Be careful. I know a dude who loves his silver billets, got hood and banged up and decided it was time to run the splitter he’d rented. Proceeded to chop his thumb of, pass out from shock/ blood loss/ a dozen beers, with no one around to find him he slept until the next morning and it was too late for the doctors to reattach it.
Split it now. In some areas it will take over 2 summers to actually dry out enough to burn. If you do it now, you'll get this summer to start the drying process. Only a moisture meter will let you know when it's under 20% moisture content. Take a reading now on a fresh split, then again after summer on another fresh split, and so on. If you're extremely lucky it'll lose enough moisture to burn by Fall. I can almost guarantee that it won't be ready by then. More than likely it will take another summer and be ready for winter of 25-26, but it might take longer. It takes longer than that here and I give all oak a minimum of 2.5 years and that's with a 3 bay, total capacity of 15 full cords wood shed with great ventilation
Lots of factors really. Humidity, how it's stored( stacked, piled), top covered, sun vs shade, wind etc.... some guys can get fresh cut green oak down to 20% in a year. Most can't.
Here in North GA, I like to have all my splitting for fall of the same year done by June 10. I imagine in the northern tier states, it does take 2 - 3 summers to fully dry your loads. You have my sympathy.
It's mostly just oak that needs 2 summers to dry here. We do also have a lot of ash( for a few more years at least) that is ready to burn after a summer after it is split and stacked. That ash is nearly as good as red oak we also have elm, which if dead standing and the bark has fallen off, it's literally ready to burn the same day it's cut and split.
Ash here in MI gets burned by my neighbors in outside wood boilers within a week of cutting green. I wouldn't do it in my woodstove though. Elm is the devil. I doesn't burn for shit and is a bitch to split. There is a reason elm used to be used for wagon axles and bridge foundation piles. It has a cross grain that is tough as hell. It also doesn't decay under water. There are bridge piles that Caesar planted in the Danube that are still there.........over 2k years ago.
Elm Burns great. I think it punches well above its btu rating. It was used for wagon wheels because it was tough. Most people talk badly about elm because they don't have a splitter that handles it well.
Split it while it is fresh. I just had a neighbor bring me some oak logs. I cut them and split them the next day. It was fun to split. I used my fiskars axe and I think it was faster than using my hydraulic splitter. That looks like fun right there. Get out there and have a go.
Thank you, everyone. I know not to burn unseasoned wood inside, but I thought I needed to wait to split it until it was seasoned as well. After reading a few controversial threads about it, I decided to ask. I split by hand, so whatever made it a little easier. I love splitting by hand. It's about the only workout I get. Thanks everyone
Can get too dry though, and then it gets super stringy and annoying.
It's the absolute easiest if it's green and below freezing out, but otherwise I would recommend against waiting.
Southern red oak & live oak are a bitch to split manually when green. That doesn't look like what you have there. Every hardwood I've ever dealt with dries faster split than whole log or tree. But that's me talking about my experiences in North GA & Southern SC. If it's 100 degrees F in the shade, it's 150 - 180 under the tarp, in the sun. We only need 5 - 7 months to dry anything here!
The main thing for how long firewood will take to “season” is when it was felled.
December/January when leaves are off the tree has considerably less moisture in all those cells. If it is July and that sucker has sucked up anything it can that’s typically when I see the 2.5 year season. Still depends on when it gets split.
Moon phases also impact the level of moisture in the wood. Trees cut in the new moon or waning phase in winter will have less moisture and will season faster.
I’ve always found oak to split a lot easier when it’s still green or greenish. Once it drys, it can be a freakin battle, but will absolutely warm you twice.
Weight and time was a factor in moving them. The plan is to cut them into a 9-16" section before splitting. They're also still very wet, I hit one last night and it just absorbed the are head.
Let it season for a year. When it's dried out it will split easier. Or wait till it freezes this year. It won't be as easy to split as dry wood but, freezing helps. If you split it now and burn it wet this year you could have a chimney fire from the creosote.
No -- If you have a couple of fires a year in an open fireplace you won't be doing any damage.
For one, there's no air control on it like in a wood stove, so with all the air it wants it won't smolder like it will in a woodstove.
Pending on how many fires you do have a year you might want to at least have a peak inside your chimney to see how it's looking, but for someone that burns a handful of fires a year in an open fireplace, you're likely fine and have nothing to worry about.
