Do you think blowing air on a stack of firewood with a fan would dry it out pretty quickly? I retrieved a stack of oak and hickory and parts of it had fallen over and had touched the ground for maybe a year. Where it touched ground, it's partly rotted and ugly such that I won't sell it, will just use it myself. But quite a bit of it is damp or even soggy. I've got it stacked against the wall of my carport. Reason I ask is I have no idea if overnight would help or it would take days or weeks, lol. At least the weather will now cooperate from several days of rain, no rain in forecast for next ten days, yippee! Anyone with experience on this? I also ask for a customer who is buying a trailer load stacked full of good, seasoned firewood from me and it has gotten rain wet over the past several days just sitting here at my place and she expressed concern about that.
From what you describe, I would just write it off. I've not even had good luck trying to burn it in a brush pile. However, you are out nothing by trying. CAUTION: DO NOT TRY BURNING THAT SORT OF WOOD IN ANY STOVE WITH A CATALYST. It is a great way to ruin a catalyst.
Been my experience water logged wood will dry pretty quick once removed from the wetness. Still warm enough in your area to dry it on the quick side. Air movement is one of the three things needed for drying wood besides sun exposure and time. Ive contemplated a fan to dry my bundle wood stacks faster. Even getting some type of solar generator set up for power as its a distance from a power source. Im interested to hear Jeff's input as I thought the fans were for them when they worked in the heat.
The few rain day trailer stuff will dry out quicker with a fan. (But just stacking it off the ground and covered by the customer will be fine in a week or so too...) The year on the ground stuff will need months at least (to be below 20%). A fan for two weeks or so may cut 25% off of that by helping the initial outside moisture dry out, but after that you're limited by how quickly water moves through the bulk of the wood to the surface. The problem is the inside is soaked.
I personally wouldn't use a fan on this stuff that is going to be less than prime even after dry. It will be marginal at best I'm guessing.
