Standing dead red oak 30% moisture

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leftyscott

Member
Apr 6, 2009
201
arkansas
I've been scrounging to keep up with my wood needs. Found a red oak standing dead. Got about 20 rounds from it. After splitting I got 30% moisture. Probably need to burn this wood in less than a month. Hoping moisture reading will be 25% by then. That possible?
 
I've been scrounging to keep up with my wood needs. Found a red oak standing dead. Got about 20 rounds from it. After splitting I got 30% moisture. Probably need to burn this wood in less than a month. Hoping moisture reading will be 25% by then. That possible?

Most of what I burn is red oak. Standing dead dries down much faster than live trees do. Depending on HOW dead it was, f you split it on the small side, and can stack it in the house (preferably not too far from the wood stove) with decent airflow (small fan) you should be able to burn it in a month. Not ideal, but I've done it with good results.
 
Get it stacked and setup a box fan (or2) on high and see what happens...
 
Ive never done that. I just suck it up and buy fuel oil when wood is scarce. The tables turn and wood is plentiful. It all ebbs and flows...
You could try it for your own reference just to see what numbers you get but I suggest you stack it in your stove room.
I have a log hoop and a facecord rack full in the stove room. I think it helps.
 
Not a chance, oak dries slower than anything. That wood will be great in late 2016. Time to go scrounging for pallets for this year, or find some quicker drying wood.

TE
 
NO! Save that stuff for 2 years from now if you get it split and stacked single row in the sun and wind....
 
I'd burn oil before I would burn 30% oak. You're wasting good heat up the flue. I know your using bio fuel but try to get something else to possibly burn.
 
I cut a standing dead red oak in early August and split it small and stacked it in single rows on asphalt, off the ground. That stuff has gotten down to around 22-24% MC and it's burnable, so I doubt with temps now that you'd be able to have it anywhere below 25% in a month and burning it would just be frustrating.
 
Most of what I burn is red oak. Standing dead dries down much faster than live trees do. Depending on HOW dead it was, f you split it on the small side, and can stack it in the house (preferably not too far from the wood stove) with decent airflow (small fan) you should be able to burn it in a month. Not ideal, but I've done it with good results.

+1
 
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