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  1. lunk30 New Member

    joined: Nov 15, 2008
    13 posts
    North Shore MA
    I have access to some trees that have been down for 2+ years ..... I was going to cut them into 24" logs (size my stove can take) with chainsaw bring them home then split them..... Will it be ready to burn right away?
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  2. Pagey Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 2, 2008
    2,419 posts
    Middle TN
    You should quarter a piece and then take a reading with a moisture meter from inside the fresh split.
  3. lunk30 New Member

    joined: Nov 15, 2008
    13 posts
    North Shore MA
    Where can i get a moisture meter went to a woodstove store to ask and they didn't know...
  4. webby3650 Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 2, 2008
    1,958 posts
    southern Indiana
    Usually the driest of the dry that comes from the woods will still sizzle in your stove. If you have an non EPA stove this wood will burn better than in a EPA stove.( That is my experience anyway.) I used to cut my wood 24" long. I found it to be more trouble than it's worth, I find it to better to have a little extra room in the fire box for maneuvering logs, besides those 24" pieces can be really tough to handle and split. %-P
  5. wellbuilt home Minister of Fire

    joined: Jul 6, 2008
    532 posts
    NY
    I split my wood in the fall and cover the top . I run out of last years wood at the end of January and will start burning my splits . I would like to have a nice wood shed full of dry wood ready for the heating season but i never do . My wood tarp blows off the piles and my kids never remember to cover it after they bring wood in the house . I would split it small and try to keep a 2 day supply in side . The wood burns better if its dry.
  6. gyrfalcon Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 25, 2007
    1,399 posts
    Champlain Valley, Vermont
    Google it and you'll find lots of sources. I got mine from a Hong Kong vendor on eBay for something like 20 bucks. It's not a precision instrument, but it'll give you a good idea of where you are.

    These things have two little sharp probes you're supposed to push into the wood about a half inch, but that's impossible without risking breaking them, so you need to use an awl or similar to make the holes, then fit the probes into the holes.
  7. Bigg_Redd Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 19, 2008
    2,946 posts
    Shelton, WA
    Yes, as soon as it is dry.
  8. caber New Member

    joined: Feb 6, 2008
    291 posts
    Western Maryland
    Depends on the species, diameter, etc. If it's a good hardwood - doubtful. I'm cutting 2 ft oaks that have been down 5+ years and the middles are still wet.
  9. madrone Minister of Fire

    Be prepared to wait. I split rounds at 16", standing dead, down a year, that were still too wet to burn. But that was oak. 1 year seasoned soft maple rounds that were cut green seasoned very quickly once split.
  10. smokinj Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 11, 2008
    15,420 posts
    Anderson, Indiana
    just throw a split in the fire if it burns good your ready if it hisses you need more time to season.(Thats free!)
  11. drdoct New Member

    joined: Jan 24, 2008
    430 posts
    Griffin, GA
    I doubt it will be dry enough. I've got a lot I've been cutting and it's all 30+% split. It is drying out quicker though. I think mine will be ready in a month or so to burn. Hopefully anyway because I am short this year.
  12. MarcM New Member

    joined: Dec 4, 2007
    140 posts
    CT/MA/RI border
    Yeah, it def. depends on the species. Softer maple (swamp, silver) is good to go after a year, and in my experience can start getting kinda punky by the third year.
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