Neigbor’s had what I believe to be a White oak cut down. Wood is mine for the taking, don’t really have room for it but because of what it is I am going to make it work and am going to the five year plan. My wood hasn’t been drying well anyway, it can’t hurt to extend it a couple of years. Only thing is I can’t go through their yard to get it. Will be making a trail to get to it. I can’t put into words how big this tree is, it had to be standing during the civil war. Will count the rings tomorrow.
Yeah, that's a white oak. Unfortunately that will take 3+ years to dry after cut and split, but if will get you ahead of you get to that point.
Thanks for the confirmation. It will be 2025 by the time I get to it for burning. This year believe it or not will be the first where I am getting into burning oak. I hope it’s dry if not I have 2 year old ash and black cherry as a back up. My understanding is that white oak takes longer than red to dry. Having limited space, and taking multiple cords of this oak could bite me in the rear if my planning doesn’t work out.
How long of seasoning has the oak that you have planned for this year? White oak should take longer to dry based on the cellular structure of it. Hence why white oak is only used for barrels, and not red oak.
Thanks mine is 3 -3 1/2 years, someone posted a video here last year of a ship builder who showed how porous red oak is and why it’s not suitable for boats and he compared to white oak and it was fascinating. I also have a cord of beech for this year that I picked up at the same time and I don’t think they are dry, bark is just starting to separate. We had a record year for rain fall last year and i am still dealing with the consequences.
You got your work cut out for you with that one. It will be worth it when you get around to burning it in 2025.
I was under the impression it was reversed. WO takes two years and red takes three. I do understand the cellular differences. I thought, even tho they are open it’s the large pores of red oak that hold water longer. Either way, great score. That is one big old monster.
Wow Winston, that is terrific you getting that oak! Congratulations. I'd for sure really try to make this work. On the beech, that should definitely be ready to burn and you'll love it. To try to hurry the drying of the oak you can always split it smaller and when you stack it, do not try to be "pretty." Stack it a bit loose so air can move through the stack to hasten the drying. Primer on Woodburning by Backwoods Savage One more thing on stacking. Don't be afraid to stack several rows together especially if they can get some wind. It will dry okay, contrary to what some think. Here is an example of how we stack: I've also stacked many more rows together like this and have never had a problem with it drying. I do remember one time having over 10 rows stacked tight together. It took a while to get it all burned. lol Also notice that all I put under the wood stacks were some saplings we cut in the woods. That along with cribbing the ends makes it a no cost way of stacking. With us that is nice as we get the wood from our own place on our own schedule so our only cost is cutting and moving the wood a short distance and that keeps our total cost of heating our home very low indeed.
Thanks your stacks are impressive as always. I am going to follow your advice and try to duplicate what you have done. I really don’t have room for this wood and doing it that way with multiple rows together will be a big help.
I would like to, my ms 390 can’t handle a bar long enough. I wonder if I can use this as a selling point to the wife for a bigger saw
Can’t hurt to try.... altho, what’s the biggest bar that 390 can handle...? When we find out that answer, don’t let her know.
I did not get as much wood as planned today. In no particular order of obstacles, it was not possible to get the truck back there we had to use the riding mower and wagon, the accessible side of the tree is rotten, oak is really heavy, and there was a bee problem, yellow jackets and honey bees. The yellow jackets are getting a dose of powder tonight. I don’t know where the honey bees are coming from and would never kill them anyway, they are not in the tree. I started at the crown and have at least cut enough to be able to get to the side that’s not rotten. Of course that’s in thick brush. I still got over a cord out so it was a great day. I will get more next weekend.
We have been overrun with invasive Japanese stilt grass, a few years ago this area would have been 4’ high weeds, easy to get a trail in.
The old horse farm locust fence posts are still standing, I can’t bring myself to cut them for wood. They take me back to the early 80’s every time I look at them plus the blue birds nest in them.
