What's the drying time for pine?

[Lcback]

My neighbor recently cut down a pine tree that I'm sure he would be happy to get rid of. I have a few other places I have promised to remove the wood (better then pine) from so it hasn't been a priority. As I have been scrounging my 17/18 pile is growing but my 16/17 could use a little help. So in your guys experience if I cut and split this line by the end of the month will it be dry by this fall?

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[Seasoned Oak]

ID get myself a Moisture meter. Lots of variables. With a moisture meter you would be absolutely sure.

 

[Seanm]

like @Seasoned Oak says there are lots of variables to consider. Some of these are local climate, how you store your wood, how thick you split the rounds etc. I burn lodgepole pine that is denser than eastern white pine (im taking a leap that this is the kind of pine in question) so if I was to cut down a green lodgepole and process it right away (I wouldnt wait a month) and stack it single row on pallets with it top covered I would have it below 20% mc by November. Waiting a month isnt a good idea.

 

[Lcback]

Alright then thanks guys. I'll probably still take it. But there are some long dead standing trees with no bark left that I'll take for this year. And keep my friends happy and get there yards clear quicker before I take that pine tree

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[Seanm]

Alright then thanks guys. I'll probably still take it. But there are some long dead standing trees with no bark left that I'll take for this year. And keep my friends happy and get there yards clear quicker before I take that pine tree

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Hard to pass up standing dead trees thats for sure. That is the gold right there in my opinion.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

I burn both pine and seasoned oak and honestly i dont turn down any of it, its wood and it gives heat. Its all good!

 

[Chimney Smoke]

I've cut green pine in early spring and had it stacked in direct sun for most of the day. Almost all pieces were under 20% by that fall. Some of the knotty pieces were still a little green though. Ideally I'd dry it out for at least 12 months though.

 

[Lcback]

Hard to pass up standing dead trees thats for sure. That is the gold right there in my opinion.

Do you have an idea of what the moisture content is when you drop them? I have one smaller black cherry one ash one locust, and one really dry poplar

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[billb3]

A really good drying location/all cross stacked to maximize drying, it might be ready .
I give it 12 months here.
But oak cut down still alive takes a good three years to get nice here.

 

[Seanm]

Do you have an idea of what the moisture content is when you drop them? I have one smaller black cherry one ash one locust, and one really dry poplar

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14%-17% near the top and as you get to the trunk understandably they will be closer to 23%. Those are rough numbers and are for standing dead larch that I find. Some of it is buck skin which makes a difference as well also depends on the available sunlight. If that poplar is as dry as you think I bet most of it will be ready for the stove.

 

[onetracker]

in my experience if I cut/split pine (eastern white) in the spring and pile it on pallets and top cover it its bone dry by fall, if its a hot dry summer. I will also go by the weight of it and if i run across a split that feels heavy I throw it off to the side and burn it later or in a campfire.

 

[CTYank]

MC of pine wood varies hugely between heart- and sap-wood, same as with most conifers. I forget the exact numbers right now, but the MC of green pine sapwood is at least twice that of the heartwood. So, if time is an issue, you could separate them on splitting.
Pine always seems, to me, to take forever to dry enough to burn properly, so I don't press it.

 

[Ctwoodtick]

This is my first stretch of time with top covering wood and already pine that I have split over this winter is in low 20's. This is with using moisture meter on fresh splits. Meter is accurate on other wood samples. Even with species correction factor, I could add a few percentage points to the total number. Even at a max of 25%, this is the fastest drying wood I have seen. My splits are on smaller side. I have been nothing short of shocked by the drying that has happened.

 

[red oak]

I cut some white pine last year around this time, got it split and stacked ASAP, and burned it last fall. It burned great - no problems at all. I would have no hesitation to burn pine if it sits out in the sun all summer. Off the ground and top-covered, and preferably in a place where it gets a lot of sun. Great wood for starting and for the first 6 weeks or so of the burning season.

 

[volunbeer]

I live in a place with really dry summers - everyone around here says one summer in the sun and the wind and Ponderosa splits will be dried no problem if you cover when the moisture arrives again in the fall. Like others have said - you can go by weight on the splits - still heavy put in the pile for next year - light weight and it burns no problem.