I bought a moisture meter recently and tested several pieces of wood. Always did a new split per test. I was surprised with results. I have taken down some standing dead trees lately. We lost a bunch over the past year or two due to severe drought and the attendant stress. Bark is falling off. I figured they would be drier, but they are 34-38% moisture. Oak.
Moisture content wood with bark off
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Oak takes 2 to 3 years to dry after its been split. It will dry faster with the bark off but it still needs to be split before it's going to get dry. I have been cutting some standing dead elm and the branches up to 5 or 6 inches are below 18%but the big stuff has to be split and will be next winter before it's dry enough.
I dropped a 3 year standing dead oak. Some bath was off the branches. After 2 years CSS, it is 14%. It just doesn't dry until it's split.
tigeroak
Feeling the Heat
Limbs may be ready to burn but if it needs to be split most likely will need to be c/s/s for 2-3 years.
Paulywalnut
Minister of Fire
I have 3 year red oak split and stacked and right around 21%. I don't use it until it's under 20. I'm fortunate to be able to wait I know. I really rather have BL or Ash. I don't turn oak down though.
37% to 34% reading on old oak logs is around what I find. I stack all the Oak together, green and dead standing so...you know...
But green live Oak trees are supposed to have like 78% moisture. So 35% is relative.
When I test a live green tree my meter reads 50% with the little overload beeper going. The too wet warning beep. Lol.
But green live Oak trees are supposed to have like 78% moisture. So 35% is relative.
When I test a live green tree my meter reads 50% with the little overload beeper going. The too wet warning beep. Lol.
Hasufel
Feeling the Heat
I had a couple of red oaks on the ground for 2+ years, long enough to start getting punky under the bark. I brought a couple of freshly bucked & split pieces inside and warmed them up yesterday. MM registered overload (>50%). Surprised me that it hadn't "seasoned" over time, but I should have figured when I split that wood and found it so heavy & fragrant!
Definitely not the Go-To wood for fast drying expectations but SO worth it when it finally does get there.
Firefighter938
Feeling the Heat
I think species makes a difference. I just took down an ash tree that was ~20" dbh. It had been standing dead with no bark for several years. Most of the wood besides the bottom 4-5 ft was very dry. I didn't moisture meter it, but it was obvious. Ping sounds when you would throw splits, no noticeable smell, and light. I have also cut standing dead black locust with no bark that I burned that week. Those were smaller 12-14" trees.
I was just looking at a chart of green moisture content tree ratings. Rated by driest to wettest(when green). It was linked from here. But I dont remember where it was or much of the info but I believe Ash and Black locust were high up on the list with like Oak and Willow at the bottom.
So..yeah, species is everything.
So..yeah, species is everything.
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