Wood moisture readings

This is mainly for the new folks for just an FYI. I just came in from loading my "two week rack" which holds about 1/3 cord and the wood I'm loading in is 4 years old so I decided to grad my moisture meter and give a peek. As you can see, I checked some Cherry, Maple, and a piece of Hickory and all were below 10%. As many on this site say, and it holds so true about seasoned wood you can't get much better than this moisture content. If you have the ability to give yourself 3 years in advance your burning seasone will/should go trouble free.

*NOTE* I do not cover my wood while seasoning, it stays exposed to the elements till it's ready to go into the burning shed. Then it's only covered from snow and rain so it's dry coming into the house. Air flow is the big key in seasoning.

 

Ok, No Problem. I have some in..... More to follow!

 

OK, Just took a piece of Maple that had been in the house since yesterday, "room temp". Took it out and split it, here are the "TRUE" moisture readings. This is from the exact same pile I just pulled the other wood from.
I really jammed it in to try and get the most accurate reading. Babaganoosh, you are correct and "I" stand corrected! I posted the lowest and the highest readings I got. Point noted!

 

True. We are a realitivly hot summer climate here 80º+ all the time in the summer and not a whole lot of rain. My softest thing I burn is Maple and I won't even consider it till year 2. That piece of Maple in the pic is 4 years old. I have some Cherry that's 5 years old that I'll be burning next month. My stash for winter, 2018 and 2019 is 3 and 4 year old Oak and Hickory. I can get enough Maple to build an ark after any good nor-easter here.

 

But there are still many good reasons to get on the 3 year plan. Many mistake the plan is just for making sure the wood is dry but that is not true at all.

 

Problem right there.

 

Horkn, I've never covered my wood until it went into the winter shed. Even there it only has a basic roof over it's head so it can still season while it's in the shed. Tarps, plastic and canvas only hold moisture in and alot has to do woth sun exposure, wind, air movenent around the piles, Piles being to big or densly stacked so they can't dry throughly etc. I have red oak that is 3 and 4 year old ready to go. The more exposure your wood has the quicker it will dry. Now, my climate is a little different then Wisconsins but on ly by winter's standards, I've been out there many times in 90º heat for a couple weeks. I am very familiar with Wisconsin.
Over the years, I have learned that "covering" wood is actually the worst thing you can do for it. Now that means not in a wood shed, but with the other items, plastic, tarps, etc... I think what Dennis and many others are saying about the 3 year plan is that; In that time span it's safe enough to burn without having to worry about the issues of burning "wet" wood!

 

I hear you loud and clear! I was away for many years serving in Uncle Sam's canoe fleet and I would even take leave to cut wood. I learned that if there was wood to get, I dropped what I was doing and went. I was the epitome of a hoarder, stopping on the side of the road, picking up scraps, dumpster diving in contractors throw aways for kindling cut offs etc. My savior here where I live is "storms"! Yes, I usually get two or three big maples a year that go over in Nor-easters and I can count on them usually ever year. I'm burning wood right now from Hurricane Sandy. Lucky for me I helped clear some land three years back and took down an oak at a friends so I'm "stacked" with oak and hickory till 2020. I usually plan for a 4 to 5 cord winter, if not, so be it. After this wood I have in the shed is done, I'm sitting on about 10 to 12 cord of dry for next two years. If I don't have 15 cord sitting the yard I get a little weird and start the hunt. My other issue is that's "all" I can fit comfortably in my yard with out being able to move, I don't have a big lot.