Splitting and Seasoning Oak

[Muddy42]

Some people disagree with this, but personally I like a combination of outdoor and indoor seasoning.  The weathering (rain, sun and wind) effect is always stronger outside.  Then you bring it inside for the final few months.  By the time is ready, I can barely tell what species it is.

[Gabriel82]

@Muddy42 well ,to each his own 😁

 

But let's face it: that wood has been outside all its life. 

I like to give it "a home" for its final time on this world 🙄 

 

I would force dry it but summers here are hot enough AND lately dry 

As in no rain for weeks and no humidity in air...

 

Now when I see/encounter fog I marvel at it ... 

Nevermind rain. 

Even in winter air is so dry that skin cracks, especially lips/face...

 

If a blizzard catches you outside for too long you will have cracked skin or worse if ut's minus 10-15 Celcius...

 

This is one reason I use tons of wood briquettes: I know for sure they're dry under 15% and I don't have to cut "slices" from a log with the chainsaw or split it.

Just grab a cutter ,a 10 kg bag, slice it open and just cut  wood briquettes in 6-10 cm long pieces. They even light easy .

I couldn't ask for more.. 

 

Of course I use wood for the good bed of coals it creates and helps burn the briquettes. 

 

Price is also a reason: there isn't anything ready to burn cheaper than wood briquettes. 

 

Plus the company I buy from delivers it to your home. 

Driver has hydraulic lift on the truck AND electric lifter that can take a 960kg pallet anywhere you want. 

 

With wood logs is nowhere near as easy. 

A lot more work to be honest.

 

But I prefer wood logs straight from the forest because I know the man selling it for years.

 

Not once he tried to "screw me" .

Got to love the guy 😁

And the logs are rott free, hardwood .

 

There are other options too. 

Before the war in Ukraine you could buy a 40 ton truck full of oak "residue" small parts from wood factories from Ukraine.

 

Almost ready to put in the stove.

All legal, but this was the only condition: they sold only in a 40 ton truck.

 

And you must have the space to store that much firewood. 

From memory  I think one truck had 30 cubic meters of oak in small 10-20x10-15 cm pieces and 5 cm thick.

 

Almost perfect for fire in a ceramic tile stove!

That it's all gone/destroyed today...

 

That's how I got to wood briquettes. 

Almost the same thing,even easier to handle and cut in small pieces(with a knife...).

 

This could be a solution for those who want really dry firewood: a 40 ton truck every 2 years, dry it all in oven type drier and life is good and warm 😎 

 

For lazy people there's always natural gas or fuel heating  oil.