What moisture is "Seasoned"?

[Mesterh]

Since all our seasoned wood has gone I have been selling part seasoned(3 months ish) but telling all the customers before hand.

 

Not one has decided not to buy and on tuesday this week of them said "Great, I prefer it when its not bone dry as it lasts longer"!

 

Cant argue with that

[THE88MAN]

i find some beech burns better after one summer of seasoning than two or more,got some 3 year old and it chars before it burns,i have to mix it for customers

[Saw-sick Steve]

.

Maybe it is also linked with sap movement and seasonal felling.

Any ideas?

I've often wondered about the perceived differences in moisture content between winter felled timber vs spring/summer felled. If a tree is like a plumbing system, surely the same amount of moisture is present in the phloem and xylem throughout the year, the only difference being that at certain times of the year it's under pressure? Or does the emergence of leaves significantly increase the amount of sap in the system? If so, where does it go other than in new sap wood, which would be a small %age of an established old tree?

Years ago, when they produced charcoal in industrial quantities, most of the Oak down here was summer cut as they wanted the bark to be tannin rich for the leather trade. What little I've cut in summer seems to season just as quickly.

[Arborist]

The fluid must stay in the tree over winter or else the vessels will just be filled with air, Cavitation.

[Mesterh]

Wont they contract in the winter therefore less sap/water in them.

[Arborist]

On ring porus type trees the later in to the season the smaller the vessels get, so less fluid. Need to do and read up!!