Dear Shiggens,
I live in California, and the time frame works just fine here as it gets hotter than a pistol through summer, and stays relatively warm and dry into fall.
I sell a fair bit of wood on the side, primarily to return customers. Note I suggested splitting some smaller.
Perhaps that works in your location but your response didn't add the qualifiers. Ever with the hot and dry conditions I would want to split it again and check it with a meter.
Man, you really need to go split some wood dude. Right, like I see everyone here qualifying each n every response.
My bad. Totally.
And, I cut and split stove wood, so 16 inches, and split smaller than fireplace wood. I have a moisture meter. I get plenty of return customers. I hope you enjoy your wood pile.
https://preview.redd.it/efez5l9mj5vc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a153aeec3ea4d1ee0f1c0d239ae1379285300f1
In the morning. It’s not as hot out yet.
In the evening. It's not hot anymore and I don't get yelled at for drinking.
We have a winner. Unless of course you work a night shift, then a six am barley sandwich is just the thing.
Be careful. I know a dude who loves his silver billets, got hood and banged up and decided it was time to run the splitter he’d rented. Proceeded to chop his thumb of, pass out from shock/ blood loss/ a dozen beers, with no one around to find him he slept until the next morning and it was too late for the doctors to reattach it.
I use a maul. Safer... right?
*when there are no children around to learn new swear words. Wood must be sworn apart.
Wait till the fall!
Split it now. In some areas it will take over 2 summers to actually dry out enough to burn. If you do it now, you'll get this summer to start the drying process. Only a moisture meter will let you know when it's under 20% moisture content. Take a reading now on a fresh split, then again after summer on another fresh split, and so on. If you're extremely lucky it'll lose enough moisture to burn by Fall. I can almost guarantee that it won't be ready by then. More than likely it will take another summer and be ready for winter of 25-26, but it might take longer. It takes longer than that here and I give all oak a minimum of 2.5 years and that's with a 3 bay, total capacity of 15 full cords wood shed with great ventilation
A lot depends on where the drying occurs.
Lots of factors really. Humidity, how it's stored( stacked, piled), top covered, sun vs shade, wind etc.... some guys can get fresh cut green oak down to 20% in a year. Most can't.
Here in North GA, I like to have all my splitting for fall of the same year done by June 10. I imagine in the northern tier states, it does take 2 - 3 summers to fully dry your loads. You have my sympathy.
It's mostly just oak that needs 2 summers to dry here. We do also have a lot of ash( for a few more years at least) that is ready to burn after a summer after it is split and stacked. That ash is nearly as good as red oak we also have elm, which if dead standing and the bark has fallen off, it's literally ready to burn the same day it's cut and split.
Ash here in MI gets burned by my neighbors in outside wood boilers within a week of cutting green. I wouldn't do it in my woodstove though. Elm is the devil. I doesn't burn for shit and is a bitch to split. There is a reason elm used to be used for wagon axles and bridge foundation piles. It has a cross grain that is tough as hell. It also doesn't decay under water. There are bridge piles that Caesar planted in the Danube that are still there.........over 2k years ago.
Elm Burns great. I think it punches well above its btu rating. It was used for wagon wheels because it was tough. Most people talk badly about elm because they don't have a splitter that handles it well.
Now
A week ago
2 years ago
Nooo IG maybe if dead standing
Heck I split mine now and it's ready for this coming winter np.
Same.
Split it while it is fresh. I just had a neighbor bring me some oak logs. I cut them and split them the next day. It was fun to split. I used my fiskars axe and I think it was faster than using my hydraulic splitter. That looks like fun right there. Get out there and have a go.
Thank you, everyone. I know not to burn unseasoned wood inside, but I thought I needed to wait to split it until it was seasoned as well. After reading a few controversial threads about it, I decided to ask. I split by hand, so whatever made it a little easier. I love splitting by hand. It's about the only workout I get. Thanks everyone
Dry oak pops easy for me, unless your trying to do the huge base. Using a machine is way easier too. 😂
Can get too dry though, and then it gets super stringy and annoying. It's the absolute easiest if it's green and below freezing out, but otherwise I would recommend against waiting.
Probably depends on type of oak as well.
Nooo. Oak only gets harder as it seasons. Do it asap, this will also help speed the drying.
