Splitting and Seasoning Oak

[Witterings]

Is Oak easier to split when it's fresh cut or been left to dry out a bit for a few months and how long does it take to season ... obviously less time if it's split but is a year long enough or not really?

[sime42]

Its easier to split when freshly cut, when it's still "relatively" soft and flexible. I think this is the case for most woods, though I stand to be corrected, I know there are a few exceptions.

Oak will take longer than a year to fully season, unless split into really small bits. Maybe 2 or even 3 years I reckon.

 

[sandspider]

Usually better split when fresh, though ocasionally a gnarly log will crack a bit as it dries out and then split more easily.

 

Takes a while to season, longer than most other woods - 2 years perhaps for normal sized logs - but the smaller split the better. Depends on what your drying set up is too.

[Witterings]

I thought wood was generally easier to spilt when fresh, I was doing some over the weekend with a mate and he said he thought it was easier dry and just before we do loads more thought I'd check in case we were making hard work for ourselves.

 

Cheers for the help 👍

[openspaceman]

2 hours ago, sandspider said:

Takes a while to season, longer than most other woods - 2 years perhaps for normal sized logs - but the smaller split the better. Depends on what your drying set up is too.

Yes a lot of variables. Here in the SE where it is warmer and dryer than most of UK I reckon to dry any wood split for my stove in a summer season, May to Beginning of October, to below 20%. A "normal" log is 10-12" long and I can pick it up with one hand by the cross section face. Most species dry below 15% but it depends on keeping them dry and having sufficient airflow.

[Bob_z_l]

I always split when wet. 
Some wood goes like iron when it dries (Holly? Hawthorn?)

 

As said above...there are a lot of factors, including when the wood was felled. I have had some winter felled oak nearly (squeaks below 20%) in a year. 
Whereas now that the sap is rising the wood splashes and splatters as there is so much moisture.. The oak I split recently - last weekend - I expect will take at least 2 years i.e  two summers before it's ready. 12" long logs cut into bars almost. 

Edited May 9, 2023 by Bob_z_l
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[Muddy42]

I recon all wood is easier to split when freshly cut.   That said the more mechanized you get (in terms of lifting and splitting) this ceases to matter.  Certainly splitting helps to open up the bark and outer layers of wood which helps drying.

 

HOWEVER, storage space and numbers of times handling logs is a consideration. If your logs won't dry from a sappy stage by the winter you might not have enough storage to house >2 years worth of logs undercover, therefore its easier to season timber in lengths then split and store next winters worth of burning in May.  This is what I do.

[Steven P]

Rule of thumb I work by is to split everything I can as soon as I can - no good leaving it whole, split it in a years time and then having to wait another 2 years for it to dry. I only do enough for my house generally (and the neighbour, the local Scout group and a couple of friends too) - not a lot, not worth the cost of mechanisation so hand split it all - very few logs escape.

 

What I can't split when fresh goes to the back of the pile for another go in a few weeks, but most split when fresh.

 

As for how long, they dry quicker if split, and it depends on the drying area. I have 1 south facing wall - it is great - along the drive so the wind blows down it too. The garage wall gets evening sun, not quite so quick but the north facing drive wall is not so good at all. I reckon most hard woods are good to go after a winter and summer, some need the second winter (but then I leave them outside till September by then anyway)

[Logdaft]

I came across this chart with various drying times etc, don`t know how accurate it is though. Agree with what`s been said by everyone about splitting when fresh/green!

[scbk]

18 minutes ago, Logdaft said:

I came across this chart with various drying times etc, don`t know how accurate it is though. Agree with what`s been said by everyone about splitting when fresh/green!

Interesting chart, but 4 months to season cherry, 12-24 months to season sycamore, seems like 2 extremes