Are these all moldy?
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Dan Freeman
Minister of Fire
stoveliker
Minister of Fire
Yes that's mold. But that's not a problem.
Given that it's not split, I would see if you can measure the moisture content in the center of a newly split piece. Your climate likely is good for drying, but wood generally does not dry well when not split.
Given that it's not split, I would see if you can measure the moisture content in the center of a newly split piece. Your climate likely is good for drying, but wood generally does not dry well when not split.
These particular ones have been sitting outside about 3 years. These pictures are on the shady side...the other side gets sun.
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stoveliker
Minister of Fire
Just don't store it in the home, bring it in and directly put it in the stove.
Mold appears when it's still wet, but you can still see it when it is dry. No problem.
Mold appears when it's still wet, but you can still see it when it is dry. No problem.
Ok...thank you. I currently have everything outside. So as long as the mold is old and dry I should be good? Even if there is a lot?
stoveliker
Minister of Fire
If the wood is dry enough as measured on a room temperature freshly split surface, the mold is not an issue for burning.
I am not knowledgeable about whether spores can still spread into your home. If you are concerned about that, I would not store it inside, but move it from outside directly into the stove.
I am not knowledgeable about whether spores can still spread into your home. If you are concerned about that, I would not store it inside, but move it from outside directly into the stove.
Yeah...I don't plan on storing inside.
How do you measure if it is dry enough....I am ignorant as to how to measure that.
How do you measure if it is dry enough....I am ignorant as to how to measure that.
stoveliker
Minister of Fire
Get a $30 general tools mmd4e moisture meter. Or any similar one.
Get a split, bring it inside, let it get up to room temperature for 24 hrs, split it in half, stick the pins into the freshly exposed surface (parallel to the grain), and read out.
Anything else (the sound they make when banged together, their weight) requires expertise of that wood in a modern EPA stove (or calibration with a moisture meter).
Get a split, bring it inside, let it get up to room temperature for 24 hrs, split it in half, stick the pins into the freshly exposed surface (parallel to the grain), and read out.
Anything else (the sound they make when banged together, their weight) requires expertise of that wood in a modern EPA stove (or calibration with a moisture meter).
stoveliker
Minister of Fire
Thank you for your help!
Also when you say get a split and bring it inside...is a split a round cut log that is unsplit?
Also when you say get a split and bring it inside...is a split a round cut log that is unsplit?
stoveliker
Minister of Fire
No, a split is e.g. a quarter log. I.e. it has been split and has been drying like that.
And then (after getting it to room temp), you split it again to measure on the inside.
But if you don't have any wood that's split already, then take a round inside, get it up to temp, split that, and measure on the inside.
Most people have splits, because that way (no bark) wood dries way faster/better.
And then (after getting it to room temp), you split it again to measure on the inside.
But if you don't have any wood that's split already, then take a round inside, get it up to temp, split that, and measure on the inside.
Most people have splits, because that way (no bark) wood dries way faster/better.
Gotcha. Thanks again.
Yeah I was just cutting a lot of rounds cause I have like 10 cords of logs to try to get rid of.
Yeah I was just cutting a lot of rounds cause I have like 10 cords of logs to try to get rid of.
stoveliker
Minister of Fire
Yeah. I am leaving the logs sit as of now until I can split what I have and maybe even get some sort of wood shed set up.
stoveliker
Minister of Fire
That is fine, as long as you don't count on them drying much while they sit unsplit.
They'll dry some, but not nearly enough in the time split wood gets dry enough for burning.
They'll dry some, but not nearly enough in the time split wood gets dry enough for burning.
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