I took a fresh split from my hard maple rack and it came in at 20%. I stacked this last May and the tree was just cut down in April. Is this normal?
Sugar/Hard Maple 20%
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Sounds pretty quick.
I'd grab more pieces from around the stack & to repeat tests. Hard maple isn't one of the quicker drying woods in my experience. Certainly not the slowest either...
I'd grab more pieces from around the stack & to repeat tests. Hard maple isn't one of the quicker drying woods in my experience. Certainly not the slowest either...
Paulywalnut
Minister of Fire
My hard maple takes 2 years for 20%. Maybe a lot of sun and wind where you have it? I like three years for everything then I don't have to check it, but I know some don't have that much stored up yet. Hey if it's 20% that's what you go with.
pretty sure, it was a complete bear to split even with a 20 ton splitter, lots of twisty, ripply grain. I'm going to check some other splits at other places in the stacks.
Stacked in good sun and wind I can believe it. I have many times cut, bucked, split and stacked by May and had my wood at around
22% come November. I'm lucky enough now to be a little better than 2 years ahead.
i've been burning sugar maple all week i cut down this year. when you throw it on concrete or hit it with a hammer and it rings, it's below 20%.
the few I splits were true to its name, practically like i steel, very hard to get the MM spike in. I'll try the concrete test. I may need to drill a pilot hole to get the spike in.
Yes, very windy this summer/fall and the stacks are in prime south facing open location.
Sconnie Burner
Feeling the Heat
Was it a dead standing tree or live? If dead I can see it being that low. I have a load of red oak that I cut dead standing this spring. Been split and stacked since the end of April. Have some in the stove now to see if it still had moisture. Didn't see any come out at all. I will add that I knew the main trunk would be too wet so this is all wood above the first crotch or maybe even the second crotch of a couple trees 20" across near the base.
Test the moisture meter on some framing lumber (scrap 2x4) it should register under 10%. Palm of your hand should read over 30% with the pins rested at a 45 degree angle. If all else fails throw a couple in the stove at watch for excessive moisture to cook out. One load of wet wood won't cause enough creosote to worry about.
Test the moisture meter on some framing lumber (scrap 2x4) it should register under 10%. Palm of your hand should read over 30% with the pins rested at a 45 degree angle. If all else fails throw a couple in the stove at watch for excessive moisture to cook out. One load of wet wood won't cause enough creosote to worry about.
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I had some dead sugar maple get down to 20% last year, its stacked in my primo spot that gets a lot of sun and wind. Throw some in the stove, if it burns good you know its ok.
The problem seems to be penetrating the hard surface of wood. I split another piece this morning and I could smell the sweet wood smell on the face. Still tested 20%. I stuck the MM in between the mahogany steps from our kitchen to the patio (indoor) and it read 14%. A few other pieces of dead kindling came in at 8% etc, so it seems accurate. Split a piece of red oak from the same time and it read 26%.
Sconnie Burner
Feeling the Heat
I easily get red maple (soft maple) down to 20% and less in 6 to 8 months...so your maple may be ready now too.
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