Oak dry time?

[Enplater]

What are the chances oak will dry from 30-35% mc to 20-25% by this winter. I’ll be stacking in the next few days, it’ll have good wind and sun and will be tarped. It’s definitely red oak and I think white oak. I’m in southern New Hampshire

 

[Mike13]

If you have any other wood available to burn for this coming year I’d let the oak sit covered until the following year.


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[redyute]

If you have any other wood available to burn for this coming year I’d let the oak sit covered until the following year.


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Agreed this red oak is terrible for seasoning.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

It's risky as it takes quite awhile to dry Oak as was discussed here in the "Do rounds season" thread. You MIGHT get lucky with it but I wouldn't chance it if I were you, get some other wood ready as was mentioned and check the Oak in October just to see where you are at.

 

[spudman99]

If you are dead set on trying to season it, then search this forum for solar kilns. It may be possible but will take time, materials and effort to construct something to accelerate the water evaporation process. I would personally keep checking craigslist for free wood, or call a local tree company to see if they have an ash or maple trees they are removing and will let you take the trunks.

 

[Medic21]

I usually leave stacked and covered outside for three years. In a leantoo loosely stacked it can be 2 years.

The best is two years outside then one summer inside.

 

[kvesi122]

I had roughly the same timeline last year with red oak. Didn't get much heat out of the pieces I was burning and they usually hissed a good bit once you threw them in.

Split them small and let them sit for 2 years. I had a good amount of creosote buildup from this burn season. Try to get some ash or beech to get you through next year.

I'm not too far away from you so we'd have a similar climate. Last summer was brutal with rain though.

 

[Enplater]

Thanks for the replies, I have plenty of other wood that should be ready. I have a moisture meter so I’ll be able to tell come fall.

 

[weatherguy]

It will probably be mid 20s next winter, at least that's been my experience, then usually 18-20 the following year.

 

[TreePointer]

Around here, oak takes 2-3 years to season. Cut/Split/Stacked (c/s/s) off the ground.

Are there exceptions? Sure. Some of the smaller diameter limbs and especially those on dead-standing trees can start to season before you cut them.

 

[EPS]

Thanks for the replies, I have plenty of other wood that should be ready. I have a moisture meter so I’ll be able to tell come fall.

I live in NH as well (east/central ish) and have found that there are very few people who give away wood any time of the year because so many of us heat with it six months out of the year.

 

[johneh]

Oak will take as long as it takes for the conditions it is in
I cut Oak in January , Buck and split it in May. It goes into
a tent like a T pea were on a good hot dry summer it will dry to
18% buy the end of September . But the tent with 7 cord in it
gets to 150 to 160 in July and August with full sun it is
also vented at the bottom to let air in and vented at the top
with a rain shield to let the hot moist air out .
My type of solar kiln

 

[Akon]

I dropped, bucked, and split 3 cords of red oak the last few days. It's located near where I store wood in the winter. I stacked it a sunny windy spot. I'll top cover it until May or June then solar kilnify it for a month or two. I have other wood ready, but want to burn this next year so I don't have to move it twice.

 

[weatherguy]

Oak will take as long as it takes for the conditions it is in
I cut Oak in January , Buck and split it in May. It goes into
a tent like a T pea were on a good hot dry summer it will dry to
18% buy the end of September . But the tent with 7 cord in it
gets to 150 to 160 in July and August with full sun it is
also vented at the bottom to let air in and vented at the top
with a rain shield to let the hot moist air out .
My type of solar kiln

I think I'm going to try that this year with 4 cords of oak. You have a pic of your setup? Sounds easier than poindexters rigs.

 

[Enplater]

I live in NH as well (east/central ish) and have found that there are very few people who give away wood any time of the year because so many of us heat with it six months out of the year.

Right! If you can find it for free it’s usually soft maple, white birch or worse,

 

[Soundchasm]

Boy, for live cut, that's cutting it close. If I read correctly, you're talking about a complete summer. The other thing is whether you're splitting limb wood or stump wood. Limb wood has a good chance. Stump wood, probably not.

Standing dead limb wood, chances are great. Anything else, try to get that second year in.

I only say that because I was in the same boat a few years back. I split comically small. As I tried to empty out my storage system to revamp it this summer, I ran across some of those splits. Essentially, I was splitting kindling! Not anything that was going to last several hours.

 

[woodhounder]

Oak split small and stacked loosely, in the hot summer sun, will dry it out, especially with some wind.

 

[hickoryhoarder]

I wouldn't count on that timeline. In a sunny, breezy driveway, I've never seen a piece of oak ready in less than 18 months.

 

[Eureka]

I still get some sizzlers after 2 years

 

[Enplater]

I bought the rounds from some guy saying they were seasoned. Most of the bark falls off but it’s still 30+% mc. I’ll try to remember to post what it is by the end of fall.