Hi All, Long time lurker who decided to make an account. I started hoarding last year, almost entirely standing dead red oak and maple the town/power companies left on people's front lawns due to gypsy moth damage. I currently have about 5 cords in the yard and 3 good to go for this year. I have several oaks in the yard that are standing dead (lost 8-10' of bark at the bottom) due to the moths. All the stuff I got last stacked and split fall is 13-18%. I have also read that red oak is best <15%. If I get them down this fall will they be good to go for next year? Any reason to let them stay up until the spring?
If you have room to stack the split red oak, get them down, split and stacked. Get that 3yr clock tocking. Welcome, Jotuller. We can use all the massholes here we can get. A couple of resources for you - Firewood BTU & Drying Chart Primer on Woodburning by Backwoods Savage
It can stay standing and be fine, but like pointed out get it cut and split to start drying. Untill it's split and stacked the wood doesn't start drying that fast. Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk
It was mostly white oaks around here and it was several years of caterpillar induced stress. Winter moth and gypsy moth. I'm finding a lot of the tops of the white oaks are quite soft and also quite dry. Some quite punky - I guess the wood was deteriorating even while the tree was still struggling ? Standing they can still be homes for some bugs. Most move out when their home gets sub-divided. Upper branches will continually get water-logged with every rain and potentially come down increasing clean-up chore(s). The trunks often get rather water logged and even though they do dry out pretty quick when cut up and split it's still best to process ASAP. They won't go anywhere though.
As long as it's below 20% it's fine. I've been told on here that oak burns better with age although I personally have never burnt any older than two years seasoned. I personally would cut them asap as there is internal moisture yet. My only beef to cutting standing dead in warmer months is that fungi seem to grow on it rather quickly especially the red/white oak sap wood. Wood seasons very slowly, even when dead, in log form. Oak is one of the slowest to do so. Lots of moth killed oak down here in Connecticut. Felled some white oak last Fall that was the result of them. Same location has many more that will come down this Fall/Winter. Welcome to the forum glad to have you on board Jotuller
Welcome Jotuller! Nice to have another New Englander on board. Sorry to hear that your oaks are getting hit that bad, I guess SNH is next in line.
Welcome to FHC Jotuller ... .... make sure to check on a fresh split ... But you cant rush Oak... Its one wood that will test your patience on getting dry...
This is what I'm noticing as well and the wood is quite punky. Getting tired of it. Great to see a New England presence on here. Those moths suck but at least they are helpful in one way.
The quabbin area is a nice piece of God's country. Check this thread out. Good opportunity to put some faces to names, if you can make it. https://firewoodhoardersclub.com/fo...tting-again-at-my-land-october-16-20th.13292/
Link is not working for me. Absolutely love it out here. Have a few more years at UMass until we will probably have to move. Fish on the Quabbin a few times a week and it always amazes in some way. The terrain is pretty amazing in terms of weather. Either way, never moving back to RI!
Under "members" above, tap "members map" and add your locale. That map can be used to invite members to a "conversation ". Apparently, you can't view a conversation, unless you're invited to it.
The problem with letting dead oak stand is water. Usually that bottom part of the tree will be really wet. I'd recommend cutting them asap, splitting and stacking then leave to dry out.
