I have some oak that has been split for about a year now. It is cracked on both ends but it is still not turning gray or brown? Normal?
Color have anything to do with how dry the wood is?
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BCC_Burner
Feeling the Heat
teutonicking
Feeling the Heat
Oak takes the longest to dry of anything. It normally isn't ready in one year--usually it takes 2-3 years. You can always check it with a moisture meter by splitting a piece and testing the middle. Color can be an indication of weathering but not as much if its covered. Is it top-covered?
I dont think you can accurately tell duration of seasoning by color. Too many variables. Its always been a suspicion of mine that wood dealers leave wood out in the elements to gain a weathered look without true seasoning.
Oak can stay tan if not exposed to rain and sunlight. On the other hand.
Oak can stay tan if not exposed to rain and sunlight. On the other hand.
It is top covered but the it is in a wood shed with all sides open. Just curious about coloring and seasoning. I am aware the stuff won't be really ready for another couple of more years.
As pointed out before weathering doesn not = seasoning. Also a MM $12 at Menards or Harbor Freight will really tell you how you are doing (I just got mine) as the variables involved in seasoning can really change the time frame. Letting it dry cut split and stacked for 3 years is usually a surewire way to have dry wood. But if your MM proves it dry in 1-2 years why not burn it? Also if your 3 year stuff isn't dry by the MM good indication that you need to look at your setup for not enough airflow.
Jon1270
Minister of Fire
As indicated above the color change is the result of exposure to wind and water, not an indicator of dryness at all. Wood that's dried out in the weather will discolor, but discolored wood isn't necessarily dry and dry wood isn't necessarily discolored.
If you look at the wood in this picture, it was all stacked for the same amount of time, yet there is some big differences in the color of the wood and it is all ash.
![[Hearth.com] Color have anything to do with how dry the wood is?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/117/117013-52ef201fc6453018a195f723e0e75ea7.jpg?hash=NbYgC0qHSj "[Hearth.com] Color have anything to do with how dry the wood is?")
As for those ends that show big cracks, that is good but it only tells you that the ends are drying. It says nothing about the interior of that log which will usually not be dry. That is the reason for drying wood and when that wood gets dry enough, those cracks will usually close up or partially close up.
As for those ends that show big cracks, that is good but it only tells you that the ends are drying. It says nothing about the interior of that log which will usually not be dry. That is the reason for drying wood and when that wood gets dry enough, those cracks will usually close up or partially close up.
shoot-straight
Minister of Fire
most are correct, i stack mine in shed as well. the ends that are exposed to light and occational wind blown rain are gray for the most part. interior wood not so much.
Bingo.
Weathering and drying......as far as I'm concerned, not always the same.
Unless maybe if the Oak has been weathering for between 2-3 years.
When I started to burn pine I learned the hard way that the appearance says nothing about the dryness of the wood. I had most of my stacks top covered except for a few feet where the tarp was not long enough. That wood looked great after the summer but when I wanted to put it under my deck for the winter noticed how much heavier it was compared with the splits that were stored under the tarp and looked much less seasoned. When I tested them with my MM the "weathered" pine was still above 30%, the protected pine ~15%. I learned the following lessons:
- Pine needs to be protected from rain to season.
- The look of the wood says nothing about its moisture content.
- Pine needs to be protected from rain to season.
- The look of the wood says nothing about its moisture content.
Sprinter
Minister of Fire
You really need a moisture meter to tell. Otherwise, it's just a guess and it's too important to guess at. I've got gray, cracked wood that still measures in the 30's. I've also been fooled by the "knock" sound method.
You can get a good meter for under $20. http://www.amazon.com/DUSIEC-Handhe...qid=1383950131&sr=8-2&keywords=moisture+meter
You can get a good meter for under $20. http://www.amazon.com/DUSIEC-Handhe...qid=1383950131&sr=8-2&keywords=moisture+meter
Sprinter
Minister of Fire
Well, maybe after one has processed and burned as many cords of wood as Dennis has...
Say, just how many is that anyway?
Say, just how many is that anyway?
HDRock
Minister of Fire
HDRock
Minister of Fire
HDRock
Minister of Fire
![[Hearth.com] Color have anything to do with how dry the wood is?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/117/117153-f2a1e49f2e9179f888f2ce4e8365763b.jpg?hash=Kh0q_ZM5Qd "[Hearth.com] Color have anything to do with how dry the wood is?")
Yeah they do. Some just don't know it.
Well, for sure there are some of that don't know squat!
It would be one wild guess to come up with that figure! However, without a business, I highly doubt there would be too many to top it. I would for sure shake his hand and congratulate him!
Thank you everyone for the responses. I kind of figured the two didn't go hand in hand but just wanted to check. I got more oak yesterday so that will be for 2016. Ironically I split some of the oak i got yesterday at a friends house and some of the splits on the top of the pile were gray on one side but not the other!
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