3 truths about white oak firewood

1. It takes twice as long to season as most firewood. Here in Michigan at least, it takes two full years to season thin splits, three years to season normal size splits and small (3"-4") rounds, four years to season large splits and medium (5"-6") rounds, and 5 years to season huge splits and 6"+ rounds. I have stacked it covered and uncovered -- in single rows and on pallets -- in the sun and in the shade. Regardless, normal size splits are never fully seasoned after two years.

2. Heartwood will be around longer than you if you keep it off the ground. The sapwood will rot off in 5 or 6 years if not top covered. The heartwood is unlikely to rot in your lifetime if you keep it off the ground. Two years ago I split some big white oak rounds that were cut in 1999 and left in the woods for 20 years. The sapwood had rotted away, but the heartwood was perfectly solid and hard a steel.

3. If you actually get it fully seasoned, it burns amazingly well. If you are unimpressed with how long and hot your white oak burns, season it another year or two or three. If you get it to sub-20% moisture content, it burns a lot like white ash but longer. That means a hot, slow burn with minimal flames and great coals after an all-night burn.

Do I love white oak? Not really. I like big splits for my big stove, and there is high-btu wood that seasons in half the time: sugar maple and beech, for example. I prefer both to white oak. And there are lots of other medium-high btu options -- like Norway maple and red elm -- that season in a reasonable amount of time, burn clean and hot, and leave a nice bed of coals.

Just my 2 cents. The experiences of others will no doubt vary.

I have split and stacked 30+ cords of white oak over the past decade -- mostly burr oak, chinquapin oak, and swamp white oak. I've probably burned half of that, and the other half is still stacked outside -- 3, 4, 5, and even 6 years later.

 

I was thinking about white oak since I fired up my big stove (Napoleon s9) for the first time today. I loaded with with two big spruce rounds and a big split of burr oak that's been seasoning for 5 years. Three hours later the spruce has pretty much disappeared and the oak split has barely reduced in size.

 

I have tons of white oak yeah its awesome once seasoned but it sure sucks getting there. Swamp white oak is the heaviest stuff Ive ever encountered it was like carrying rounds of lead Im curious as to its btu.

 

This is fantastic! It's crazy how much red oak we have in my area that I almost take it for granted, but when I spot a white oak I start salivating. There's a reason they build boats from white oak and not red!

 

To sum up white oak. Good things come to those that wait.

 

Some folks laugh at the wait times. Get yourself 3 years ahead or more I'll share with them, that oak likes to hold onto moisture but it's more than worth the wait.

 

How about a couple more?

• One of the nicest smelling woods when cutting
• Makes some fine tasting adult beverages

I have mostly red oak, but there are some whites around.

A few years ago, I took down a standing dead white oak, ~10in DBH. I'm expecting to use it this heating season. I do think that I'll re-split a piece and check it for moisture, just cuz. The bark is crumbling. I'm sure it's good to go.

I'm fortunate to be on the 3+ year plan, and have space to stack ~14cord. (3-4 cord per heating season) Any new oak, is welcome to sleep for a few years.

 

Indeed it does!


The White Oak of Old Ironsides
White Oak possesses a unique cellular structure that makes its timber water and rot-resistant. For this reason, as well as the renowned strength of the species, Pennsylvania shipbuilder Joshua Humphreys suggested that hulls of America’s first wooden warships be made entirely out of White Oak .

Among these warships (also known as frigates) was the U.S.S. Constitution—which is now the world’s oldest commissioned naval vessel. But the strength of the White Oak used to make the U.S.S. Constitution was known throughout the land long before she held the world record for age.

On a cloudy August afternoon in the year 1812, the Constitution came face-to-face with the British warship Guerriere. Through the course of the battle that ensued, cannon balls from the opposing ship were alleged to have bounced off the sides of the Constitution. Astounded by the resiliency of the wooden ship, an American sailor is alleged to have exclaimed: “Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!”

The rest is history, as from that day forward the iconic ship became known as “Old Ironsides.” Few people know, however, that her sides were not iron at all but were made entirely of the mighty White Oak.

To this day, a grove of White Oak trees in Crane, Indiana is preserved for the sole purpose of supplying wood to the Constitution for repairs. It is known simply as Constitution Grove.

From - The White Oak of Old Ironsides | Olde Wood Ltd.

 

I think this picture says it all. I've only burned a relatively small amount of regular white oak but was impressed. I have some in my stacks that I might get into later this winter, but the bulk of what I have won't see my stove for a couple more years. Last year I went through a face cord of dead chestnut oak that left me wishing I had more.

 

Yes, white oak has some amazing characteristics and can be quite heavy. Also has great acorns that deer love. The heaviest oak I've come across is live oak. And I figure it takes even longer to season. Mine is only two years old, stacked.

 

Very interesting, great points. When looking closely at white oak vs red oak you will see that teeny tiny pores on red oak are much more apparent and open. From a woodworking perspective, when buying in KD lumber, it can actually be very hard to tell the difference, I have to get a magnifying glass and look at the end grain. Yesterday I was actually applying stain to the end of a 4" block of red oak, and the stain was actually coming out of the other end! You could maybe even sip your drink though it! This must be largely why RO drives so much faster.

Thanks again, cheers!

 

I agree for the most part. If i had more room id take more oak of all types. Plenty of other one year woods available here.

 

Starting with standing dead trees or deadfall helps speed things up. These were all burned within a year of being c/s/s:

 

I don't mind it.
Yeah it takes a while to dry so storage is a pain but it does a great job keeping us warm.

 

One of the biggest advantages of oak has yet to be heard IMO. Unlike some other species, when I split oak, the wedge of my splitter only has to go in about 3-5" and it pops apart. This speeds up processing tremendously!




vs some of the others:


When you are on the 3+ year plan, wait time isn't an issue at all.

 

Brad, I know you like shorter-to-season firewood... even 1-yr-to-season firewood... you have probably stated it and I have probably read it, but what species do you sell most of that season quickly?

FWIW, I am splitting some red oak now that is almost 1.5 years old, is very nice once split. I have not measure moisture content. I doubt it is below 30 but around here, that's pretty good, lol. Once split, I figure it will lose some moisture pretty quickly. It would be interesting to see what such wood is in m.c., and have two types, rounds that were cut 1.5 years ago and logs left in log form 1.5 years ago. I am actually going to measure that, I have both I can source.

 

I like red maple which is the most common tree in Connecticut. I prefer it primo straight, but dont always get it that way. Being a scrounger and having no steady source for wood other than luck of the score roadside and FBM/CL i take it as it comes.

Bundles are one year wood mixed with SS wood. My current seasoned bundle inventory is mostly red maple and ash.

Current round inventory is a couple cords black locust from late Winter. Some ash from the Spring and the hickory i cut last week. I try to process as it comes in...try that is.

 

It takes longer, but I always split straight grained oak small. I also try to stack it loose, by having more splits crisscross for maximum air flow. Lastly, my old setup allowed me to have over 100 splits inside next to the wood insert. I would bring oak inside and let it sit in the 90F+ stove room for 2 weeks. This made a world of difference before I got on the three year plan.