Will this wood be good to burn this year?
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Nonprophet
Minister of Fire
IMHO that's pushing it--I like to season my oak at least 2 years. It will almost certainly burn, but it probably won't burn well (i.e. put out more heat than smoke.....).
I bought a cord of white oak 2 1/2 years ago that was supposedly "well seasoned." I didn't have a moisture meter at the time to check--I just took him for his word as he's a "friend of a friend." Long story short not only did he short me 20-30 pieces, but the wood burned pretty poorly because it wasn't well seasoned. I just bit the bullet and waited another year, and last winter I used it and it was favorite wood to burn--even beating out my prized cords of Madrone.
To summarize: while it will probably burn this year, in my opinion it would burn so poorly that it's like throwing out half the wood. Burn it this year and you'll be disappointed, wait until next year and you'll be amazed!
NP
I bought a cord of white oak 2 1/2 years ago that was supposedly "well seasoned." I didn't have a moisture meter at the time to check--I just took him for his word as he's a "friend of a friend." Long story short not only did he short me 20-30 pieces, but the wood burned pretty poorly because it wasn't well seasoned. I just bit the bullet and waited another year, and last winter I used it and it was favorite wood to burn--even beating out my prized cords of Madrone.
To summarize: while it will probably burn this year, in my opinion it would burn so poorly that it's like throwing out half the wood. Burn it this year and you'll be disappointed, wait until next year and you'll be amazed!
NP
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
quads
Minister of Fire
It will burn once you get it going, it will give off some heat, and it might make creosote.
It will light easier, burn better, give off more heat, and probably no creosote if you wait 2 years for black/red oak and 3 years for white oak.
It will light easier, burn better, give off more heat, and probably no creosote if you wait 2 years for black/red oak and 3 years for white oak.
Will it burn, of course, will it burn cleanly/efficiently to it's full potential, probably not.
One thing to remember when asking questions on a group that is dedicated to the wood burning enthusiast, they're going to tell you what will get you the best results. Not everyone has the room to let oak sit for 2+ years before burning. People have been cutting/splitting early spring for years and have burned their wood come fall. You may consume more wood, create more creosote and not get the full btu potential of the wood if it was allowed to season longer. I'm confident it'll burn though.
In the future if you don't have the space to allow oak to season longer looking for a wood that seasons faster might work better.(white ash, black locust)
One thing to remember when asking questions on a group that is dedicated to the wood burning enthusiast, they're going to tell you what will get you the best results. Not everyone has the room to let oak sit for 2+ years before burning. People have been cutting/splitting early spring for years and have burned their wood come fall. You may consume more wood, create more creosote and not get the full btu potential of the wood if it was allowed to season longer. I'm confident it'll burn though.
In the future if you don't have the space to allow oak to season longer looking for a wood that seasons faster might work better.(white ash, black locust)
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