Oak..Sure takes its sweet ole time..

Smaug · Mar 9, 2021

Smaug said: ↑

I just went out and checked the sides of three splits. They are between 16 and 21%.
I'll split one again tomorrow and get an inside measurement.

My stove is a 2020 VC Aspen C3, and it needs very dry wood. It's also pretty small, so small splits are necessary.
Click to expand...

OK. I just split and checked another log. It read 21.6%

Eric Wanderweg · Mar 9, 2021

mrfancyplants said: ↑

I have wondered, not advocating, about heaping oak on the ground for a year until the bark falls off and then stacking it for a year. To see if it gets drier quicker. I have heard the premise before and think it might be worth testing with a small pile. Something about breaking down the cell walls. I also remember someone saying they knew a guy who would hose down their new stacks with the garden hose. I wouldn’t take it that far, but leaving a heap is pretty minimal effort.
Click to expand...

I did an experiment of sorts last year processing red oak that had been down on the ground in the woods for about 5 years. Punky sapwood, mushroom farm, bark falling off or gone completely. I cut it short, split it relatively thin and kept it top covered. Long story short, it went from very wet to under or just at 20% in about 6-7 months. I just burned the last of it this past weekend. Take all that at face value.

Log in or Sign up

Oak..Sure takes its sweet ole time..

Smaug

Eric Wanderweg