Awesome problem to have, but advice is appreciated

[jkbemdavis]

So I had a large timber cut done on my property this past Feb. through April (2015). I have an abundance of white/red oak, hickory, hard/soft maple, and ash tops that I will be working on for the next several years. (prob have 500+ cord waiting to be harvested) This summer I gathered approx. 20 - 30 face cord of mixed varieties for use in my outdoor wood boiler. After reading numerous posts here, I'm wondering if you would recommend that I try to simply burn the ash and maple for this winter and allow the better quality woods to season for longer. None of what I burn this year will have seasoned for more than the summer since I am new to the property and the stove. Unfortunately, I stacked everything mixed together.

 

[DougA]

Ash will dry easiest, so I would use that first. If it's hard maple (sugar), then I would save that for next season also. If you burn the other wood, you'll be wasting a lot of the potential BTU they have when the moisture has to be burned out.

 

[BamaScroungr]

I'm doing exactly what you're contemplating, which is burning just ash and maple this winter while my other hardwoods season another year.

 

[Fred Wright]

Get the soft maple out ASAP. Left lay in the woods, soft maple will go punky in a short time.

 

[Jags]

Get the soft maple out ASAP. Left lay in the woods, soft maple will go punky in a short time.

And Hickory too. If that stuff touches the ground you can watch it waste away in front of your eyes.

 

[jkbemdavis]

And Hickory too. If that stuff touches the ground you can watch it waste away in front of your eyes.

Thanks for all of the thoughts. I'm surprised about the Hickory, because it's so hard and heavy with a high BTU Value. Regardless, I'll start workimng on the Ash and Soft Maple and let the others cure in the pile or stacks.

 

[Jags]

Ground contact with hickory invites a fungus that destroys the stuff in short order.

 

[ElmBurner]

With 500+ cords of tops, is there really a concern about waste?

Just crank up the air on your OWB and burn it all hot, then make sure to clean out the chimney well in the spring. Whatever rots in the woods makes the soil better for the next batch of trees.

I think taking time and care with your wood only makes sense when you don't have much of it to go on.

 

[jkbemdavis]

With 500+ cords of tops, is there really a concern about waste?

Just crank up the air on your OWB and burn it all hot, then make sure to clean out the chimney well in the spring. Whatever rots in the woods makes the soil better for the next batch of trees.

I think taking time and care with your wood only makes sense when you don't have much of it to go on.

Interesting point... and it made me laugh...because you're right lol

 

[brenndatomu]

And Hickory too. If that stuff touches the ground you can watch it waste away in front of your eyes.

I'm surprised about the Hickory, because it's so hard and heavy with a high BTU Value

Me too. I cut up a big ole hickory a few years back that had come down in a storm and then lay in the woods for a couple years before I got to it. It had a crack running the length of the truck that lay full of water...smelled like and old whiskey barrel...some of the best firewood I have ever burned

 

[jeffesonm]

Even forgetting about the waste, it pays to burn dry wood. If burning wet wood only gets you 75% of the heat of dry wood, that's another 1/3 more you have to cut and move to make up for it.

 

[Jags]

then lay in the woods for a couple years before I got to it.

Hmmm...could be a regional thing I guess. I know that around here, hickory that has been in ground contact for two years is done for.

 

[Applesister]

I would burn the Maple and Ash first, thats a good plan. The only stuff that sticks around in my woodlot is downed Oak. Everything else has a shelf life.

 

[Longstreet]

How much land do you have where the tops are enough for 500 cords? You might try to contact a good ole boy selling truck loads of firewood. Work out a deal where he does all the work and leaves you 1/3 to 1/2 of the wood split and piled. Then all you have to do is stack neatly and season. That should work for everyone in my mind.

 

[jkbemdavis]

How much land do you have where the tops are enough for 500 cords? You might try to contact a good ole boy selling truck loads of firewood. Work out a deal where he does all the work and leaves you 1/3 to 1/2 of the wood split and piled. Then all you have to do is stack neatly and season. That should work for everyone in my mind.

I have slightly over 100 acres. Interestingly, the right of way to the acreage crosses a neighboring farmers field. This makes it so I can access it using the farm road (not the right of way), but I really can't give others permission to do so. I obtained special use right of way for the timber cut, but pretty much have to be careful about letting others go out there because they would have to cross property that isn't mine. Still pondering how not to waste the tops, while getting as much out as quickly as possible for myself and some friends and neighbors. Like I said before, awesome but unusual problem to have.