oak for next winter

[david lawrence]

hi

i have some oak cut into rings/ logs from limbs knocked off by september winds

 

 i want to burn them next year after only one summer

 

how small would you split them to achieve this ?

 

they  are approx 18 inches long

 

perhaps split them then cut in half lenght ways 

 

thanks

 

[richardwale]

Quite small if I were you, and leave outside as long as poss before you cover for Autumn.

[Stere]

Smaller the better as larger surface volume ratio  = faster seasoning.

 

Length depends on size of your stove door but i'd split them down fairly narrow.

 

If you haven't got one get a £5 moisture meter from ebay.

 

 

 

 

[Cheesy pete]

if you can force season them the size won't matter as long as you split them .

i have done this in the past by splitting and stacking  them in a green house for the summer 

Edited November 16, 2018 by Cheesy pete

[sandspider]

Size will still matter, and smaller is still better for more surface area. But I've seasoned wood (not oak, admittedly, but split fairly small) to about 12% in a polytunnel in ~two months over summer. It was a particularly good summer though.

[Boo Who?]

Cut the rings in half then split them - that way you are doubling the amount of splitting, but it would most likely quadruple the amount of cutting the other way around

[openspaceman]

22 minutes ago, Boo Who? said:

Cut the rings in half then split them - that way you are doubling the amount of splitting, but it would most likely quadruple the amount of cutting the other way around

Agreed and especially as moisture leaves more easily from the end faces.

 

Get them split and stacked and under cover from rain with good airflow and they'll start drying but it'll really take off from May. I can dry down to sub 20% in a couple of summer months in Surrey but getting enough airflow is critical.

[neiln]

Split small enough for a 5kW stove (12" long and 3-4" wide) by Christmas and It will most likely be under 20% for next winter.  It may be better the following winter though.

 

You could try the ghetto solar kiln by wrapping with pallet wrap.  Get it right and it'll be down to just a few prevent moisture by the end of the summer.

[Woodlover]

Hand stacking the split logs in rows with gaps in-between each row works for me as a quick drying method of any soft or hard wood, providing its rain free and gets some wind hitting one side any split logs stacked this way dry in one spring/summer for me. Throw them into a heap in any good shelter and you will need longer.

[Steven P]

I've always gone with getting them cut and split as soon as possible as a general rule of thumb. The more surface area the better and the less nark on each piece is better too if you have time on your hands