Work Done In 2026

[Stelcom66]

Standing dead is not seasoned. Sometimes the branches will be OK, but not the trunk - it's a wick.....

I learned that when I attempted to split the spruce tree the town took down in my yard. It was dead for 2-3 years, but the wood didn't crack/split the few times I swung at it. The way the axe stuck it felt quite wet. Didn't try a wedge, it would probably would have just got stuck. I moved the rounds to where they'll season.

 

[Toasty-Yote]

It is still peak ash in NY. My next 4-5 years are going to primarily dead ash as the last of the big ones die out. I loaded up one piece of pine as well for kindling. The ash with straight grain was incredibly fun to split. Some of the largest rounds popped apart on the first hit with my Fiskars. On the other hand, some of the knotty pieces were absolutely miserable. As in every bit as bad a the big rounds of red elm I hand split last year.

 

[MrCampbellAHS]

Standing dead is not seasoned. Sometimes the branches will be OK, but not the trunk - it's a wick. I've had trunks of 5 year dead ash measure over 50% m.c.

Oak is generally considered a 3 year seasoning wood and it isn't fun to burn poorly seasoned. Some of the guys here say they can get oak seasoned faster in a tight woodshed that acts as a kiln.

Don't know what you're storage situation is, but many of us aim to be 3 years ahead at all points in time. Never have to worry about whether you're wood is dry enough. Personally I'm not currently there...

Ive got a bunch of it yet to cut so to the bottom of the holzhausen it goes! Thanks!

 

[Stelcom66]

It is still peak ash in NY. My next 4-5 years are going to primarily dead ash as the last of the big ones die out. I loaded up one piece of pine as well for kindling. The ash with straight grain was incredibly fun to split. Some of the largest rounds popped apart on the first hit with my Fiskars. On the other hand, some of the knotty pieces were absolutely miserable. As in every bit as bad a the big rounds of red elm I hand split last year.

I had an ash tree taken down several years ago, it was in fact fun and easy to split. I thought at the time if every tree was like ash I would no longer consider getting a gas powered wood splitter.

I guess I'm not the only one who used an SUV to transport wood! When I was without a truck I did a few times in my former Subaru Forester before getting a small trailer.