I dont get it

etiger2007 · Sep 21, 2012

So before I started a little fire tonight at the mrs. request I split a couple of ash splits and tested them with the mm and my small splits measured in at 17 to 20% moisture. So I think Im good to go, well when the wood started to catch pretty good some bubbles started coming out the ends of the splits. This was short lived and totally went away when temps got high. I thought for sure i would be good, Why is my wood doing this? MM has a good battery, im trying to burn good dry wood and im getting frustrated by this. My black walnut did the same thing.

Jack Straw · Sep 21, 2012

I dry my wood for 2+ years and I still get a steamer once and awhile.

remkel · Sep 21, 2012

Where was the wood stacked? Have you had any rain recently? I suspect what you were seeing was a little bit of surface moisture, but I am certain others may have differing opinions. I would not worry too much about it provided the wood started fairly easily and burned well.

BrotherBart · Sep 21, 2012

Yeah "short lived" says the stuff grabbed some moisture from recent rains. Are the stacks covered?

I am a firm believer in this " a couple of sunny days" stuff being a crock.

etiger2007 · Sep 21, 2012

yeah we had some rain this week, the wood is covered by steel roofing. and its stacked in the shade with plenty of wind, wont this make creosote?

My Oslo heats my home · Sep 21, 2012

you would know if the ash was more than 20%, it would have struggled to burn. It looks like the others have said, some rain or high humidity snuck back in.

pen · Sep 21, 2012

How long has it been cut, split, stacked like that?

I agree though, if you were able to get it up to a good temp (500+)easily, that you need not worry about excessive creosote from that moisture so long as your burning habits are good.

The real content of the wood is dry. If it wasn't, you'd struggle getting over 400-450.

pen

fossil · Sep 21, 2012

Relax, don't worry, be happy...you're doing fine. Burn the wood and keep paying as close attention to everything as you are now. Maybe the wood's not perfect, but it's dang near perfect...a bit of bubbling until up to temp isn't going to fill your flue with creosote and explode into a chimney fire in one burning season (or two). Rick

BrotherBart · Sep 22, 2012

The gentlemen know of what they speak This isn't an exact science and every load if different. Last season I had the first bubbling out of wood I have had in five years. And the stuff had been top covered for three years. The house didn't burn down and there wasn't any thing strange in the pipe at the end of the season.

Bubble happens.

bogydave · Sep 22, 2012

Good catch but;
I think you are good to go.
First fires, wood off the top may be a little wetter from rain . Maybe a hidden punky pocket inside the wood.

Good to crank up for the first few minutes so to get any moisture out of the wood.
Not a creosote issue IMO, hot fast burns have high exhaust gas temperatures &
you don't get much condensation inside the chimney. Long, low, cooler fires with wood over 20 - 25% are the creosote makers.

Good to check the chimney monthly any way, peace of mind

I like to start out new fires & reloads with a good hot fire for 10 minutes or so to burn off the moisture & heat the pipes, then turn the stove down.

MM are a good reference, but not exact.

jeff_t · Sep 22, 2012

Short lived bubbling out the ends happens to me sometimes, too. Wood loses moisture out the ends easily, and it will suck up a little too. It doesn't go deep, and you'll be fine. Turn your splits around next time. Maybe the other end won't sizzle.

etiger2007 · Sep 22, 2012

good stuff guys and thank all of you, I just like to do things right and It sounds like I am. I will be burning tonight with temps going into the 30s tonight. Yeah the wood took off and I could have gotten it hotter but i backed her down. The pics in my other thread lastnight Magnet vs thermometer in the gear section are the temps of that very wood. Thanks again you guys

rdust · Sep 22, 2012

I've had oak stacked in single rows for 3 years that will sizzle from time to time. A couple years back I actually made a thread about it similar to this one, I think it read 18% on a fresh split face and still bubbled for a couple minutes out of the ends. The general consensus was it sucked up some moisture on the ends from the rain.

