%*# &$@) Oak!

I've been burning Red Oak that was split and stacked from spring 2010- summer 2010. been getting super nice, hot, long burns from it...until this week. I must have found the later split stuff because I am having a heck of a time with reloads and burn times have dropped off a bit. Of course I noticed this after I loaded the front porch with about 1/3 cord! Last night I tried some Black Locust that was scheduled for next year and it seems ready now. All I have to do is move the 1/3 cord Red Oak back to the stack and reload the front porch with BL. Gonna be a PIA in the forecast foot of snow. I guess that's what I get for trying to cheat with Red Oak. I'm sure it will be ready next year.

OOPS!

Flatbed, thats why I stay away from oak as much as I can.

How big are your splits Flatbed?

That's awful Steve. You've put a lot of work into that wood already. Maybe a little sweet talking will get a little lady to help?

Sorry to hear-hope your locust stash holds out. I am hoping I won't need to dip into my RO next year. It will be about 2 1/2 years but big splits. Should have just enough locust mulberry and shoulder wood

Sorry to hear that, but dont force the situation. Otherwise Murphy will come back and bite cha. Stay safe and warm in the snow system going your way.

I swapped out about half of the Red Oak for Black Locust last night. The BL is burning great and should help the marginal Red Oak along. I'll just re-stack the Red oak where the BL was and burn it next year. It wasn't so bad. I it took less than an hour and the porch rack is loaded for the big storm.
The Red Oak was split kinda big. I processed all this wood before I owned the Fireview. The old smoke dragon would probably burn full rounds, but I've found that the Fireview likes smaller splits so I've been resplitting while I move the wood from the stack to the front porch.

It's a lot nicer to find really old oak.

Most of my firewood this winter has been red and white oak split over March/April/May 2011. 90% of it burns great, 8% sizzles for 5-15 minutes before lighting, the other 2% might as well be green. I'll have to pack half a load of well seasoned finely split white pine in there twice to get the stuff to actually burn.

Steve, I've been getting into some stuff that should be dry, but still has some wet in it. Nature of the beast,.......but you knew that.
Glad you've got something else that's burnable to use.
I plan to leave next years stuff out in the field another couple months before moving to the shed this fall. I think I put some of this stuff in the shed too early last year.......

I have about 5 cords of BL standing by. Thanks to Irene and the October, 2011 storm. I probably should have just gone with the BL from the start of this season and given the Oak another year. The Oak will be about 3 1/2 years seasoned next year and the restacking will give me a chance to get some of the less dry stuff to the top or outside of the stack. Just a little more work for me is all. Now I understand why somebody invented oil or gas fueled central heat.

I love burning oak! Excellent firewood when it is seasoned properly!

Ray

I like the mushrooms that it grows

I have oak that was cut in May of 2009, and split/stacked since the fall of 2009, and its still not ready. Luckily my wood guys doesn't bring me a lot of it....I know you folks like oak, but 3 1/2 years of seasoning and it stil hisses.....you guys can keep your oak....I'll stick with my beech.

Strange is your oak split, stacked off the ground and top covered only?

Ray

Yup, split/stacked and top covered only. I must live in some weird microclimate here in mass as all my other wood is perfect. (I just got some back luck with oak I guess)

Not sure what to say Dave other than my wood moves to my wood shelter well before the winter rolls in and bakes in there with all sides open in the off season.. Maybe this helps?

Ray

Yeah Dave, I don't get it. More than 2 years, but less than 3 and my oak is almost perfect.
You must be doin' it wrong.
Must be some weird Mass. strain of Oak.

Dave, that extra time outdoors will help a lot. I usually wait until October to move the wood into the barn.

It's the most common stuff here so I have to deal with it. This year I'm burning some two-year splits from standing dead trees, and I love burning it too.

I had oak stacked for three summers, and it was still sizzling. single row stacked in partial shade. Oak is a PITA.

I MAKE my own 'really old oak.' All it takes is cutting down the tree, buck it, split it, stack it, and don't touch it for three years. No more labor than any other wood. It just needs to sit in the bank longer before you spend it. Well worth the wait.

Well, there's your problem. Three summers is really only about two years. Not enough time for oak in most cases, especially if it's in the shade. I realize sometimes we don't have a choice in where we stack it. Less than Ideal stack locations may require longer drying times. I'll bet it will great next year.