Newbie. Is this Red Oak?

[Brian26]

I am new to wood burning so sorry if this is a dumb question. I have been learning so much from this forum.

Got a cord delivered today of what I was told was 2 year seasoned red oak for $150 of craigslist. I am just not sure if its really red oak. The bark doesn't look like oak to me. Might sound stupid but the wood does have a reddish color to it but I am not sure if other species have the same color. Also has a very strong smell to it when split.

I split a bunch of pieces and with a Harbor Freight moisture meter everything has been between 15-20 percent.

I have not burned any yet but will be in the next week as the temps are going to drop.

If it is red oak I plan on buying another cord as he said he has more available.

Thanks!

 

[Jon1270]

Yep, I believe it is. Color is right, and the large rays are pretty much unmistakable.

 

[red oak]

Looks like red oak to me. The smell is pretty distinctive. Lots of people don't like it but I don't mind it at all. For that moisture content, I'd say that is primo firewood for sure!

Did you check the moisture content on the fresh face of a split? The reason I ask is that red oak usually loses the odor after it's been split awhile. If it's only been split recently then it will not really be ready for this winter. But if you checked on the freshly split face then you are good to go!

 

[red oak]

By the way Brian26, welcome to the forum! Good luck with your first year of wood burning!

 

[Todd 2]

Sure looks like it Brian, red oak will smell funny like you mentioned.
Not a bad deal for a full cord.
One way to really tell the dryness is throw it on a hot fire bed and see if any moisture sizzles out the ends or not.

Todd

 

[Brian26]

It wasn't split very well and the pieces were quite big so I split them down to the size shown in the picture. I just checked again as I only tested a few pieces and there were a few pieces that had low 20's for moisture content. Looked like it was the very center of the log and much more red than the other pieces. I guess I will find out when I burn it this upcoming week. Thanks!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

It is oak but either your moisture meter is wrong or you perhaps are not using it correctly. Also, never expect to get wood that is dry enough for burning when you are buying it. Very, very rarely does that happen.

 

[basod]

Take two fresh splits and bang them together - if it is a dull thud then you'll want wait on that wood, a crisp crack like a baseball bat and it should be ready to go.
Free moisture meter

 

[Brian26]

I looked for all the signs of dry wood without a moisture meter. Cracks on the end and sounds crisp when banging pieces together. Some of the pieces had a few inches on the outside that was dead and fell apart. Almost like balsa wood but the middle was still solid. I am going to burn some tomorrow and report back.

 

[billb3]

looks like red oak to me
but at 20% I'd expect to see some bark falling off

maybe you picked pretties for the pic ?


I'd grab more if that's 128 cu ft cords

 

[Woody Stover]

Yep, I believe it is. Color is right, and the large rays are pretty much unmistakable.

Brian, in case you don't know what Jon is referring to, if you look at the end of the wood, you may be able to see some light-colored lines radiating out from the center to the edge.
Sounds like a good deal on some pretty dry Oak; Grab a bunch now if you'll need to buy more down the road.

It is oak but either your moisture meter is wrong or you perhaps are not using it correctly.

How the deuce do you deduce that? Sounds like that wood may be good to go....

 

[aansorge]

The red oak around here smells like peach yogurt.

 

[Brian26]

Another cord is being delivered today. We lit the insert last night. The wood burned quite well. Long and hot. The supplier said he has a permit with the local water company. He said they tag dead, fallen, and unhealthy trees. Will see what today's delivery brings. If anyone in South Central CT needs wood I will refer him. He seems like a very honest good source for wood.

 

[Jon1270]

Sounds like you've done well. A word of warning, though -- the temperature on the stove door is likely to be quite a bit cooler than on the stovetop, so don't rely on that thermometer, in that place, to warn you when you're letting it get too hot.

 

[Todd 2]

Did it leave alot of like chunk coal in the back of the stove or burn up to mostly powder ashes ?

 

[Woody Stover]

We lit the insert last night. The wood burned quite well. Long and hot. The supplier said he has a permit with the local water company. He said they tag dead, fallen, and unhealthy trees. Will see what today's delivery brings. If anyone in South Central CT needs wood I will refer him. He seems like a very honest good source for wood.

never expect to get wood that is dry enough for burning when you are buying it. Very, very rarely does that happen.

Wow, Brian, you hit the lottery! Grab it all!

Actually, I know a guy here that has some pretty dry wood but chances are that any Oak in the load will need more time.

 

[Brian26]

Did it leave alot of like chunk coal in the back of the stove or burn up to mostly powder ashes ?

Almost no ash. It burned very well. Is that a good sign?

 

[Brian26]

Just had another cord delivered. Based on my research here I think I got a full cord. It was a lot of wood. Here is another picture of a log from the most recent delivery.

If anyone is in south central CT I will gladly refer the supplier.

 

[red oak]

Brian26 - wood burns well, checks out on the moisture meter, and burns completely. Sounds like you hit the jackpot! I would as much wood as I could from this seller, if I was buying. If you get more than you need for this winter it will just season for next year.

This is really good to hear because most wood sold as "seasoned" is far from it. Nice that you found some truly dry wood!

 

[Brian26]

Brian26 - wood burns well, checks out on the moisture meter, and burns completely. Sounds like you hit the jackpot! I would as much wood as I could from this seller, if I was buying. If you get more than you need for this winter it will just season for next year.

This is really good to hear because most wood sold as "seasoned" is far from it. Nice that you found some truly dry wood!

Thanks! Another cord is coming around tues-weds. (Don't tell the wife..haha) Again, anyone in CT I will gladly refer the supplier.

 

[Blackdogon57]

No doubt on it being red oak. That last pic looks very well seasoned. Awesome firewood.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Just had another cord delivered. Based on my research here I think I got a full cord. It was a lot of wood. Here is another picture of a log from the most recent delivery.

If anyone is in south central CT I will gladly refer the supplier.

Easy to measure to see if it is a full corn. Width x length x height. If it equals 128 cu ft, you have a cord.

 

[Todd 2]

Good deal Brian, I think you have found 1 of three honest wood sellers in the tri state area.
Wish I lived closer, Id buy a cord or 2 at that price just to be further ahead and to say " I bought seasoned oak "
Thats considered a great "score" in my book.

 

[oldspark]

Sounds like 15 to 20%to me.

 

[jeffesonm]

I've got some 18% red oak that looks just like that... good score.