The cell structure of wood is like a bunch of little "straws" if they get enough water I see no reason why they won't wick up a little water. People say wood isn't a sponge unless it's punky, this may be true to an extent but dip the end grain in some water and I'd guess it will wick some of that water up. I think I've read when a split is fully seasoned those straws "collapse" which probably limits what it will reabsorb. Maybe I'll grab some oak from the spring of 09 and dunk it in a bucket. ;lol

ScotO · Sep 22, 2012

I notice that pieces of crotch and knarly grained splits hold moisture indefinately. I know my 'uglies' (which end up between the rows since they won't stack very nice) are famous for foaming at the ends. Like the others said, lots of variables. My general concensus has been that if you have the means to top cover, then do it. If not, don't worry about it. Let the wood season as best you can (2 to 3 years is optimum), and no matter what the MM says you'll be fine. I think you got the priciples down already, another year or so and you'll have the confidence part down pat. Seeing, after all, is believing. I'd never be three to four years ahead if it wasn't for this site. I'd have sold most of the wood I've cut and only kept enough for year to year. Glad I found this place!!

etiger2007 · Sep 22, 2012

rdust said:
I've had oak stacked in single rows for 3 years that will sizzle from time to time. A couple years back I actually made a thread about it similar to this one, I think it read 18% on a fresh split face and still bubbled for a couple minutes out of the ends. The general consensus was it sucked up some moisture on the ends from the rain.

The cell structure of wood is like a bunch of little "straws" if they get enough water I see no reason why they won't wick up a little water. People say wood isn't a sponge unless it's punky, this may be true to an extent but dip the end grain in some water and I'd guess it will wick some of that water up. I think I've read when a split is fully seasoned those straws "collapse" which probably limits what it will reabsorb. Maybe I'll grab some oak from the spring of 09 and dunk it in a bucket.

Its kinda fun running different kinds of test isnt it

ScotO · Sep 22, 2012

rdust said:
The cell structure of wood is like a bunch of little "straws" if they get enough water I see no reason why they won't wick up a little water. People say wood isn't a sponge unless it's punky, this may be true to an extent but dip the end grain in some water and I'd guess it will wick some of that water up. I think I've read when a split is fully seasoned those straws "collapse" which probably limits what it will reabsorb. Maybe I'll grab some oak from the spring of 09 and dunk it in a bucket.

I do this with my applewood, white oak, and hickory when I cook with it regularly. I split it up into slivers, stand it up in a five gallon bucket, fill it with water and snap a lid on it. It most definately WILL become waterlogged, and it helps it smolder rather than burn when using it for cooking/smoking. so yes, the wood does have the ability to re-absorb moisture, albeit not from an occasional rainstorm. When the wood is constantly being soaked with very little airflow and sunlight, it will get wet and stay wet. Eventually turning to punk.

Backwoods Savage · Sep 22, 2012

Tiger, don't put so much faith in that MM. Perhaps you did have a split that was not the very best. It happens. A few years ago I had a split that really sizzled. No, I did not measure it with a MM but will tell you it had been split and stacked under cover for 6 years. No, I do not know how but every so often ash will do that and I suspect most types of wood will. You may burn the same type of wood for quite some time with no problems then suddenly you get a batch that just won't burn right. Why? I don't know nor do I care. It just happens.

firefighterjake · Sep 24, 2012

No worries . . . it happens occasionally even to wood that has been seasoned for a bit . . . now if it had just sat there and sizzled for a good 10 or 15 minutes I might be concerned, but the sizzling stopped, temps were good and a few incidents like this will not automatically choke up your chimney with creosote.

Pagey · Sep 24, 2012

I would be surprised if wood didn't hiss and bubble more, to be honest. Even at 20% MC, that's still 1/5 water!

Huntindog1 · Sep 24, 2012

Your taking a surface reading on your wood, the thing to do for more accurate reading is to "split the test pieces one more time" and immediately test that inside surface.

I found last year that 20% wasnt ideal dry wood. Alot of the guys last year with really good results where using wood 15% or less. 20% can work but just not the best.

etiger2007 · Sep 24, 2012

i do split it and check the fresh wood. the center of the split measured in at 20%

begreen · Sep 24, 2012

You're fine. Keep the tops covered and the wood will only get drier as time goes by.

Jags · Sep 24, 2012

Backwoods Savage said:
then suddenly you get a batch that just won't burn right.

And it will always happen when you are trying to get out the door to go somewhere on a time schedule. ::P

I dont get it

Minister of Fire

Attachments

Minister of Fire

Minister of Fire

Modesterator

Minister of Fire

Minister of Fire

There are some who call me...mod.

Accidental Moderator

Modesterator

Minister of Fire

Minister of Fire

Minister of Fire

Minister of Fire

ScotO

Guest

Minister of Fire

ScotO

Guest

Minister of Fire

Minister of Fire

Minister of Fire

Minister of Fire

Minister of Fire

Mooderator

Moderate Moderator

Similar threads