green or seasoned?

[brooktrout]

Hey thanks for all of the great info so far- much appreciated. So, at the risk of sounding pretty uneducated at knowing my wood :lol: , as I am, I just got my first chord of split wood- guy says it's seasoned, but I am not so sure. The splits seem pretty heavy for their size, and smell pretty fresh, with no checks. But the bark falls right off. Is it just wet, or green? Damn newbies...

 

[nshif]

Well you have 2 options, throw a piece on a good fire and see if it boils water out the end or hisses and spits or buy a moisture meter and split a piece and test it

 

[derbygreg]

Well you have 2 options, throw a piece on a good fire and see if it boils water out the end or hisses and spits or buy a moisture meter and split a piece and test it

Well in Euorpe they call wood that hisses "snake wood"

Not our kind of wood however!

 

[Todd]

A third choice is to put some liquid soap on one end and put your lips on the other and blow, if it's dry you'll make bubbles, if not dry your face will turn red. Beware, people may think your nuts doing this, but it does work. I'm not kidding.

 

[DiscoInferno]

Can also rap a split with your knuckles or another log, and listen for a resonant tone (seasoned) vs. a thud (green). Not the most accurate way, though, some wood makes a pretty sound even when green (black locust).

"Seasoned" is to firewood dealers as "like new condition" is to used car salesmen. It's not completely inconceivable that it's true, but you should always assume it isn't.

 

[brooktrout]

blowing bubbles? C'mon...

 

[Todd]

blowing bubbles? C'mon...

I'm serious. Just don't let your significant other see you doing this.

 

[brooktrout]

I bought a load of logs, too, and I can tell they have been sitting around for awhile- there's checking in the ends, and I can move them around by hand (12-18" diameter) pretty easily.

 

[budman]

A third choice is to put some liquid soap on one end and put your lips on the other and blow, if it's dry you'll make bubbles, if not dry your face will turn red. Beware, people may think your nuts doing this, but it does work. I'm not kidding.

Todd,do you put knee pads on when doing this. :lol:

 

[tkirk22]

A third choice is to put some liquid soap on one end and put your lips on the other and blow, if it's dry you'll make bubbles, if not dry your face will turn red. Beware, people may think your nuts doing this, but it does work. I'm not kidding.

LOL That's perfect. I'm going to tell the wife that method. Hopefully I can keep a straight face.

 

[brooktrout]

I don't know, maybe she'll learn something :cheese:

 

[EatenByLimestone]

blowing bubbles? C'mon...

Red Oak is the only wood that I know that will allow you to do this. Maybe Bamboo, but who burns grass?

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Nevermind the part after the Red Oak... I can see what I just started.....

 

[Todd]

A third choice is to put some liquid soap on one end and put your lips on the other and blow, if it's dry you'll make bubbles, if not dry your face will turn red. Beware, people may think your nuts doing this, but it does work. I'm not kidding.

Todd,do you put knee pads on when doing this. :lol:

No, don't need them, My knees have been callused over for years. :lol:

 

[jpl1nh]

Todd, is there a limit to the length of a split this will work on? I have some 48" stuff that I think is seasoned but it's in a pretty conspicous spot and I'm not sure I want the neighbors seeing me making out with my wood pile.

 

[tkirk22]

Todd, is there a limit to the length of a split this will work on? I have some 48" stuff that I think is seasoned but it's in a pretty conspicous spot and I'm not sure I want the neighbors seeing me making out with my wood pile.

I am no expert but I believe it is one of those learned skills. Best to start small and work your way up.

 

[Todd]

This blowing bubbles thing has come up before and if you think about it, firewood has a small straw like stucture that holds water. Once the water is gone you should be able to pass air through. Don't know if size matters or not JPL. ;-P This last summer someone posted a thread where he tried hooking up compressed air into a split, guess he was a little shy. :lol:

 

[jpl1nh]

This blowing bubbles thing has come up before and if you think about it, firewood has a small straw like stucture that holds water. Once the water is gone you should be able to pass air through. Don't know if size matters or not JPL. ;-P This last summer someone posted a thread where he tried hooking up compressed air into a split, guess he was a little shy. :lol:

Guess what really matters is quality, not quantity! ;-)

 

[brooktrout]

My wife said I had too much time on my hands joining a forum on woodburning, but some of these threads are downright hilarious!

 

[abj1969]

moisture meter

where do you get one of those??

 

[JimWalshin845]

moisture meter

where do you get one of those??

Why at the Moisture Meter Store, where else:

http://www.moisturemeterstore.com/

But you better be able to have deep pockets for this little toy! ;-)

 

[Todd]

moisture meter

where do you get one of those??

Why at the Moisture Meter Store, where else:

http://www.moisturemeterstore.com/

But you better be able to have deep pockets for this little toy! ;-)

Do a search on ebay. You can find one for $20.

 

[JimWalshin845]

The problem with the less expensive ones is that they really just read the exposed area of the wood and you need the calibration guides (if they supply one) for best accuracy. You really need to know what the content is in the heart of the wood. A good wood worker or mold inspector would pass the cheap ones bye!

 

[nshif]

You just drill a hole into a freshly split piece and insert the probe. no big deal gives you a good idea of what you have

 

[JimWalshin845]

You just drill a hole into a freshly split piece and insert the probe. no big deal gives you a good idea of what you have

Duh-Oh... what a simple solution, certainly didn't dawn on me.

Thanks! :red: