more tomorrow, it's about time we get a little snow around here.
Hey Dan, I'm in northern Mi, so I'd guess not really local to you. Really nice setup you've got there. So, did you and the Mrs. retire out there?
Rhode Island, and Massachusetts were my family's old stomping grounds since 1636. I've never been there, I hope to make it back there someday.
