still sizzling off on a hot coal bed!! I dont top cover, so maybe thats why? It was split and stack on a pallet in full sun and wind for 3 complete years. I just put a bunch of short splits N/S and the bottom splits had some sizzle and water coming out of the ends. I know about using meter, but I just roll with it. Its finally starting to take off, took about 10minutes to get rolling. Other splits from same pallet took off like rocket, must be splits from bottom of the pallet? Just found it interesting... And too think people buy this fresh split and throw it in their stoves all winter.
Its not totally unusual to get some sizzling, even with well-seasoned oak, being you're not top covering. The key is that it goes away soon after reloading. I'm burning 3 and 4 yr oak now, and some pieces do that as well. Don't panic, keep an eye on it as it goes and see if the sizzle quits eventually.
I'm burning oak that's been CSS for at least 4 years and most of it hisses and sizzles like I cut it yesterday.
I’m burning red oak that was uprooted and laying off the ground for 3 years. I css it late winter. It’s too dry. Burning up like paper Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I've made similar threads before. I've had pieces at 20% on the mm sizzle a bit and I top cover. This is with oak seasoned 3 and 4 years, it really drives me crazy! 2 years ago I added a small lean to on my shed(holds just shy of 4 cords..a seasons worth). I fill it in the spring and it has made a big difference in the sizzlers, it happens rarely now.
Same here. I dont hear any hiss/sizzle but can see moisture on the ends. Usually only see it when the stove is cool, reloading on a few coals or lighting a new fire. I think it evaporates too fast to accumulate when my stove is hot.
I've got some 6+ year css oak that's been moved into a woodshed for 3+ year's. Never could understand how some pieces can still sizzle, but they light off good and the glass stays clean.
Oak will do that. I'll be burning 4 year seasoned red oak next year. Some pieces are too big and will need a resplit, so I'll take multiple MM readings.
At 20% your split is still 1/6 water by weight. That's a pint for every 6 pounds. So there's still some water that needs to be cooked out. Oak being very porous will show you that as it warms up.
Wood is hygroscopic. Like a sponge it will absorb and hold water. At 20% there's enough water content for fungi to grow. It is not uncommon for oak stacked but not top covered to be wet enough to support fungi life. Almost always on the ends which absorbs water more readily. The whole split may not be wet enough, but the ends are. It can stay wet enough to support fungi for months. That's one reason many of us top cover. To minimize this repeated wetting and drying cycle.
It performed great, loaded at 8pm, and up at 5:30am and had a great coal bed and the stoves fan was still running. Glass didnt get black in the least so I guess all is well. There wasnt one hint of fungus on the entire cord. I have never had oak grow fungus. Now if I leave maple out like that for two years it will no doubt.
