Im cutting up an oak that has been down for two years now. At the base it is about 24" across. How long will it take after splitting to be good and seasoned?
Question aboat oak
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If you split it now it should be OK in the fall . I split mine in the fall and burn it the same year. I would try to split it soon . John
Split some thin and they may be ready by november if you have good wind & sun exposer. Medium and larger splits mixed in with the smaller splits will burn okay in January.
I agree with Wellbuilthome, Get it split and stacked fro air drying and it will be ready by next winter.
Stack it so a squirrel can run through it, but a dog can't and it MIGHT be ready by fall. Split it a little on the smaller side too.
How long would it take if it was stacked pretty tightly in an area (off the ground) that was 7'x5'x16'?
Spikem said:
If it's stacked tightly, it won't dry well. Oak holds onto moisture like a one armed midget hanging out of a plane without a parachute.
Understood. However, the wood in question is not being counted on until the 2010-2011 burning season.
Should it dry out enough by then?
Red Oak mostly. Lots of maple (nasty stuff to split by hand!) as well.
I'm wondering where in the world this saying comes from? Good thing we're not in the politically correct around here, or someone would ask you to edit that to "height challenged." 
"If it's stacked tightly, it won't dry well. Oak holds onto moisture like a one armed midget hanging out of a plane without a parachute."
"If it's stacked tightly, it won't dry well. Oak holds onto moisture like a one armed midget hanging out of a plane without a parachute."
Spikem said:
Red oak definitely needs two summers and three doesn't hurt. But if you stack it loosely it should be okay for 2010-2011. Like I usually say, don't cover the pile the first summer so the moisture can evaporate better, then cover only the top. You should be fine.
Is there a benefit to a squirrel running through it? does their fur absorb more mosisture than a dog ? How about a cat?
I couldn't resist
I couldn't resist
I tend to stack tighter than I should, and have lots of red oak. I do not get much sun but do get the wind and it definitely takes two years for the oak, others dry much quicker.
A pin oak dragged behind a tractor makes an effective rake. A red oak makes ruts . I hope this helps 
Seasoning times for pin oak is pretty much the same as red oak. As Bill stated, it is in the same family as red oak. You can verify that in the summer when leaves are on. Red oaks have a pointed leaf tips where the white oak family has rounded leaf tips.
mike1234 said:I'm wondering where in the world this saying comes from? Good thing we're not in the politically correct around here, or someone would ask you to edit that to "height challenged."
"If it's stacked tightly, it won't dry well. Oak holds onto moisture like a one armed midget hanging out of a plane without a parachute."
I'm sure I've heard Dr. Phil say this one....
Kneerat said:
hhhhmmmmm.....i ruined a model 37 rite-way with some 27 year old oak that was stacked up beside a steam furnace for that amount of time in my father's basement,by forgeting to close the door completely tight. when i noticed the cherry red stove, i did look in to see the foam still comming out of the ends of the wood in the stove :bug: so i guess out of all the reply's here.....it's anybody's guess as to how long :-/
karri0n said:
"I'm a one-armed midget and I've never hung out of a plane" Just Kidding, but where did you get that come back from?
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