Softwood vs. hardwood seasoning time

[PDXpyro]

It's commonly stated that softwood can be properly seasoned in "half the time" that hardwood requires, but perhaps the difference is even more extreme.

For example, chunky Douglas fir splits, springtime-stacked in a good sun/wind exposure, can easily reach the 'teens moisture-wise in four or five months, here in the PNW. However, I've observed that similarly split and stacked oak might very well still register mid-twenties -- or higher -- after a full year!

Sure, oak is a notorious example, but other dense hardwoods I've checked aren't much faster, and even a relatively soft hardwood such as our local bigleaf maple (which has a seasoned density very close to that of Doug fir), takes much more than "twice as long" to reach suitable moisture content.

First thing I'd tell a noob trying to accumulate a stash is to get a year's worth of softies first, then work long-term after that.

 

[Rossco]

Pretty much yeah.

A 3 year soft wood plan ain't a 3 year drying plan.

 

[Bagelboy]

Absolutely, get soft wood together first, and lots of it. Meanwhile, stack hardwood separate and give it 2 or 3(preferred) years to season! That's what I did when I made the switch to a newer EPA stove after burning 30 years the old way!

 

[Razo]

I was amazed at how fast softer woods season. I have had white ash stacked since April of this year and it is still registering around 26% moisture (I split it big)

I cut a Norway Spruce down in July and stacked it at the end of that month. Now measuring 14% on a fresh split.

The thing that amazed me the most:
Black Cherry C/S/S on August 18th of this year, stacked single row in sun and wind is now measuring 21% on a fresh split. I'm amazed at how fast that cherry seasoned. I would have never even thought that wood would be anywhere near burnable unless I checked it with a moisture meter - love that thing.

 

[Fred Wright]

Yup, red maple is a good example of this. And it's plentiful. It will be ready to burn 6 months or so after stacking if you don't make your splits too large.

Burned about half a cord of 7-month-old red last winter. Broken tree tops that were laying in the woods. The splits were already shedding bark a few months after stacking.