I am a new member and needed some advice. I split a half cord about 2 months ago and I am now seeing black surface mold on a lot of the ends. I had put most of the wood on a metal rack the side that gets more sun (no mold) the other side is just starting to get mold. I had left about 25% of the wood on a pallet behind the metal rack and that pile has the greatest amount of mold. Is this something I can correct by moving the piled wood to a spot that gets more sun and stacking it appropriately? I have seasoned wood on the metal rack I mentioned before with no mold issues so this a first for me. Should I be concerned or is this mold going to die off as the wood seasons? First three pictures are today with mold. First two were better days when I first had split the 1/2 cord. Any advice is greatly appreciated
Has it been damp where you are? I notice this on my stacks when we have had several days of wetness. When the arid summer sun comes in August and September it will finish it off.
Hey welcome to the Forum! I had something like this happen to me last year because of the way the wood was and it got mold on it. It was still in an area with wind but lots of moisture and warm too. Its like you describe it in your last picture only wood was a bit further back and not split yet. I really needed to wait for a dry day and less wet wood. So I opted to not only place it in a sunnier area but more exposed windy area without my house blocking it. The house and garage was making a tunnel along with my neighbors (garage to neighbors is about some 30 feet apart?) then wind rain and warming trends caused some black mold on some white birch ends I had in the back of my yard within a couple days to a week from getting it. Strange right? But it was really wet and APRIL! Luckily it wasn’t long until it started to warm and dry up again. But I try to make sure that fresh wood still has more circulation at first, no soggy areas. You may have to wait a bit and that mold won’t really be an issue long. Anyways enjoy your time here. Hope you’re havinf fun splitting!
It's dangerous and causes illness, I'll be right over and safely remove that contaminated stuff for you! Really, nothing to worry about! Welcome to the land of woodenheads and the occasional knucklehead!
Thanks Guys! Needed to hear that. Too much work/"fun" splitting it to not be able to enjoy watching it season. I'm going to move restack the smaller pile. Thanks again the advice was much appreciated
No problem from my non-medical viewpoint. I would not bring it in the house wet, but that is true with mold or without. When it is dry, I see no issue.
Comes and goes with the weather here too. Less with the top covered stacks molds are everywhere - as long as you don't bring the splits in the house and water them every day - no problem.
Welcome to the forum Jerry As you've already found out, the mold is not problem but I would not take it into the house until it is needed into the stove. That is, some folks store several days worth of wood in the house. I would not recommend that. Take it in only as you need it, especially with mold on it. Also, you might want to do a little reading on the subject of firewood and here is one source you might find interesting: Primer on Woodburning by Backwoods Savage
I suggest rotating your piles each month. Back row to front and rotate each piece 180 degrees!!!! Joking of course. It happens to me where the stacks are close or touch. Nothing to worry about, aside from not stacking it anywhere inside your home. I pull some uglies out of the bushes that are growing mushrooms, still burns. Good luck and welcome. Fun place here.
Heck, I know of one guy that turned some crafts out of some spalted maple...bowls, Christmas trees, etc and his wife would not let him bring them into the house!! Too gosh darn afraid once she heard that spalting is a type of fungus. "Is Spalted Wood dangerous? There is a misconception among many woodworkers that working with spalted wood is particularly dangerous. Most fungal spores are about as harmful to a healthy adult as wood dust, so if you sand spalted wood, wear a mask. However, people with immune system disorders should not work with spalted wood.Apr 14, 2009"
