Season Faster: Silver Maple or Poplar???

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
NordicSplitter

NordicSplitter

Minister of Fire
May 22, 2011
541
Western,NY
Next week I plan to do some serious splitting. I have a choice between fresh cut Poplar( rounds are 15-22" tall and about 18-24" in diameter) and large Silver Maple splits that I want to at least halve. They were split last summer. I split one yesterday just to see what my moisture meter would read and it came up OL. Which means over 40%.( Mind you...the outside of those splits came in at about 12-15%) Of the two...Which one do you think would season faster? They would be place in an area in which the sun will hit them for at least 6-8 hrs a day and a nice breeze way. Thanks as always...:)
 
I would expect the poplar to season faster. But in my experience silver maple is better wood And still seasons fast

Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk
 
Poplar will season faster. It's less dense than the maple.

However maple will dry fairly quickly too. If in sun and wind exposure and split to small or medium fire wood size etc. Also it's a much better wood to burn for sustained heat in a stove.

However I like poplar for cold starts, quick hot fires, and is a favorite in outdoor fire pits and when camping.

That said if I happened upon an offer for free maple or free poplar, there's no doubt I'd take the maple. It's a superior wood for heating. So more desirable and valuable.

Split both ! :)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Lcback
Maple can be dry by this winter. If you can get it single stacked in some sun even better. Throw some shrink wrap around it to give it a solar kiln effect and you will be more than ok.
 
Pople will be ready in the fall, if properly stacked. Maple will be good to go next fall, if properly stacked.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
Box fan in my wood shed?
Replies
9
Views
2K
The Wood Shed
Woody Stover
Woody Stover
Echo Parking Lot
Do I Trust This Moisture Reading?
Replies
8
Views
1K
The Wood Shed
DonTee
D
I
Just bought a cord of not actually seasoned wood...
Replies
71
Views
7K
The Wood Shed
vbu
vbu
N
Damper and air supply experience and experiment - NC30
Replies
23
Views
2K
SBI: Century,Drolet,Osburn,Valcourt,Englander
weee123
weee123
Max W
Minisplits and wood
Replies
4
Views
902
The Inglenook
EbS-P
EbS-P
Top Bottom
Back