"Rain Soaked" Wood

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MikeWood

New Member
Oct 21, 2014
2
Virginia
So I bought a cord in June from someone with a great reputation on Angie's List and the wood--all seasoned oak--burned great. Having since gone through that wood, I recently placed an order for a new cord. The wood arrived in not nearly as good of shape and essentially did not light in the fireplace, fire pit, or smoker.

So I called the company and they came out to inspect the wood. They explained that the wood was seasoned (and I actually believe them on that given past experience) but that the wood is never covered from the elements and needs to dry out given recent rains we've had here in VA. In the meantime, the company dropped off about a pallet of very dry (very light) oak wood for free, which I can light quite quickly. When the fire gets hot enough, I then usually can get the other wood to go up with it.

Its been about a week and the wood is still not "dried out." I am inclined to give it another week before again complaining and asking them to take it back. But I am curious whether I am jumping the gun. I probably have enough of the pallet left for a week or two as a fire starter.

Thoughts?
 
You've already burned an entire cord of wood this season in VA? Even with a firepit and smoker in addition to a stove, that's a lot of wood to have used by Mid-October.
 
I have the General Unit from Lowes too. It is a good one and comes with a 9 volt battery. I'm not a big fan of Harbor Freight stuff, there is usually a reason why there stuff is so cheap.
 
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Frank625 said:
I have the General Unit from Lowes too. It is a good one and comes with a 9 volt battery. I'm not a big fan of Harbor Freight stuff, there is usually a reason why there stuff is so cheap.
Click to expand...

I had never heard it called anything besides "Horror Freight" until I found this place.
 
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Frank625 said:
I have the General Unit from Lowes too. It is a good one and comes with a 9 volt battery. I'm not a big fan of Harbor Freight stuff, there is usually a reason why there stuff is so cheap.
Click to expand...

Well so far so good with the meter. Had it over a year. I'll probably go with a better one next time but it's been a good beginner meter
 
My Home Depot only carries a $50 MM in the store. AMAZON!
 
Rebelduckman said:
Well so far so good with the meter. Had it over a year. I'll probably go with a better one next time but it's been a good beginner meter
Click to expand...

Didn't mean to make ya feel bad about the meter at all. It's more the battery that is the issue. My Dad absolutely loves Harbor freight, I needed some gloves for working the splitter. My Dad got me a set I saw on their website for $5.99. They got a hole in them in 2 hrs. I got 2 pair of gloves marked down at Tractor Supply for $6.99 each they have held up OK. Dad goes on to tell me harbor Freight is always cheaper, I said "I know".
 
Frank625 said:
Didn't mean to make ya feel bad about the meter at all. It's more the battery that is the issue. My Dad absolutely loves Harbor freight, I needed some gloves for working the splitter. My Dad got me a set I saw on their website for $5.99. They got a hole in them in 2 hrs. I got 2 pair of gloves marked down at Tractor Supply for $6.99 each they have held up OK. Dad goes on to tell me harbor Freight is always cheaper, I said "I know".
Click to expand...

Oh I don't feel bad. Takes much more than that! I'm not wild about the watch batteries either. When they wear out I'll get one that takes a 9v next time for sure
 
MikeWood said:
Need to get myself a good measuring device. Any recommendations?
Click to expand...
Get the general at lowes for $30, it sounds like you got a wet batch of wood this second time round, it happens and your going to have to deal with it for this season and maybe next if you don't get a move on and get more wood for next year, you need to over supply yourself now so that one day you will be in better shape and burning well.... Don't just think about now, work on now and the next three years, if not you will get these same results in the future years ahead and then probably quit, so don't quit...get ahead......did I make myself clear......
 
Rain can penetrate the ends of wood but it usually will dry out fairly quickly compared to the the initial seasoning process but only if taken to a dry environment. It's best to cover the top (only) of a stack to allow the drying process to continue while minimizing the rain intrusion.

If I have rain soaked wood, I'll take a box of it inside and put a fan on it which usually will dry it within a few days assuming that it was seasoned to begin with. It sounds to me like you have a good supplier; you just need to keep the wood out of the elements better.

Also, be aware that the term "seasoned" is a very ambiguous term open to interpretation. A better way to buy wood is to specify a certain minimum moisture content, preferably something less than 25% as measured by a moisture meter on a fresh face of a fresh split.

Meanwhile, try to mix your best wood with wetter wood, or even buy some Biobricks or similar to mix it with.

And do get a meter (less than $20) which is the only way to know what you have for sure.
 
MikeWood said:
So I bought a cord in June from someone with a great reputation on Angie's List and the wood--all seasoned oak--burned great. Having since gone through that wood, I recently placed an order for a new cord. The wood arrived in not nearly as good of shape and essentially did not light in the fireplace, fire pit, or smoker.