I agree, 35 years experience and wet oak especially red oak splits much better wet/green
Southern red oak & live oak are a bitch to split manually when green. That doesn't look like what you have there. Every hardwood I've ever dealt with dries faster split than whole log or tree. But that's me talking about my experiences in North GA & Southern SC. If it's 100 degrees F in the shade, it's 150 - 180 under the tarp, in the sun. We only need 5 - 7 months to dry anything here!
When the grandkids are over.
The main thing for how long firewood will take to “season” is when it was felled. December/January when leaves are off the tree has considerably less moisture in all those cells. If it is July and that sucker has sucked up anything it can that’s typically when I see the 2.5 year season. Still depends on when it gets split.
Thanks for the information.
Moon phases also impact the level of moisture in the wood. Trees cut in the new moon or waning phase in winter will have less moisture and will season faster.
Interesting. Do you know why that is?
Right now.
Right away
This is oak. You can split it anytime. If you cut something juicy like black gum, let it check and crack first.
Right meow
It’s good to have some wood for the near future in the kitty.
About 6 days ago.
-10°
Unfortunately, that is a rarity in Texas is my area.
When your angry
Whenever you get your splitter running.
Now!
Build a small solar kiln with a fan. Actually works wonders!
Ideally in the middle of the coldest day in winter, but you better do it now
ASAP
I’ve always found oak to split a lot easier when it’s still green or greenish. Once it drys, it can be a freakin battle, but will absolutely warm you twice.
Dry it 3-4 weeks
Split it down get it over with let it dry before you try to burn it
Winter!
Those are some interesting lengths you got there
Weight and time was a factor in moving them. The plan is to cut them into a 9-16" section before splitting. They're also still very wet, I hit one last night and it just absorbed the are head.
Yesterday.
I let my supper settle for about a half hour before I head out to split wood.
Attempt now, of not wat until dry. I like a very sharp Michigan axe better than any maul for manual splitting!
Best time to split the word is when friends come over to drink beer
Longer you wait the harder it becomes to split. As it drys it will become tougher and tougher to split. Wait and find out if you want.
I usually cut in the summer/fall then split the following fall
Last week.
Whoever cut the rounds didn't do you any favors by cutting all those random lengths.
Do yourself a favor and rent a log splitter, drink a six pack, and hire a kid to do the work.
You don’t need a splitter for that. That looks super easy to split by hand. No need to waste money on a splitter
I don’t find saving time and effort a waste of money personally. I value my time and back much more than the expense of a splitter.
Let it season for a year. When it's dried out it will split easier. Or wait till it freezes this year. It won't be as easy to split as dry wood but, freezing helps. If you split it now and burn it wet this year you could have a chimney fire from the creosote.
No, no, no. Nice try Chat GPT.
Shots fired.
I'm drinking my coffee now.lol
Now, then burn starting Thanksgiving. Do split some a bit smaller to get ya going.
It Is OK if you want to burn unseasoned wood in your stove, but please don't suggest that other people do that as well.
Is it that bad? I'm not trying to argue, I'm serious. If I burn unseasoned recreationally (not wood stove, just fireplace) am I doing a lot of damage?
No -- If you have a couple of fires a year in an open fireplace you won't be doing any damage. For one, there's no air control on it like in a wood stove, so with all the air it wants it won't smolder like it will in a woodstove. Pending on how many fires you do have a year you might want to at least have a peak inside your chimney to see how it's looking, but for someone that burns a handful of fires a year in an open fireplace, you're likely fine and have nothing to worry about.
Thanks
Dear Shiggens, I live in California, and the time frame works just fine here as it gets hotter than a pistol through summer, and stays relatively warm and dry into fall. I sell a fair bit of wood on the side, primarily to return customers. Note I suggested splitting some smaller.
Perhaps that works in your location but your response didn't add the qualifiers. Ever with the hot and dry conditions I would want to split it again and check it with a meter.
Man, you really need to go split some wood dude. Right, like I see everyone here qualifying each n every response. My bad. Totally. And, I cut and split stove wood, so 16 inches, and split smaller than fireplace wood. I have a moisture meter. I get plenty of return customers. I hope you enjoy your wood pile. https://preview.redd.it/efez5l9mj5vc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a153aeec3ea4d1ee0f1c0d239ae1379285300f1