One year old white oak test.

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Ctwoodtick

Minister of Fire
Jun 5, 2015
2,110
Southeast CT
Had s bit of time today so I decided to throw a medium load of white oak in the stove that was CSS and top coverage one year ago. Reloaded on hot coals, ingnition is a bit slower than with my known dry wood. Pieces are medium sized- about 4 inch width. I’m noticing the load is slower to really flame up. I’d guess the wood is mid 20’s moisture content. Glad to be able to see how it acted in the stove but clearly another year will do it well.
 
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Doesn't sound like it did too bad. I think White will dry faster than Red will, but I haven't really had much White to experiment with. Only White I have has been stacked probably five years.
Was this tree a dead-stander, live blow-down or what?
 
Doesn't sound like it did too bad. I think White will dry faster than Red will, but I haven't really had much White to experiment with. Only White I have has been stacked probably five years.
Was this tree a dead-stander, live blow-down or what?
Live blow down
 
Well, that started sopping wet, then..
 
Can you warm a big split up inside for a couple days, then split and re-test with a meter? Sounds like you may not use or have a meter, though..
 
Can you warm a big split up inside for a couple days, then split and re-test with a meter? Sounds like you may not use or have a meter, though..
I used meter on a fresh split over the summer and was getting high 20’s. I figured some time had passed and summer was dry, so I did this little test. But the wood definitely was not ideal for burning. I should have mentioned that initially. This white oak is on my pile for 2 seasons from now so it will have the time to dry out.
 
i fined if seasoned in a good spot all oak will be ready in 2 yrs time... this would be 2 full summers. i like white oak. i burned alot of it last year and the year before. i have a bunch of pin oak im burning right now.
 
Burning white oak that I split last year. Moisture meter says 17-15%. It's great stuff.
At that moisture level, I’d bet it is really good. Your drying conditions must be better.
 
I’d guess the wood is mid 20’s moisture content. Glad to be able to see how it acted in the stove but clearly another year will do it well.
I don't know if you've burned much dry White (I think you probably have) but it is indeed the King of All Firewoods. >>
 
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I’ve burned little very dry white but I should be all set for next year with it. Until then I’ve got a nice hardwood mix which is nice and dry. Stay warm
 
I’ve burned little very dry white but I should be all set for next year with it. Until then I’ve got a nice hardwood mix which is nice and dry. Stay warm
You'll love it! ==c Yeah, I've got a bunch of high-BTU in stock, like BL, but I'm OK just burning the Red Oak which makes up most of my stash. Heck, I've even got 1/3 cord or so of Hedge which I've never bothered splitting. ;lol Easy to "stay warm" on the Red. I'm looking forward to burning the hard Maple rounds I've been stockpiling, just for something different. Gonna be getting a buttload of White Ash, too, as the borer has moved into our area now. :(
 
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