Finally Bought a Moisture Meter - Surpising Results

Carbon_Liberator said:

We have quite a bit of Doug Fir in these parts and it use to be my firewood of choice, but I've been passing on it the last few years because I have come to realize that, as far as firewood ranking go, pine beetle killed lodgepole pine beats Doug fir on every level. At least from my perspective.

Here's are the reasons I stopped cutting Doug Fir.

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Seanm said:

Im with you. I dont know what I would do if I had to process 4 cords of oak every year and not be able to burn it for years!! although I would love to get my hands on some of it. I would have a hard time storing 3 years worth of wood on my 50 X 100 lot. I started on this years wood in may but also have some green larch and pine split and stacked for next winter cause it was easy to get. My wife and kids were with me today in the bush and I pointed out to my 7 year old son that the spiders are frozen now. He seemed a bit more relaxed hugging those rounds as he took it to the truck. We brought home a cord of Larch/D fir yesterday and today to go with my heavy helping of Lodgepole. All of it below 19% mc and checked. My wife says I need to fix the entrance way lite before I get another cord.... Im with you on the pine beatle lodgepole, we have lots of it here in the Elk Valley as well. Its hard to pass by dry Pine when its within a few minutes drive. Unless Im out having fun in the bush I dont like to spend more than 5 loonies in fuel to get my wood if I can help it! FYI back to the post (sorry) I had my moisture meter in my pocket while cutting this weekend just to make sure I was cutting wood that was seasoned. It was a bit surprising that even some cut and split rounds that werent heavy were around 23%. I could be choosy so went with the dry stuff

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Carbon_Liberator said:

Nice to hear there are others enjoying the benefits of beetle kill Lodgepole pine. As for using the moisture meter, it was by using my moisture meter that I learned how to tell which trees would be dry enough to burn right away, and which would not be. After cutting and measuring enough trees, now I can tell just by looking at the shape that the needles are in what the MC will be, and since the lodgepole pine tend to die together in groves at the same time, I just find the right grove of dead trees and start falling them towards each other. Can usually fill up the truck (full cord) from one location.
Gota love those pine beetles.

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Kenneth Kline said:

Be careful what you wish for. It's kinda sad here in Southern Maryland. Pine Bark Beetles are killing large numbers of the natural Viginia Pine forest here. I burn it sometimes since it's free as we have plenty of oak and locust available. But noboby here loves the pine beetle.

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