Moisture in random Splits

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cuttingedge

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Nov 11, 2013
143
Maine
So out of pure curiosity last night I purchased a general moisture meter from Lowes.
Today while loading my fireplace I decided to check the moisture content of some random splits that I just split in half before bringing inside. Most of these were ash that has been seasoning for over a year and the moisture content was 18%- 22%. Some Cherry that I have was sitting since last fall as rounds and was split this spring. I was thinking that this would be much higher as it was not split until this year and to my surprise most of it was around the same 18%- 22%.
Does this make any sense or is my meter way off?
 
Ash and cherry can dry out fairly quick. So long as you check the splits immediately after splitting you should be in the ball park. Be aware that you can get different readings depending on the air temperature so indoors vs outdoors can be different.

The main thing to keep in mind about the MM is that they are guides and not absolutes. No better way has yet been found than going onto the 3 year plan. Keep 3 years ahead on your wood pile and that will take away well over 90% of all stove related problems. We split in spring and stack immediately after splitting. Long about late fall, usually around December 1, we then top cover the wood piles. It works fantastically and we also find that we burn less wood for the heat we get.
 
Backwoods Savage said:
Ash and cherry can dry out fairly quick. So long as you check the splits immediately after splitting you should be in the ball park. Be aware that you can get different readings depending on the air temperature so indoors vs outdoors can be different.

The main thing to keep in mind about the MM is that they are guides and not absolutes. No better way has yet been found than going onto the 3 year plan. Keep 3 years ahead on your wood pile and that will take away well over 90% of all stove related problems. We split in spring and stack immediately after splitting. Long about late fall, usually around December 1, we then top cover the wood piles. It works fantastically and we also find that we burn less wood for the heat we get.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info,
I just split them in half right before I brought them inside. I also just checked a piece of pin oak as well and it was at 24%
I have some wood in our new house in Maine that was split this spring. I am hopeful that I can use some of it this year to heat our house as we are moving there in a month. Most of what I cut and split up there was dead standing so it should be okay. I used to be in the firewood business and sold well over 100 cords a year and I do know that generally I would let the wood season for at least two years before selling it. I have never owned a moisture meter and usually can tell by looking and feeling a piece if it is seasoned or not. I was just surprised at what the readings were being that this wood is less than a year seasoned.
 
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cuttingedge said:
Thanks for the info,
I just split them in half right before I brought them inside. I also just checked a piece of pin oak as well and it was at 24%
I have some wood in our new house in Maine that was split this spring. I am hopeful that I can use some of it this year to heat our house as we are moving there in a month. Most of what I cut and split up there was dead standing so it should be okay. I used to be in the firewood business and sold well over 100 cords a year and I do know that generally I would let the wood season for at least two years before selling it. I have never owned a moisture meter and usually can tell by looking and feeling a piece if it is seasoned or not. I was just surprised at what the readings were being that this wood is less than a year seasoned.
Click to expand...

For sure you should know what is needed! Good luck.
 
Nothing like well seasoned Ash.
 
cuttingedge said:
Thanks for the info,
I just split them in half right before I brought them inside. I also just checked a piece of pin oak as well and it was at 24%
I have some wood in our new house in Maine that was split this spring. I am hopeful that I can use some of it this year to heat our house as we are moving there in a month. Most of what I cut and split up there was dead standing so it should be okay. I used to be in the firewood business and sold well over 100 cords a year and I do know that generally I would let the wood season for at least two years before selling it. I have never owned a moisture meter and usually can tell by looking and feeling a piece if it is seasoned or not. I was just surprised at what the readings were being that this wood is less than a year seasoned.
Click to expand...

A firewood seller that sells seasoned firewood??? Hats off to you! You sir are a rare breed!
 
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