Lying firewood sellers !

[Woody5506]

That's the problem with generalities. It is totally false to say that all firewood sellers are selling wet wood. That's just bitterness talking.

Yeah pretty much, but it's par for the course. Around here, there are a couple sellers who at least try to be decent. One leaves in log form for a year, then splits, and leaves them heaped for a year under cover. Early on I bought a bit from him and some was good like the ash and black locust but other stuff like oak was still wet. I still think for a dealer though it's about as good as you'll get around here. Another big local seller does similarly, keeps everything covered on concrete but I don't think he seasons the splits for a year. 6-8 months is what he told me. Most I've talked to claim 3 months is all you need for seasoning, or that ash could be split and burned the same day. Everyone thinks I'm out of my mind for saying it all needs 3 years.

 

[kborndale]

Yeah pretty much, but it's par for the course. Around here, there are a couple sellers who at least try to be decent. One leaves in log form for a year, then splits, and leaves them heaped for a year under cover. Early on I bought a bit from him and some was good like the ash and black locust but other stuff like oak was still wet. I still think for a dealer though it's about as good as you'll get around here. Another big local seller does similarly, keeps everything covered on concrete but I don't think he seasons the splits for a year. 6-8 months is what he told me. Most I've talked to claim 3 months is all you need for seasoning, or that ash could be split and burned the same day. Everyone thinks I'm out of my mind for saying it all needs 3 years.

It doesn't all need 3 years.

 

[Woody5506]

It doesn't all need 3 years.

Okay then.

 

[kborndale]

Okay then.

Oak and hickory will take 3 years, most softwoods can dry in less than a year, ash and soft maple takes a year, hard maple takes 2 years. Of course the environment they are drying in can change things, but most wood types do not take 3 years to get below 20%.

 

[Woody5506]

Oak and hickory will take 3 years, most softwoods can dry in less than a year, ash and soft maple takes a year, hard maple takes 2 years. Of course the environment they are drying in can change things, but most wood types do not take 3 years to get below 20%.

Yes, I know this...Though I honestly consider all split wood to be like wine, it does better with age, but in a practical sense yes you are correct those woods really don't need 3 years. I think honey locust needs more than 3 in my environment but regardless it goes in my stove after 3 years and at that point I don't see much need for a moisture meter. The bigger point though I'm trying to make and didn't make clear - most sellers around here in upstate NY where the OP is from as well are advertising mixed hardwoods, mostly the varieties that do in fact need more than 1 year split to season, and in my opinion 3 years. I don't know of any seller around here who would bother with that type of seasoning time. Most think 6 months is more than enough for everything. I don't necessarily think they are liars though, there's just this very vast idea of what seasoned actually means, especially now with newer stoves that rely so heavily on sub 20% MC.

 

[Dieselhead]

If you get a mixed hardwoods order which may include the slow seasoners like oaks and locusts, you have a order that needs minimum 2 years ideally 3 years to season unless you separate it by species in your stacks.

 

[Highbeam]

"years" is a bad way to measure dryness. Too many other factors at play. Use your moisture meter, it's the only way to know. As a buyer or a seller.

When a seller says dry or seasoned but doesn't provide a MC number then you are not buying a product of known quality. Buyer beware.

 

[Rickb]

The first 2 years I burned soft maple and I can say it didnt burn worth a crap till it was almost 2 full years stacked. That said it was also live when I cut it down then bucked it and split it. Maybe if it had been standing dead for a while it woulda been "ok" after just 1 year. When I found a guy near me that the price was ok I started buying from him and he would give me all ash and even that was 2 years minimum but much better on the 3rd year.

 

[warbonnet]

Should come as no surprise. Nothing new really. Sellers claiming seasoned when in fact it’s not. I love the guys that show a picture of a moisture meter stuck in the end grain of a split. One guy was showing 4%😄 If I’m buying wood I test it and if it’s too wet I reject it without hesitation. Shame on the seller. The majority are selling wood well above 20%. There are a few I know that sell wood that is truly seasoned, but you’re going to pay a premium price. If you’re cramped for space as soon as you burn enough wood to free up space for a cord, buy a cord and stack it. Will give that much more time to dry.