Still sizzling

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Richie

Burning Hunk
Aug 13, 2013
157
Central PA
Got some two year red oak that was seasoned in my pole barn. Sounds like a bowling pin when I smack it. I getting about 16% on my mm with a fresh split. I threw a couple of pieces on the fire pit and it sizzled pretty good for about 5 minutes. What gives?
 
Test your mm on interior trim (should be in the low teens), test on the palm of your hand (should be in low 30's).
The cheap mm should only be used as a reference not an absolute number.
 
When you tested the mc and got 16% reading did you split the wood in half first? You want to test the middle of the split. Not the outside.
 
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I think Hogwildz had a post where he had some 2-3 YO white oak that cooked off moisture from dead-center for 10-15 minutes before burning for hours. Must be the nature of the beast.
 
When you tested the mc and got 16% reading did you split the wood in half first? You want to test the middle of the split. Not the outside.
YES. I got my largest log at the bottom of the pile and split and within 30 seconds got the reading. I did test on my palm and got 31%.
1
 
It is your wood. I say burn it. Don't always go by the status quo.
 
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It's possible to test cellular moisture content in the teens inside a new split, yet at the same time there could be higher MC on the outer surface (rain/atmospheric). That is, moisture content doesn't have to be uniform throughout a log, especially if the bark is still attached or the outer wood (sapwood) was allowed to get a little punky/spongy.

Was this piece from near the sides of the pole barn and could possibly get some precipitation/dew/fog exposure?
 
YES. I got my largest log
So these are full rounds that have not been split? Is yes they will take longer to season. Really, 16% mc is not bad. It's ready to go. If you burn them in hot fire they won't sizzle.
 
At 16% your firewood is still about 1/7 water. A 7 pound piece will contain about a pint of water. So there is still some water to be cooked out of it. Your pieces happened to let you see it sizzle.
 
If it's just hissing for a while, not bubbling out the end of the split, it should burn pretty well. I would test some more pieces to get a more accurate sampling of that stack.
 
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