A couple days ago I went out to my stacks and checked some cherry that was cut and split last November and re-stacked out in the windiest place on my property this spring. Even after several rain showers last week, the outside of the splits averaged 10-11% MC. When I re-split them, they averaged about 12-13% MC in the middle. Dry through and through. I didn't even know my wood could get this dry in my area. I expected 16% as the lowest possible based on the average seasonal RH reported in my area. It was a pretty dry and windy spring until recently, so that was likely the biggest contributing factor. If my shed wasn't filled with tools, this wood is definitely ready for storage.
I then busted open several large cherry rounds that were bucked about two weeks ago. The ends were already well cracked and the wood was getting seasoned looking. Still, the meter went right to "OL" (overload), indicating that the stuff was over 42% MC (highest possible reading on my meter). I let one of these splits sit for just a couple days and measured the outer surface. It read 16% MC on the same surface that had read "OL" the other day. I re-split it and it read "OL" on the new inner face. That means that even only a few days after being split, the outside of the splits will show a very erroneous MC that will give you the false impression that your wood is drying rapidly. It's not, only the outside is drying fast, the wood just inside this outer layer is a wet as can be. I've always felt this to be true, but it's nice to be able to demonstrate it to myself in concrete terms.
There are no shortcuts when seasoning wood outdoors. Give it time - even cherry and ash - or get yerself a kiln. ;-)
I then busted open several large cherry rounds that were bucked about two weeks ago. The ends were already well cracked and the wood was getting seasoned looking. Still, the meter went right to "OL" (overload), indicating that the stuff was over 42% MC (highest possible reading on my meter). I let one of these splits sit for just a couple days and measured the outer surface. It read 16% MC on the same surface that had read "OL" the other day. I re-split it and it read "OL" on the new inner face. That means that even only a few days after being split, the outside of the splits will show a very erroneous MC that will give you the false impression that your wood is drying rapidly. It's not, only the outside is drying fast, the wood just inside this outer layer is a wet as can be. I've always felt this to be true, but it's nice to be able to demonstrate it to myself in concrete terms.
There are no shortcuts when seasoning wood outdoors. Give it time - even cherry and ash - or get yerself a kiln. ;-)