The other day, I picked up a moisture meter and freshly split a few pieces of wood. The stuff we're currently burning was measuring mostly 14% or 15% (though as high as 18% in a few spots). It's what passes for hardwood around here and it's been drying for more than a full year. Possibly two or more years.
When that runs out, we have ten cords of Douglas fir, all cut and stacked in our woodshed. I was concerned because the hardwood is running out and the Doug fir was cut this past June. However, when I measured it, the readings were ranging from 18% to 22% (as high as 24% in the knot of a couple of splits). It's not as dry as I'd like it but the stuff that hasn't been cut yet was coming in around 40%, so it's clearly dried quite a bit in just a few months. If we had to burn it right now, it would probably be alright and hopefully our dryer stuff will hold out another month or two.
Also of interest, some old decayed logs that I'd cut and split were well over 50%. I figured rotting wood would be dry. Apparently not. Does it make sense to dry and burn that stuff or should I just chuck it in the woods to keep decomposing?
When that runs out, we have ten cords of Douglas fir, all cut and stacked in our woodshed. I was concerned because the hardwood is running out and the Doug fir was cut this past June. However, when I measured it, the readings were ranging from 18% to 22% (as high as 24% in the knot of a couple of splits). It's not as dry as I'd like it but the stuff that hasn't been cut yet was coming in around 40%, so it's clearly dried quite a bit in just a few months. If we had to burn it right now, it would probably be alright and hopefully our dryer stuff will hold out another month or two.
Also of interest, some old decayed logs that I'd cut and split were well over 50%. I figured rotting wood would be dry. Apparently not. Does it make sense to dry and burn that stuff or should I just chuck it in the woods to keep decomposing?
