Standing Dead Oak can really be seasoned

[golfandwoodnut]

I posted these pics on another post but thought some of you might want to see them. I am getting good with my Bobcat, blury cell picture shows how I pulled a standing dead Oak up a steep hill with my grapple forks to a level area. Then I cut them into 80 inch logs and carried them home. I then cut them to 20 inch rounds and split a few. They seemed really dry and I decided to put the moisture meter on them. The highest reading I got was 15, even at the base of the tree. Where it is usually the most wet. Here is a piece I randomly picked and took a shot of. Only 9 percent. I think this may be some of the driest wood I have. I tried some on Friday to take the chill off and was amazed how easily it lit and how well it burned. No noticeable smoke out of the chimney. So I guess it can happen that some Oak can be cut and burned. It must be a miracle. Most ot the dead Oaks I have are from the gypsy moths that killed them 20 years ago.

Second picture is the logs still with a little bark. The third is showing a random split at only 9 percent moisture.

 

[Wood Duck]

I've cut some dead logs that seemed really dry (no moisture meter, so I can't give numbers), and some that looked about the same but were pretty wet. I cut a standing dead Chestnut Oak last year that seemed wetter than a live tree, and probably still is today after a year in the stacks. You must know how to pick 'em.

 

[albertj03]

I've got some dead red oak just like that on my property but usually they are a little smaller than what you've got there. I typically find a living red oak with a smaller off shoot that is dead and dry. I go out in September/October hunting for them with the saw and throw the wood right in the stacks for that season.