A local person reached out to me through Facebook messenger with a question I can’t accurately answer so I’m turning to you all here. He is asking why the logs he puts in his already hot (bed of coals) wood stove turn black before burning. I’ve attached a picture he sent me as well as his moisture meter reading he took on a fresh split. Is this even an issue? Do you all with stoves experience the same?
Looks like oak? IME some oak... plain old doesn't burn for ____. Very little flame, smolders a little then goes to coals (not even hot coals either) Why that is, is a mystery to me. IIRC others on here have had that same experience. Eventually that'll go to the coaling stage and burn down, but it won't be a very active participant in that stove load. Whenever I have that problem I mix other species in.
To me, it looks fairly normal compared to pine splits in my stove that's burning. If you think about it, some furniture and outdoor siding goes through the process of Sho Shougi Ban (sp?), the first stage is it turning black. Looks like a wormy white oak. One thing to check with his splits is if the mode on the moisture meter is in the correct one. My Lignomat has two settings.
Two different wood groups: (examples) 1: Locust, Red Oak, White Oak, Teak, Beech 2: Cherry, Birch, Maple, Mahogany With the wrong mode, you can get inaccurate readings
Was that split sitting at room temp for a while or did he split it outside in the cold and measure it right away? Oak can be a pita Ive had stuff season for 4-5years and still not burn and pizz out water and also some be ready in 9 months.
One of my MMs has settings for four types of wood. I sort of hate it but wonder if there is something to it.
What I am reading is the picture shows him taking a moisture reading before it goes into the stove. Only one answer to that. It was caused from moisture. Please don't read this wrong because I am not saying his wood is wet. But it was wet at one time and after it dries, it is common to get that black. No harm done. Burn it and you'll be happy.
Sure that’s a fresh split? Not fresh off the pile but a resplit? for one put more wood on the fire would be my advice. Single splits usually don’t burn that well. If it’s an epa stove they’ll burn less well.
This is very true in my experience. Two or more pieces lying together will burn far better than one alone. Sent from my SM-S536DL using Tapatalk
If the wood is actually that dry I would guess the air is choked down or the chimney doesn't draft correctly.
