Guys I need some advice. I made a rookie mistake bought 2.5 cords of red oak without checking the moisture. I know I screwed up so please spare the critizim. most of the splits were 6" red oak. we had a hard 2 days of rain and the wood sat in a pill. I split a few of those down and checked the faces. they are anywhere from 18% to 26% . Any chance I will be able to burn them in my new quadra fire adventure 2 I have on order this winter? I really don't want to have to buy more wood. But will if I have too. I live I coastal va climate . I have begun splitting it down and stacking hoping it will dry out a bit more. loomi g for advice seems like all we have round here is oak.
Rookie Mistake on buying wood.
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jatoxico
Minister of Fire
Heard worse but if most is closer 26% its gonna be a problem IMO. There are a ton of threads here about how to make do with marginal wood. Essentially feed as much as air you can to keep temps up even if that means sacrificing burn times and land some lumber scraps or other source of dry wood to mix in (e.g. compressed wood bricks) with the wet stuff. Then burn away and watch the flue and esp cap.
If after more checking you find you're really dealing with 28-32% moisture, and you have the ability, just get a better load if possible. Wet wood is a frustration that causes many to blame the "new" stoves.
If after more checking you find you're really dealing with 28-32% moisture, and you have the ability, just get a better load if possible. Wet wood is a frustration that causes many to blame the "new" stoves.
Woodsplitter67
Minister of Fire
You somewhat south. I would stack in a sunny location and wrap it, start a kiln. Its going to be warmer for the next couple of weeks so youll be able to drive out alot of moisture that way
I dont think you screwed up, theres really no common definition of seasoned wood. We mean its 20% or below but sellers dont really know that. Sounds like what you got is partially seasoned which is a helluva lot better than most of our first times. Mix some processed bricks in and you'll be fine.
toddnic
Minister of Fire
The wood in the 18 to 20% range will be fine in your stove. Split the other wood, bring some inside, and put it around your wood stove. Over the course of a week or two around the wood stove, it will dry out. And, make sure that you split the rest of the wood that is still outside and cover it. This will help as well.
You can burn any wood but it won't burn well. I would suggest buying compressed wood logs. Get the fire really hot and place in some of the firewood to keep it going.
This is a common issue. If you want to buy wood that is ready to burn 20% or less you are going to pay through the nose for it. Somewhere been $350-$500 a cord.
Any local guy on craigslist proclaiming the firewood is seasoned most likely does not know what that truly means. Just a tree being cut down 6 months ago is not make it seasoned. It needs to be cut and stacked from 6 - 24 months depending on the wood species.
This is a common issue. If you want to buy wood that is ready to burn 20% or less you are going to pay through the nose for it. Somewhere been $350-$500 a cord.
Any local guy on craigslist proclaiming the firewood is seasoned most likely does not know what that truly means. Just a tree being cut down 6 months ago is not make it seasoned. It needs to be cut and stacked from 6 - 24 months depending on the wood species.
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By all means buy more now! Split it if need be and it will be seasoning out for 2019-20 and you can get ahead of the game! And then stay ahead of the game and you will not experience anymore surprises..if you want to burn clean and efficiently you must do this..in the mean time scrounge for construction lumber scraps/cut offs(non-treated} to supplement your fires along with the compressed bricks...check your local craigslist for individuals getting rid of wood...you might get lucky.
MAD MARK
Feeling the Heat
Tell us how much you paid and we will tell you if a mistake or not.
Id buy 2.5 cords for $300 even it wasnt unseasoned.
I wouldnt buy 2.5 cords for $1000 if it was seasoned.
Id buy 2.5 cords for $300 even it wasnt unseasoned.
I wouldnt buy 2.5 cords for $1000 if it was seasoned.
18 to 26% red oak? You ok. I have 3 years seasoned oak and it's not near this number
kennyp2339
Minister of Fire
I'd separate the good from to wet to burn, after measuring a few you will be able to tell whats good vs to wet by just lifting them up and feeling the weight. I'd take the additional money that my have spent on additional wood and by compressed wood bricks (FYI tractor supply has them on sale at black Friday prices until tomorrow Nov 4th) or shop around all call places and get prices on other compressed wood bricks (liberty bricks I think is in your area, if I remember from old threads) (1) ton of those is equivalent to almost a cord and a half, so you will be able to mix the cord wood with those and that should get you by, good luck.
Update, i split most of it down. I got the 2.5 cord for 500 delivered. Red oak is bout all we have here in coastal va. great news my quadra fire adventure came in. installing her this weekend. just finished my tile hearth pad as well. it's shapping up.
oh I also bought more oak for next yr to stay ahead of the game I am learning
bout an 1.5 hr south of them looks like I'm taking a ride to get a ton. great idea and thanks for the tips. will mix them with my wood. you sir are a life saver. plan to stock up on oak this yr as well for next yr.
