Checked the oak stacks with the mm this evening......

[Sconnie Burner]

All fresh splits on the larger pieces were 20-22% with 3-4 months of drying still left! All this was cut spring of 2014 dead standing and most were trunk sections that were soaked. (Used the limbs off the main trunk last winter. Looks like I'll have the "truly seasoned wood" for my second year of burning. The hard work payed off, I'm stoked to join the real hoarders/burners! Have 10 more cords drying for the next 3 years.

 

[Knots]

It's a good feeling knowing that you'll have truly seasoned hard wood when the winter comes. I'm at 1.5 years of wood put-up at the moment. Hope to be at 3 years by the time winter comes...

 

[Ashful]

Must be a good feeling. I'm not sure I'll ever know it.

Was processing about 14 cords per year while burning 6 - 10 each year, the last three years, and have 20 CSS'd now. Goal was 30 cords CSS'd, for three full years, but I just can't seem to ever get there.

 

[Knots]

Yikes! I only burn about three cords - so that makes a difference. Let's face it - if you're a year ahead you're doing pretty good.

 

[DougA]

while burning 6 - 10 each year, the last three years

Gee, I'd be giving serious thought to doing something about that un-insulated stone farmhouse. That's a freakin lot of firewood.

 

[Woody Stover]

All fresh splits on the larger pieces were 20-22% with 3-4 months of drying still left! All this was cut spring of 2014 dead standing and most were trunk sections that were soaked.

Yeah, the dead Oak seems to dry maybe a little quicker, even if the initial reading is high. Maybe free water vs. bound water? Not sure. At any rate, sounds like that stuff is looking pretty good for this year!

Goal was 30 cords CSS'd, for three full years, but I just can't seem to ever get there.

Your three-year goal might be more attainable wit da BKs in da house.

 

[Fred Wright]

Good to hear. Feels great knowing your winter fuel is laid in.

Standing dead oak doesn't necessarily fall under the two year CS&S rule. One year stacked should do it with small splits.

Got a pickup load of standing dead pin oak dropped off last month, 12" rounds on average. A little punk around the edges but fine otherwise. It split nicely, weighed less than green wood. It just looked and felt dry if that makes any sense. Set it aside for the '16 to '17 season. There's still some left to split. If I can remember to I'll take the meter and check it next time I'm out there splitting.

 

[Woody Stover]

Got a pickup load of standing dead pin oak dropped off last month, 12" rounds on average. A little punk around the edges but fine otherwise. It split nicely, weighed less than green wood. It just looked and felt dry if that makes any sense....If I can remember to I'll take the meter and check it next time I'm out there splitting.

The smaller the better, too. If it was standing dead long enough, a 12" Oak could be pretty dry. I am mostly processing dead Oak, and it's generally upper 20s or low 30s MC in the trunk.

 

[Ashful]

Gee, I'd be giving serious thought to doing something about that un-insulated stone farmhouse. That's a freakin lot of firewood.

It is a lot of wood, and a lot of oil too! However, substantial and original pre-Revolutionary houses that have not been messed up with "modern improvements" by any prior owner are fairly rare, this being one of very few that remain a private residence in our area. Seeing as the prior 200+ years' residents managed to not mess with it, I don't think it's my place to do it either. I'm just here to maintain it for a few years, and keep it as original as possible for owners of the next 200 years.

Your three-year goal might be more attainable wit da BKs in da house.

I am hoping so. I think I was wasting most of what I was burning with the Jotuls, radiating the majority of my heat into those infinite heat sinks I call my exterior walls. Heating the air by convection seems to be key in a stone house.

 

[chris5150]

Your post reminded me to check a stack I split in summer of 2013, a large split about 10" x 10" x 16" long and it was at 15%-16%. May get to burn that stack in 2016-17 season.