I'm just a little behind the 8 ball this year, not with quantity, but with quality. So I ask my neigbhor that has the 20 cord supply if I could maybe get a dry cord and I would restock him. He said sure so I ask for a couple sticks to try and see if it was indeed better than what I had. So he hands me 2 medium splits of red oak that came off a 2 yr old stack. I take it home and throw it in the back of the old Elm. Wait a few minutes, open up the door and wow! Water literally running out the end of both pieces and bursting into steam. Dennis is always harping on the fuel quality, and righlty so. And this experiement reminded me how much I hate Oak. Sure its great firewood......if you can get it dry. There are plenty other species that will give off the same or better BTUs and don't take a lifetime to season. To name a few, ash, osage orange, and hickory.
So I go back out to my wood pile. Pull out some nasty bark falling off muddy half rotten whatever log. Cut it to lengths and split it. Take my glove off and yep, feels wet to the touch. Ain't no way this is going to work right? Decide what the heck, throw it in the stove, wait a few minutes, open the door.....no water no steam. Go Figure!
Seasoning firewood is all about removing water from the wood on the cellular level. And that can't always be determined from feel is my conclusion.
So I go back out to my wood pile. Pull out some nasty bark falling off muddy half rotten whatever log. Cut it to lengths and split it. Take my glove off and yep, feels wet to the touch. Ain't no way this is going to work right? Decide what the heck, throw it in the stove, wait a few minutes, open the door.....no water no steam. Go Figure!
Seasoning firewood is all about removing water from the wood on the cellular level. And that can't always be determined from feel is my conclusion.