Well I've got an issue. I have a 2 cord stack of red oak that has been seasoning for 4 years, I had planned on using it in 3 years, as that's when its turn is ready. Well today I found myself behind the stack and the back is all punky. Seems since I stacked it the spruce trees behind it got really fat and some big ole weeds grew also. The stack is 6 ft high so I never saw what was going on behind it. I originally left 4 ft between the trees and the stack; Now can I assume that all the wood is dry and its just the ends that are punky. will the punk dry quick in the celler, or do I need to burn the 1st 2 rows and restack the 3rd in the spring. This whole thing is a pain as the wood I wanted to burn has its pallets giving out under them, and the hickory bugs are eating well.
seasoned punk?
- Thread starter STIHLY DAN
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paul bunion
Minister of Fire
I have a feeling that the punky wood will still be pretty wet throughout. If it was damp enough for it to start to rot then the moisture wasn't getting out, or possibly was it getting back in? How much sun did the stack get and was it covered such that there was no runoff pouring down its face? Oak will sponge up the moisture fast if given the opportunity.
bigbarf48
Minister of Fire
Bring some pieces inside to see if they'll dry inside. If it's just a little punk soaking up moisture you may be alright. If it's been wet since you stacked it, you may need to restack in a better location
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Move the stacks, or slash and burn. My stacks are on the edge of a woods, like yours, but I keep a ten foot mowed perimeter around all my stacks for this reason.
bassJAM
Feeling the Heat
I scored either a large hickory or red oak (never was able to 100% confirm what it was) several years ago. The trunk had been laying on the ground for a long time, and the outer 3-4" of each round was punky. That year I stacked all of my wood inside, and the punky part of the wood was actually ready to burn after only a summer of seasoning, even though it was wet and rotten enough that I could literally squeeze water out of it like a sponge when I stacked it. The rest of the wood needed 2 seasons. The rotten parts didn't produce a lot of heat, but if I split those parts off they made great kindling. So I'd try moving it somewhere dryer and see what happens.
As a 44 year old that saw Black Flag and Husker Du 30 years ago- I thought you were talking about me.
Ram 1500 with an axe...
Minister of Fire
I would move it and restack it, I would also try cutting off the punk or at least stack that stuff in a seperate sunny area....
Definitely not moving the stack, I HATE stacking. I'm doing to have to burn the 1st cord and half then see what that last row looks like. If I can bring it inside and have it dry out to burn, great. If that wont work I will restack that 2/3 of a cord somewhere else. Need to think of removing some stacks anyway, have to make a nice spot for my new custom built trailer that will be arriving in February..
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