Wood pile drying...I messed up...

[Heat Miser]

I had wood delivered in the spring but for various reasons my wood shed project was not done on time and it has been sitting on the ground for almost four months now. The outside layer of the pile is quite dry but I'm worried about the inside of the pile. I will be finally stacking it in the next couple weeks, but I need to know how bad is the seasoning screwed up now? I'm thinking of stacking the wood on the bottom of the pile separately because of the ground contact and the fact that is probably didn't dry much. However what are the opinions on the rest of the wood? I never intended for the wood to sit around this long unstacked and am looking for options/opinions.

Thanks...

 

[karl]

The stuff that is touching the ground is probably still wet. The stuff that is covered by other wood but not touching the ground is probably ok.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Regardless of what we think it's what you have to burn this year. Get it stacked and hope for dry wood. You might want to run a brush up or down the chimney every month or so just to make sure it's clean.

Matt

 

[brooktrout]

Thousands of woodburners leave their wood in piles on the ground, as do most firewood processors. They're not freezing to death and neither will you. ;-) If I'm not mistaken, I believe BB is a devoted piler!

 

[BrotherBart]

Thousands of woodburners leave their wood in piles on the ground, as do most firewood processors. They're not freezing to death and neither will you. ;-) If I'm not mistaken, I believe BB is a devoted piler!

BB won't let wood sit piled for more than a day without stacking it. Drives him crazy if it isn't stacked.

 

[markpee]

HM -

I just started cutting and splitting mine last weeked - some of my wood was dripping wet - especially the oak, but I think I'll be alright. Try to get it done soon while there are some warm days left. I believe the only time you really messed up is if you have to cut and split when the wood is frozen, then there's no way of getting the moisture out. Good luck.

 

[mayhem]

For what its worth, I had amazing luck last year when I was stuck in the middle of January with a pile of sopping wet, pretty green wood. I brought it into the house (I have an area in my basement that I keep a good cord+ at for easy access) and put a box fan on medium so it was blowing wood across the side of the pile...the wood sizzled, spat and popped for about three days and then quite suddenly the next piece was dry, quiet and burned nice and hot. All of it came from the same pile and it was stuff I got myself, not delivery. Could have been that it was already reasonably well seasoned and I just dried out the surface moisture...just throwing it out there.

 

[velvetfoot]

I too am stacking some wood bought in the spring (what a lazy ba$tard).
I'm not using it this winter though.
As I was stacking it, it occurred to me that the cone-shaped natural angle of repose (if that's the right term) of the pile causes a much larger amount of wood to be in contact with the earth, which can't be a good thing.

 

[billb3]

I would make two stacks.
Outside and top of pile - stack one.
Bottom and inner of pile - stack two.

Use latter later in season. Cooler Fall and Winter dry winds will work on it all.

 

[WOODBUTCHER]

HM -

I just started cutting and splitting mine last weeked - some of my wood was dripping wet - especially the oak, but I think I'll be alright. Try to get it done soon while there are some warm days left. I believe the only time you really messed up is if you have to cut and split when the wood is frozen, then there's no way of getting the moisture out. Good luck.

Mark,
Are you splitting now for this year? That oak will still be wet next spring.......

WoodButcher

 

[Henz]

dont worry about the woodshed. get yourself some pallets and stack the wood!

 

[Todd]

HM -

I just started cutting and splitting mine last weeked - some of my wood was dripping wet - especially the oak, but I think I'll be alright. Try to get it done soon while there are some warm days left. I believe the only time you really messed up is if you have to cut and split when the wood is frozen, then there's no way of getting the moisture out. Good luck.

Mark,
Are you splitting now for this year? That oak will still be wet next spring.......

WoodButcher

That Oak won't be ready til the following year, no way will it be ready for this year. Oak take forever to dry, even dead stuff. Moisture will evaporate in the winter even when frozen. I think it's called sublimation?

 

[smokinj]

HM -

I just started cutting and splitting mine last weeked - some of my wood was dripping wet - especially the oak, but I think I'll be alright. Try to get it done soon while there are some warm days left. I believe the only time you really messed up is if you have to cut and split when the wood is frozen, then there's no way of getting the moisture out. Good luck.

Mark,
Are you splitting now for this year? That oak will still be wet next spring.......

WoodButcher

That Oak won't be ready til the following year, no way will it be ready for this year. Oak take forever to dry, even dead stuff. Moisture will evaporate in the winter even when frozen. I think it's called sublimation?

I have burnt none season oak before what a waste of good wood wish i waited longer

 

[Heat Miser]

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to stack the wood into two piles (dry and wet). I have enough wood this year that I shouldn't have to touch the wet stuff. This won't happen again next year if I can help it.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Heat Miser, we stack most of our wood right on the ground and have no problem. However, we are high and dry too. Also, our wood seasons for more than a year or two.

I'd also recommend two stacks and don't try to stack it really neat and tight. Leave it loose so air will circulate better and leave it uncovered until late fall or early winter.

 

[savageactor7]

My wood is loosely stacked on the ground too but on a long pad of run-a-crush ...your wood that actually touches the ground could be mostly unseasoned but the vast majority is drying as nature intended. Next year just lay out a pad and you'll be OK.

 

[bluewater_1993]

BB won't let wood sit piled for more than a day without stacking it. Drives him crazy if it isn't stacked.

Isn't this called OCD? I have it too! Something in me requires me to stack everything, nice and neat...

 

[smokinj]

BB won't let wood sit piled for more than a day without stacking it. Drives him crazy if it isn't stacked.

Isn't this called OCD? I have it too! Something in me requires me to stack everything, nice and neat...

Come on over i got a couple of little piles that needs stacked!lol

 

[FLASHMAN]

HM -

I just started cutting and splitting mine last weeked - some of my wood was dripping wet - especially the oak, but I think I'll be alright. Try to get it done soon while there are some warm days left. I believe the only time you really messed up is if you have to cut and split when the wood is frozen, then there's no way of getting the moisture out. Good luck.

Like others have said, if you just started cutting and splitting now for this year, you're screwed. That oak will burn, sure, but you'll be pissing most of your BTU's up the chimney. In order to have red or white oak ready to burn efficiently, you would've had to split it last year. Splitting now, MAYBE you could get birch ready in time, but not oak... good luck...

 

[iceman]

ookokokokokok..... its not to late for the original ops wood... take the pieces that have gottek the most sun and stack them together away from the rest .. the rest try tp put in a sunny place very loosely stacked so they can get air .. burn your better stuff first but if you have to mix it (when you burn) if you can make it till dec jan before you use the other stuff you'll be okay might not be as good as if it was next year but you will be okay!!