I brought some Red Oak into the basement yesterday that had been stacked in the woodshed for just under two years. I checked at least a dozen pieces, and even after splitting it apart they were all between 10 and 12 percent MC.
I’ve told these people a million times to stop exaggerating about how long oak takes to dry! I don’t doubt what you’re saying. I’ve burned plenty of 2 year oak that was ready, but also some that spit water out of the ends like nobody’s business. A lot of variables. If you cut the tree in winter when it’s got the least amount of water in it, I’ll bet you’re a lot further ahead in the game. I’ve got a couple cords from a tree that came down back in August so I’m begrudgingly waiting to hit that 3+ year mark to burn it.
Sell it this Fall as "seasoned". Probably better than 90% of the stuff being sold. Open up the storage space for more BL!
I too am finding so much variability with oak. I have some red oak that is ready to go in 2 years at 17% MC. In fact that’s what I’m burning now and it couldn’t be better! I also have some splits with 4 years of seasoning that just can’t seem to get below 25%. I have been splitting some thin kindling on the 4 year stuff and using to start up my stove, it hisses and foams out of the end grain! I’m sure much of this variability is due to initial MC /season it was cut, and stacking location in my yard (sun exposure/airflow/stacking depth etc.). But I also wonder about subtle differences between oak species???
The only hickory I have in my woodlot is pignut. At least I think it’s pignut. I haven’t had any big ones come down. So haven’t burned any.
Another bucketload of hickory yesterday. One tree had snapped off in a windstorm after being damaged from the logging operation several years ago. The other was a small standing dead I should have cut a year ago.