So I called the company and they came out to inspect the wood. They explained that the wood was seasoned (and I actually believe them on that given past experience) but that the wood is never covered from the elements and needs to dry out given recent rains we've had here in VA. In the meantime, the company dropped off about a pallet of very dry (very light) oak wood for free, which I can light quite quickly. When the fire gets hot enough, I then usually can get the other wood to go up with it.

Its been about a week and the wood is still not "dried out." I am inclined to give it another week before again complaining and asking them to take it back. But I am curious whether I am jumping the gun. I probably have enough of the pallet left for a week or two as a fire starter.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...


Once you get that fire going in your stove, bring in and stack as much of that wood in the same room with the stove. A week in there will make a huge difference and start to dry out the wood. I saw those 8 foot long metal racks in Tractor Supply for $49 the other day. It will hold a face cord neatly. If you have the room for even two of those to alternate loading and burning I bet you will have pretty good wood to burn.
 
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Just about every garden center has moisture meters for not too much money. Also, there's a thing called "log stackers" into which you insert two 2x4s horizontally and cut two others for vertical supports. Then you can stack your woods neatly and off the ground. You can get them at Walmart (might have to order online), Amazon, etc.
 
I wish I had my pallet wood when my cords were delivered. I would have like to have stacked them randomly in between the logs. I will just keep them in their own separate pile.
 
BCC_Burner said:
I had never heard it called anything besides "Horror Freight" until I found this place.
Click to expand...


haha the term around here is "Horrible Freight". You have to know what to expect when buying stuff from there, it is what it is but I still get stuff from there.
 
MikeWood said:
So I bought a cord in June from someone with a great reputation on Angie's List and the wood--all seasoned oak--burned great. Having since gone through that wood, I recently placed an order for a new cord. The wood arrived in not nearly as good of shape and essentially did not light in the fireplace, fire pit, or smoker.

So I called the company and they came out to inspect the wood. They explained that the wood was seasoned (and I actually believe them on that given past experience) but that the wood is never covered from the elements and needs to dry out given recent rains we've had here in VA. In the meantime, the company dropped off about a pallet of very dry (very light) oak wood for free, which I can light quite quickly. When the fire gets hot enough, I then usually can get the other wood to go up with it.

Its been about a week and the wood is still not "dried out." I am inclined to give it another week before again complaining and asking them to take it back. But I am curious whether I am jumping the gun. I probably have enough of the pallet left for a week or two as a fire starter.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

your first mistake is using angies list. ive had numerous moisture meters, they all stink. the best way to tell if your wood will burn is to hit the ends with a hammer. if it sound like you're hitting the end of a baseball bat, it's dry. you will know the sound.
 
northpa said:
the best way to tell if your wood will burn is to hit the ends with a hammer. if it sound like you're hitting the end of a baseball bat, it's dry. you will know the sound.
Click to expand...

I don't know about that. I had some standing dead ash i cut today, would of swore it was ready to burn by the look, feel and sound of it but it measured 33% when i tested it.
 
I've not been around in a while so I cant resist and those of you who know me know me know what's coming: "The best device for checking the moisture content of firewood is a multi-year calendar." () Actually, a moisture meter from Lowes will work pretty well too......
 
Rebelduckman said:
Or lowes has one for about 30 that should be fine too
Click to expand...
I vote for the Lowe's meter because it takes standard batteries. The HF one takes little button cells (like for watches).
 
Top cover your stacks, the rain soaked wood should be dry in a few days. Or bring some inside for a few days, by the fireplace should really dry out quick. Then after dry if you burn it and water comes out the ends then you will know it is not properly seasoned, that is what Oak does, it spits when not seasoned. I had good luck with a Harbor Frieght Moisture meter but after getting several years ahead I never use it any more. Other ways to test wood are to split it, if you can smell the wood it is not seasoned, white oak smells like whiskey barrels, etc. Also put a split piece against your arm, you can feel when it is wet, and also the hitting pieces together should sound like bowling pins. But Oak will spit when burning if not dry.
 
I agree that if the wood has a smell of any kind that it is not fully seasoned. Dont know if there is any valid scientific data to back that up but its part of those 5 sense observations. I know certain woods are used for cooking and food preparation that has no smell or flavor but that is another topic.
Also moisture comes across as cooling...stacks with water in them work like a refrigeration unit. You can feel the dampness with your skin. Like cold pockets you feel while riding a motorcycle.
You can also observe mold. Black sooty mold attacks the sugars in sapwood. Discoloration.
The best cure is a seat next to the fire. As everyone has said.
 
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