I had cut split and stacked some black birch and some red oak at the same time last spring. At this point it’s been a tiny bit more than one year that it’s been stacked in a decent location and top covered with tin roofing. Took out the moisture meter and split similar size pieces of each and measured the moisture. I must be getting pretty good at this because in hand, I guessed the red Oak at 27. Bingo, 27 right on the dot. I was just figuring the black birch would be in the low 20s because it still felt a little bit heavy although lighter than the oak. 16%! That’s about as low as I’ve ever gotten firewood. Definitely, for you guys who have Black Birch in your area and any sort of access to it, it’s definitely a great Burning wood with high BTUs. And, as we know, oak is a terrific would, but certainly needs a good two years plus to come into its own.
I’ve been burning mainly both those two woods forever. Almost all we had on our property though there’s maples taking over one spot that we’re saplings when I was a kid. A lot of the BB is gone now too.
We’re definitely lucky to have a lot of it here in New England. I’ll bring home more any day of the week my wife isn’t looking . Its cousin the yellow birch is great too.
Your favorite Steve! I moved some 18 month old oak splits yesterday. Bucked from a fallen dead tree. Split a bigger split and 21%+. My reason for not liking oak anymore. Not knocking it as firewood but hate the wait. I still take if easy and/or dont have a choice. BB a scarce scrounge for me. Ill take any birch over oak all day long.
Hopefully I can get to it in the next week or 2. It's stacked on pallets, and top covered. I need to get at it anyway so hopefully it's dry by this winter and to make room for my next score.
Never had BB but I have a good 3+ years of almost all red oak c/s/s. I get it to dry in 3 seasons w/ no problem at all. Typically nice straight grained wood with not a ton of crotches and the crazy ease of splitting makes RO #1 in my book.
They certainly do split easy. Had some ro rounds, halves and quarters stacked on the ground in a huge pile for several years before I got to them. Soaking wet but not rotten. Could’ve used a butter knife.
