Length of Time Stored Before Using

I vote no...

No way. It needs to be split, stacked, and covered for at least a year depending on what kind of wood it is. Unless it was dead standing, but even then I doubt it. Ash can season in a year but not like that IMO

Drying time starts AFTER it's split. He's selling WET wood. Can't argue with the physics. Take a moisture meter over to his place and test one of his fresh splits.

Agreed. Even small rounds will retain moisture a looooong time.

Unless the wood was standing dead when cut I would say the chance of this wood being ready to go into an EPA woodstove is about 1% (gotta figure there is always that very slim chance it might be good . . . but I would not bet on that.)

Agreed. If you need firewood to burn right now, the stuff probably won't do you much good.

Sadly, many firewood sellers follow this practice. Buck it up, dump it in a pile and leave it set 'til the phone rings. Then they split and load it for delivery. There's a fellow down the road from here a ways who does this. He'll cut a live tree, buck it and leave the rounds in a pile for a year. Then he splits and sells 'em.

That's all well and fine if you're buying wood for next year. It ain't gonna burn very well this year.

Just remember c/s/s. That's when the seasonal clock starts.

I had about 3/4 of a cord of Lodgepole Pine log lengths cut green of about 6 feet long with most being no bigger diameter than 8 inches stacked off the ground and top covered since the fall of 2012 and when I decided to get around to c/s/s it this fall it was at 23%, I will burn it next winter. I dont need it for this winter otherwise I would of processed it right away which would have made it good for this season. Youre talking hardwoods so no its not ready. Good to ask though.

geos14 said:

I've seen an ad for "dry hardwood". I contacted the man, who told me that the wood was cut in the fall of 2012, then stored, piled in 8-foot lengths. He then cuts them to length when he gets an order. Could anyone please give your opinion as to if this wood is dry enough to burn now? He doesn't say what kind of hard wood, but in our area the most common types are ash, maple and birch.

Many thanks

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Welcome to the forum geos14.


You've gotten some good advice and you can use your experience so that in the future you will be better prepared. I would also guess that in your area, it is a very wet climate. That in itself can cause some big time problems when it comes to drying the wood. Good luck.