Bye bye live oak

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bobbyinredwood

New Member
Dec 9, 2013
5
Woodside, ca
Hello wood for 2016!

Had this Coast Live Oak removed as it was falling over in the direction of our building. Started splitting it up today with the Gransfors. Should get a couple of cords?
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Pics aren't sideways for me. I take it "coast live oak" is a northwestern species? Most folks out east with live oaks (Quercus virginiana) in their yards don't need to light too many fires in winter (well, except maybe this year). Congrats on the fuel score.
 
Possibly my favorite kind of tree as they are so interesting in how they spread out rather than up. Must be hard to see it go.
 
Just as it is with the Virginia Live Oak, there is not a lot of overlap between Coast Live Oak and the zone where firewood is needed.
 
I was always confused by the name "Live Oak".

If it is an oak tree and it is growing,,, then it is LIVE, right. ;lol

Is there a DEAD OAK species?;)
 
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OMG I'm drooling... that's a big 'ol one too! That would probably heat my house for three to four years. Coast live oak packs some serious BTUs too. Shame though... looks like a beauty through your deck there, but I could see that ripping your house apart if it fell over.
 
Welcome to the forum Bobby.

I've always sort of wanted to try a live oak but we do not have them in this area.
 
Let us know how it splits, the ones I see always look pretty twisted.

I don't have any around my house, but they're all over the place where I go to college. I wonder how it compares to other oaks. The BTU charts usually show it substantially higher IIRC
 
It's not the easiest splittin wood that's for sure. Just chipping away at the pile every day, trying to not kill myself. I believe coast live oak packs about 28m BTU per cord, just a little bit less than my favorite madrone.
Got the first load home and started building a 8ft dia. holz haufen. Will look good next to the smaller ones.
 

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Thats a nice little setup you've got there, I like the truck too. I wouldn't mind trying to build a Holz Hausen one of these days

Looks like a big pile of wood, good luck!
 
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