Oak?

[HJsimpson]

Hello everyone.
Im about 90% sure that i finally stumbled apon some oak today but since i have never cut any im not 100% sure. There is not a whole lot to go own from the pics because the tree has been down for at least 3 years so no bark or leaves. The smell is the only thing that has me so sure unless there is another tree that has that smell. Grain looks right and it splits good but not as easy as ash so that kinda means its not red elm which i do get a decent amount of.
There is about 2 inchs of punk but the center is still very solid so i couldnt pass it up. I had to drag it up about a 30 foot hill so i hope it was worth the work. Still about 2 truck loads left but this was my second load today and those big rounds kicked my butt.
If it is oak it will be the first in the 20 plus cords of wood i have already.

 

[Excavator]

I am thinking red oak, sure looks good

 

[Ralphie Boy]

Not sure but I think red oak. Nice find!

 

[Jags]

Oak?
Yes.

 

[Ralphie Boy]

just got the picturs to blow up and oh yes red oak.

 

[Nixon]

I'd say Red Oak ,Great stuff ! Split and stack it separately as it tends to take 2 -3 years to reach it's potential as a great firewood . Trust Me ,it's well worth the wait .

 

[RORY12553]

I'd say Red Oak ,Great stuff ! Split and stack it separately as it tends to take 2 -3 years to reach it's potential as a great firewood . Trust Me ,it's well worth the wait .

would you leave it in bigger blocks or split it smaller? i hear so much about larger over night splits and i'm leaving some oak i just got in bigger than normal splits for down the road.

 

[Jags]

would you leave it in bigger blocks or split it smaller? i hear so much about larger over night splits and i'm leaving some oak i just got in bigger than normal splits for down the road.

If you have the time...I like blocking some of the larger rounds into squares. It is awesome to stack a firebox full of those things to watch it cruise at 550 for the next 10 hours. With plenty of coals to light up the next load.

Warning: large blocks of Oak will produce mucho coals. Some complain of coal bed build up. Also - if they are fairly large - consider 3 yrs out.

 

[Nixon]

would you leave it in bigger blocks or split it smaller? i hear so much about larger over night splits and i'm leaving some oak i just got in bigger than normal splits for down the road.

I guess My answer to that is Yes I generally do a mix of split sizes . Small being 2X3 large being 6-7"across the largest part of the split . I don't think that there is a correct size for every need .Just make sure that You leave yourself enough time for the split to "season" adequately ,and You'll be a happy man on a cold winters night .

 

[HJsimpson]

You mean i cant burn it now its been drying for 3 years now. I really shouldnt need it until 2015/2016 at the earliest.
I did throw the MM meter on it for giggles and to show wood doesnt dry in log form. It has been down with no bark for atleast 3 years so more then likely its been down alot longer. Just a cheap Harbor Freight one but the highest ive seen was 38 and this was over limit.

 

[RORY12553]

You mean i cant burn it now its been drying for 3 years now. I really shouldnt need it until 2015/2016 at the earliest.
I did throw the MM meter on it for giggles and to show wood doesnt dry in log form. It has been down with no bark for atleast 3 years so more then likely its been down alot longer. Just a cheap Harbor Freight one but the highest ive seen was 38 and this was over limit.View attachment 90888

Nice score too didn't mean to ask a question without giving you props! Good luck get it split and stacked.

 

[Thistle]

Absolutely one of the Red Oaks. I like a mix of sizes myself from smaller splits to large (6 x 6,even a couple 6 x 8 if possible).Even rounds 4 to 6" I leave probably 90% of them whole.

 

[lab17]

That's Red Oak, just walked in from splitting some myself. Had to take a few good whiffs of that sweet interior.

 

[red oak]

Love the smell of that wood, and splits great!

 

[clemsonfor]

oak smells kind of nasty to me! yep its red oak. There no oaks in Indiana, well not many?? like every other tree around here is an oak of some sort.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Love the smell. Fresh split aroma!
Think I'll go split some.

 

[HJsimpson]

oak smells kind of nasty to me! yep its red oak. There no oaks in Indiana, well not many?? like every other tree around here is an oak of some sort.

Yes there is a fair amount of oak but at the places i cut im only allowed the down or dead stuff. Need less to say i cut a lot of ash and elm.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

HJ, if we were closer I'd happily take that off your hands. As for the moisture, we got some that has been laying on the ground for 10 years and it is not ready to burn yet! Really hard stuff too.

 

[Shane N]

Looks like some lovely red oak. Don't even have to deal with the mess of bark all over!

 

[Woody Stover]

would you leave it in bigger blocks or split it smaller? i hear so much about larger over night splits and i'm leaving some oak i just got in bigger than normal splits for down the road.

If you've got the branches too, they are probably drier. You could use those for your bigger splits and they might be ready to burn sooner...

 

[fabsroman]

would you leave it in bigger blocks or split it smaller? i hear so much about larger over night splits and i'm leaving some oak i just got in bigger than normal splits for down the road.

I just split one of my 16 month old "large" splits of red oak and the inside was 31% moisture. Then, I cracked open a tiny split from the same tree and it was 16%. So, it all depends when you want to burn stuff. I'll probably be able to wait another year or more to burn this oak, but I can also load the furnace with dense wood at night, no matter the size, and get a 7+ hour burn from it. Thinking about splitting the larger oak pieces down a bit once the weather gets warmer.

And I will second, third, fourth or whatever all the suggestions that it is red oak. Wasn't leaning that way until I blew up the pics and ran through them. The pin holes are a give away as is the grain in one of the splits.

 

[RORY12553]

If you've got the branches too, they are probably drier. You could use those for your bigger splits and they might be ready to burn sooner...

I am getting a lot of oak from a buddy that had a lot of blow downs due to Sandy. He was telling me how much was there and didn't believe him till I saw it. Will try to get pics tomorrow. I will take everything I told him except for really small branches

 

[weatherguy]

I am getting a lot of oak from a buddy that had a lot of blow downs due to Sandy. He was telling me how much was there and didn't believe him till I saw it. Will try to get pics tomorrow. I will take everything I told him except for really small branches

I love burning the 3-5 inch branches in rounds, scored a scrounge a couple years ago of oak and cut a truck load of those size rounds, I love burning them on frigid nights, they're more work but nice to have to fill the box up.
That first pic looks like my living room floor.