Season times for wood

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Good question! Sadly, there probably are not too many who can answer that question. For sure we don't have any of that stuff in MIchigan. But when in doubt, give it lots of time. 3 years is not too long for any wood...even in the dry areas of our nation.
 
In your climate.
Drying time should be fast. (for almost any wood) Any local wood should have low moisture content when cut.
Sun & hot with low humidity. (almost kiln drying conditions)
"But it's a dry heat"
 

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Yea, I think most wood would season pretty fast here. The problem is I will most likely buy most of my wood . It is for a cabin anyway .I just don't trust most wood suppliers ---I will get a moisture meter and send it back if it is more than 20 percent . I think they stretch the truth on how long the would has been seasoned .
 
prescottonian said:
Is the season time for shaggy or alligator juniper the same for oak ? 2 or 3 seasons


A better question is, did you scrounge oak or purchase it? Because, in your area, it must have cost you a fortune to purchase it.
 
It's about anywhere from $200 to 250 dollars a chord . $200 for shaggy juniper . We have some oak in central Az. Arizona White Oak, Live Oak, Blackjack Oak, Gamble Oak and Emory Oak to name a few. (Most Arizona Oaks are of the RED OAK types).What's really weird is some of the varieties don't drop their leave until spring when new growth starts . I not sure what variety they are ,but in heavy snow it tends to break limbs . We have a lot of oaks with spindly trunks . This is a picture from a month ago with snow on a alligator juniper in my back yard . Temp 0 degrees
 

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I'd guess that any wood should be pretty well dried out in one summer in Arizona. In two years it should be drier than wood ever gets here in Pennsylvania. Of course smaller pieces will season faster, so if you're worried about next year, split the wood a little smaller than you split for 2012/2013.
 
prescottonian said:
It's about anywhere from $200 to 250 dollars a chord . $200 for shaggy juniper . We have some oak in central Az. Arizona White Oak, Live Oak, Blackjack Oak, Gamble Oak and Emory Oak to name a few. (Most Arizona Oaks are of the RED OAK types).What's really weird is some of the varieties don't drop their leave until spring when new growth starts . I not sure what variety they are ,but in heavy snow it tends to break limbs . We have a lot of oaks with spindly trunks . This is a picture from a month ago with snow on a alligator juniper in my back yard . Temp 0 degrees

Cool, beautiful picture.
Even in these conditions your wood should be drying.
Your R Humidity wasn't much over 50% all month. Good for drying split fire wood.
Best test is always the burn test, how well (not well) it burns trumps moisture meter readings.

Looks like more snow may be headed your way. Will melt in a few days.
Daytime Highs to be in the 40 to 50s by Friday.
High Desert is beautiful. Coooooold at night in the winters, single digits.
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClic...=FGZ&textField1=34.54&textField2=-112.468&e=1

More pictures, the one you posted was Great.
 
Prescottonian, the driest wood can get while stored outdoors is governed by the seasonal average relative humidity of your area. This is called the equilibrium moisture content (EMC). I don't have specific data for your exact area, but in Phoenix, AZ the EMC for wood in the month of June is 4.6% MC according to the U.S. Forest Service.
 
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