How many times can you beat a dead horse?
Haha! Now THAT is funny
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I joined up here back in '06 (and ain't been banned......yet
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How many times can you beat a dead horse?
Nothing wrong with that. I used to cover as soon as split, but the wisdom of several on this forum has convinced me to give your plan a try, too.The guy I buy wood from encouraged me to leave the wood uncovered until winter & then to cover to keep the snow out. He's a solid guy, and his wood is always great so I'm taking his advice and I'll see how it goes.
Nothing wrong with that. I used to cover as soon as split, but the wisdom of several on this forum has convinced me to give your plan a try, too.
Welcome to the Hearth!
In a recent thread on the other site
http://www.arboristsite.com/firewood-heating-wood-burning-equipment/243659.htm
one of the respondents referred to a study of wood drying/storing methods.
http://www.aqfairbanks.com/wp-content/uploads/Wood-Storage-Best-Practices-Final-Report-2.pdf
The study was done in Alaska and utilized the major fuel woods available there (white birch, spruce, aspen and cottonwood). The findings are interesting.
Unless the wood is wet for a long time the moisture from rain only soaks in a small distance and then is quickly dried out with sun and wind.What a super helpful resource. Very interesting how quickly the uncovered wood dried, but then regained moisture in the elements. Thanks for sharing!
I disagree with ALL of you!
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That has always been my contention, however:Unless the wood is wet for a long time the moisture from rain only soaks in a small distance and then is quickly dried out with sun and wind.
yea I read it and its a good read but I just dont agree with that and can find many sites saying it does not soak in much and I have not covered my wood for over 30 years and have never it had it pick up any moisture to speak of, next time it rains I can go split a piece and see what it reads, I do cover what I think I need for the winter in late fall but other wise it never gets covered.That has always been my contention, however:
From the cited study
Uncovered
This storage method was studied only for the spring firewood harvest. The moisture content of the
spring harvest firewood left uncovered fell rapidly over the summer months (Figure 1c). Split firewood
met the 20% moisture content criteria for a full cure within approximately 6 weeks. The rate of drying
was similar to the firewood stored in the simulated wood sheds. However, the uncovered firewood
was highly susceptible to absorption of moisture from rain, snow, and frost. For example, the split
birch had dried from an initial moisture content of 57% to 19% by early July, then had increased to 35%
by late August, presumably due to rain immediately prior to the August sampling event. The moisture
regained by the firewood over the late summer and winter had dissipated by the final sampling event
in early summer 2011
That's what my wood guy says, so I'm going uncovered until winter to see how it goes. Thanks!Unless the wood is wet for a long time the moisture from rain only soaks in a small distance and then is quickly dried out with sun and wind.
Is that purely to keep the snow out?yea I read it and its a good read but I just dont agree with that and can find many sites saying it does not soak in much and I have not covered my wood for over 30 years and have never it had it pick up any moisture to speak of, next time it rains I can go split a piece and see what it reads, I do cover what I think I need for the winter in late fall but other wise it never gets covered.
yea mainly, at that point in time the seasoning is done so I am just trying to keep the wood dry as it goes in the garage and would take forever to dry the surface moisture. In the winter we dont have the warm temps so once it gets wet after its cold it stays that way for a long time outside.Is that purely to keep the snow out?
That's very helpful. Thank you.yea mainly, at that point in time the seasoning is done so I am just trying to keep the wood dry as it goes in the garage and would take forever to dry the surface moisture. In the winter we dont have the warm temps so once it gets wet after its cold it stays that way for a long time outside.
I was out splitting n checking some ash, some under my make shift shed, and some that has been uncovered since March and there was no difference, it has been dry here last couple of weeks.yea I read it and its a good read but I just dont agree with that and can find many sites saying it does not soak in much and I have not covered my wood for over 30 years and have never it had it pick up any moisture to speak of, next time it rains I can go split a piece and see what it reads, I do cover what I think I need for the winter in late fall but other wise it never gets covered.
yea I read it and its a good read but I just dont agree with that and can find many sites saying it does not soak in much and I have not covered my wood for over 30 years and have never it had it pick up any moisture to speak of, next time it rains I can go split a piece and see what it reads, I do cover what I think I need for the winter in late fall but other wise it never gets covered.
Not sure what you disagree with, it's just data. I was just surprised that the total moisture content rose that much. Because they weigh a piece of wood, oven dry it and weigh it again, we have no idea how deeply the water penetrated. I suspect that a moisture meter would have measured very high moisture content on the surface and little or no change towards the center. It would have been nice to know how recently it had rained and what the MC was a week later and a month later. My thought was that, if you live in an area of frequent summer rain, it might be beneficial to top cover the coming winter's wood sooner.
Exactly what I was getting at, the moisture only was on the outside and not in the middle, the data is misleading.
I'd like to see data / study of what the actual affects of moister in wood is, in real life. Got a feeling it doesn't make as much difference as everyone thinks.
Are you talking about moisture from when the tree was green, if you are it makes all the difference in the world, water does not burn very well.I'd like to see data / study of what the actual affects of moister in wood is, in real life. Got a feeling it doesn't make as much difference as everyone thinks.