First Scrounge! Sorry No Pics

[Charlene Kravec]

A tree came down along side the road we live on and was suspended above the road by a heavy vine. (We live in farm country and there is no home on this piece of land.) Someone came by and cut the tree eliminating the hazard but leaving the wood. My husband and I brought the truck and the chainsaw and took it home. It was red oak!

We're now thinking of adding more wood racks so we can season enough for a three year rotation.

 

[swagler85]

I really like red oak, burns great, splits easy, just takes its time drying.

 

[Charlene Kravec]

How long has it taken to dry? Break it to me gently.

 

[Blue2ndaries]

Nice score Charlene, unfortunately oak does take time...see this current thread.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/thought-you-guys-were-pulling-my-leg-about-oak.104150/

 

[Charlene Kravec]

Nice score Charlene, unfortunately oak does take time...see this current thread.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/thought-you-guys-were-pulling-my-leg-about-oak.104150/

I was figuring three years anyway. Maybe four to five? (sigh!)

 

[jdp1152]

Down your way two summers is good enough.

 

[Augie]

Maybe not. I just posted a study by cornell that says with a little clear plastic you can shorten times considerably

Here https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/solar-kiln.104086/

 

[Charlene Kravec]

Thanks for the info. I was saying to myself, "Shoot, I'm 65! Will I live long enough 'till it's ready to burn?"

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Don't worry Charlene. I'm a bit older than you and we put up a lot of pine this year. You very well may get by in 2 years for the oak just because of where you live. Good luck. Stack it in a windy spot and top cover it.

 

[Charlene Kravec]

Thanks, Dennis. We've got it covered in a sunny place that gets plenty of breeze. Thus buoyed, we're planning our next scrounge! (Amazing how you begin to notice dead hardwoods.) This next scrounge is on our own land.

Thanks Augie for the solar kiln thread.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Charlene, although we have more than enough wood on our own place I can't help but notice all the dead trees as I drive down the roads. Guess it is just in the blood.

Hopefully you have covered only the top of the wood piles?!

 

[Charlene Kravec]

Three of our wood racks are in a canvas tent shelter that gets breeze blowing through it. Until a week ago when the weather turned and we got rain from the north, the front flap was rolled up. One wood rack that is under the porch presently has a tarp over it because it gets wet from the porch runoff. As soon as weather permits we're going to staple some plastic or other material above the wood rack so the water can drain away without touching the wood in the rack beneath it. Our other two racks have top covers with Velcro closures.

Right now we are dealing with the aftermath of an ice storm but, fortunately, our fireplace insert is back in working order.

 

[Ralphie Boy]

Get yourself a moisture meter for $30 or less at Lowe's so you can check the moisture content, on a fresh split, and know when any of your wood is ready for the insert. Always check several pieces form different parts of the stack to be sure. Like everyone says seasoning times for the same woods can be different in different climates.

 

[Charlene Kravec]

Ralphie, have the moisture meeter and use it and will remember to check from different parts of the stack. We do get a lot of humidity and rain in this part of the country but the sun on clear days is quite strong which should help with drying.