Conferms my beliefe that...

[Butcher]

farwood can only get so dry according to the local climate. I been tearing down this old barn that was built in 1875. There was a 14 foot buy 12 inch log that someone had split the entire lenght and used to shore up part of the haymow. I finally got it saftly cut and pulled out of the barn and took the saw to it.(Gasp for all those salvagers). The chips smelled of oak. Odd since there really isnt much oak growing in this neck of the woods and the entire barn is built outta cedar. Took a chunk to the splitter and tested it with my MM. I'm guessing from what I know about this barn and the repairs done at the time this log was shoehorned in the loft that it is at least 50 years old. The MM still read 17% moisture. It is very humid here in my neck of the woods so I can see it happening.

 

[Woody Stover]

The MM still read 17% moisture. It is very humid here in my neck of the woods so I can see it happening.

Yep, there's an EMC (equilibrium moisture content) for a given location, and the wood won't get any drier. There's also a species adjustment needed for the meter readings, so it's conceivable the actual MC could be a couple of points lower. But I'm thinking that wood should be ready to burn.

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrn/fplrn268.pdf

 

[Paulywalnut]

50 years is probably just enough time for seasoning red oak.
Guaranteed not to hiss in the stove.

 

[Ashful]

Another six or eight years, and that beam would've been as old and dry as some of the wood in Backwood's stacks!

 

[bogydave]

Another six or eight years, and that beam would've been as old and dry as some of the wood in Backwood's stacks!

Naw
Backwoods 50 yr olds stacks, in Michigan (drier climate), are near 8 % LOL

the entire barn is built outta cedar.

Looks like cedar.

 

[TimJ]

doesn't look like oak

 

[Jon1270]

Yeah, that's not oak. It looks a lot like red elm, though, which is native in your area.

 

[Woody Stover]

I doubt it but is there any bark on those?

 

[mywaynow]

Better yet, check for leaves on the floor of the barn!

 

[ScotO]

Looks like ancient locust to me.......either way, that stuff is definately ready to burn right now!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Naw
Backwoods 50 yr olds stacks, in Michigan (drier climate), are near 8 % LOL


Looks like cedar.

You may not be too far off Dave. I took some to Woodstock that did measure that low!

 

[nrford]

Red Elm

 

[Paulywalnut]

My neighbor thinks the firewood will rot if you don't burn it in a year.
Wow, do we know different.

 

[HDRock]

My neighbor thinks the firewood will rot if you don't burn it in a year.
Wow, do we know different.

Well Birch will ,so maybe that's where people get that misinfo

 

[Ashful]

Well Birch will ,so maybe that's where people get that misinfo

Maybe, but not much birch growing around Kennet Square. He'd be surrounded by oak, walnut, elm, and maple.

 

[oldspark]

Birch wont rot if its keep dry

 

[HDRock]

Birch wont rot if its keep dry

But don't let the bark get wet

 

[StihlHead]

Birch wont rot if its keep dry

If you split it fast enough and dry it, yes. Stored in a dry place but left unsplit here it will rot.

 

[StihlHead]

BTW, if you split an old cedar log, it will usually still smell like cedar when it is split. Those splits sure look like cedar.

 

[oldspark]

I agree with the people who said it looks like red elm.

 

[TimJ]

I agree with the people who said it looks like red elm.

Just goes to show you that the different species of wood and all their qualities is knowledge that is very valuable.
To think that a farmer knew to get that piece of red elm to support a structure and that it would last forever is satisfying.

 

[Ashful]

To think that a farmer knew to get that piece of red elm to support a structure and that it would last forever is satisfying.

I can't say anything with regard to this particular structure, but the notion that farmers ever built the old farm houses or barns you see today is very seldom correct. They did definitely build barns, few of which are still standing. They occasionally built huts, later to be replaced by professionally-built houses. With very few exceptions, all old farm houses, and most barns built well enough to stand 140 years, were professionally built.

Butcher, if you have a local historical society, they may be interested in getting some photos of the markings on the beams (letters, roman numerals, simple scribes), as well as the joinery. Depending on how early your area was settled, and how many builders there were in 1875, they may be able to tell you who built that barn.

1875 would be a fairly "new" building in my area, but I imagine it's quite early for Iowa. Seems the first settlers didn't get out there until the mid-1800's.

 

[clemsonfor]

I have some stacks, i did stack them 4 deep, and on the ground but i figured that i would sacrifice the bottom row or 2 for ease of stacking at the time. This wood had started to rot almost all the way to the top of my stacks. Now its a long way from rotted but a good bit was punky and some was outright rotted on the sapwood. This was mostly oak and hickory that was the main problem. Strange thing is i think i get less rot if left in the round for the 16months or so this was sitting split and stacked. Just personal experience in my climate. This wood was mostly not covered. I had some shingles or plywood on top and various othert things that would be blown off and eventually replaced but for the most part it got wet each rain event which i think led to the deterioration.

 

[Woody Stover]

Red Elm

When I saw the pic of that split standing on end I thought "Huh, the Red Elm I just split had that same rot color and pattern near the edge of the round...."

 

[oldspark]

You may not be too far off Dave. I took some to Woodstock that did measure that low!

Backwoods, I thought we came to the conslucion that wood dries faster in Iowa then where you live, what are your RH levels in the summer.