A few weeks ago I posted a question as to letting 3 yr old ash rounds that are 5-8" in diameter go un-splitt and just use them for over night fires...Well..Finally got a new moisture meter and the results shocked me..I split 12" in diameter Ash rounds and the moisture meter read roughly 13-15% on all of them. Now that I know that with Ash, the next time I get a good stock pile of Ash rounds, I'm just going to let the rounds sit for a few years and burn them as is..Nice experiment on Ash....I wonder if other woods like Birch, Silver Maple or even Cherry would yield the similiar results....
Rounds will season, just take a lot longer. Neat experiment! What reading were you expecting Nordic Splitter ?
I'd say I expected that result. I wouldn't try that with birch though. It's possible that it could all go punk, unless kept super dry. Ash has super low MC compared to other wood, even when fresh cut. I'll take some MM readings from the rounds ( up to nearly 2 feet in diameter) when I split the two trees my neighbor had taken down just before memorial day weekend. That splitting won't happen until it cools down outside and I have other projects done around the house.
No, do not try it with birch lest it all go punky. At least split a birch in half and all will be well. Ash tends to be around 35% green and then it gives up the rest of the moisture really quick especially if compared to oaks. Ash is still one of my favorites.
I had paper birch that was left in the round about 4-5" diameter and it dried out perfectly, in the basement of the cottage. That piece of wood was 30+ years old. It was perfect. It burned well as well.
