Is there a wood drying time chart?

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mol1jb

Feeling the Heat
Jan 8, 2014
379
Central IL
I am looking for something perhaps like a btu chart except for dry time of wood. I have my wood for 2014-2015 winter css but I need to get rolling on 2015-2016 winter going.

I have access to lots of oak but I want that on my 3 year plan. So what other btu rich wood is a good idea for a 2 year dry time. Possibilities I have access to - black locust, honey locust, osage, ironwood/hornbean. Thanks
 
I think BL will dry in a couple of years if it's not split too big but I haven't tested my two-year stash yet. I think generally the denser the wood, the slower it dries but some woods have a lower MC when cut fresh so they have a head start...
I would also stack some White Ash, Sugar Maple, etc, to have a back-up stash just in case....woods that are about as good as Red Oak but will be ready for sure in two years. Might not be as critical with a tube stove, but the cats I run really don't like wood that's even the least bit moist....
 
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You probably have one of those charts already - around here they call it a "Multi-year Calendar".

Most any wood other than oak will be ready to burn after two yrs CSS'd as long as you do not live in a rain forest. All the wood you mentioned should serve you well on two yrs and I will suggest Ash - should be readily available and all dying soon if it has not yet been nuked by the bugs. Dries quick, safe to burn in a year - better after 2/3 and comparable to oak. Not quite oak, but keeps my home warm even during this brutal winter.
 
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You probably have one of those charts already - around here they call it a "Multi-year Calendar".
You need Ralphie Boy's permission to use that line, or it's copyright infringement. ;lol
 
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I would wait 3 years on honey locust as well.
 
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