Oak seasoning question

creek chub · Dec 8, 2016

Babaganoosh said: ↑

I'm not fully on board with wind being the most important by the way. I'm not saying it's not important. I just don't think it's the most important. I find that heat is the most important. Sunlight and the outside temperature both give you heat. The wind does not. Heat accelerates the drying process. Wind carries away the moisture that's expelled from the wood. Ideally you would have both heat and wind. That would dry wood the fastest. By top covering you prevent the outside of the wood from getting wet. By doing so it doesn't waste the heat from the sun and the moisture carrying effect of the wind and let's all that sun and wind energy be utilized for drying out the actual moisture content of the wood.

If you have the means I suggest an experiment. If you can stack 2 stacks next to each other and wrap one with shrink wrap and not wrap the other. Leave a little venting so the moisture can get out during the day. Just some very small slits because you want to keep the temperature up. Then leave the bottom open so that the condensate can drip out and away. I'd bet dollars to donuts that the oak will be ready or damm close to being ready in one year. I did that to a pallet of red oak that was standing dead but very wet and it was ready in a summer and a few months.
Click to expand...

I may give that a try.

creek chub · Dec 8, 2016

Backwoods Savage said: ↑

So you need the wood to drop another 10% or more over the next year. My guess is that it definitely should drop that much over a year's time. Just be sure to keep it top covered. If you don't, then I would say you will have to wait 2 years because although wood is not necessarily a sponge, setting uncovered through the winter with snow covering it and then thawing and more snow and thawing etc, it will get some moisture increase in the wood. Besides, although many do not top cover, by experimenting we can say without hesitation that the wood quality decreases being uncovered. Yes, it will burn, but it won't be as good of wood.
Click to expand...

What material do you use to top cover your stacks?

Backwoods Savage · Dec 8, 2016

Old metal roofing.

MikeInMa · Dec 8, 2016

I usually leave my wood uncovered for the 1st year, then covered after that. Seems to work well.

Ralphie Boy · Dec 8, 2016

Backwoods Savage, post: 584219, member: 83"]Don't forget the hybrid stoves which have both the secondary tubes and cats.
Click to expand...

You're correct Dennis, best he look up the specs on his particular stove.

oldspark · Dec 8, 2016

MikeInMa said: ↑

I usually leave my wood uncovered for the 1st year, then covered after that. Seems to work well.
Click to expand...

That's good advice right there, I never cover my wood until it's dry and will be used in the winter coming up, my wood seems to dry as fast as anyone reporting on this forum.

Log in or Sign up

Oak seasoning question

creek chub

creek chub

Backwoods Savage Moderator

MikeInMa

Ralphie Boy

oldspark