Cord supplies.

[Alycidon]

There have been several threads recently requesting a supply of cord. Are you all planning to process it and sell it this winter?, I assume thats what you have in mind but hardwood simply wont be dry enough for optimum results.

 

I have been processing stuff over the last few months that has been felled for between one and three years, the soft will be ok but the hard wont. I tested some Silver Birch, end grain of logs about 6%, in the center once cut and split was nearer 40%.

 

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[Michael C]

There have been several threads recently requesting a supply of cord. Are you all planning to process it and sell it this winter?, I assume thats what you have in mind but hardwood simply wont be dry enough for optimum results.

 

I have been processing stuff over the last few months that has been felled for between one and three years, the soft will be ok but the hard wont. I tested some Silver Birch, end grain of logs about 6%, in the center once cut and split was nearer 40%.

 

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The same thought crossed my mind! (unless its going to be Kiln dried)

 

I have taken ash and sycamore out of my own forest in the past 2 months and it wont be going anywhere this winter.

Your test also confirms that timber will not dry until it is cut and split.

[detritus21]

Cut and split and it drys quicker. I've never understood leaving it in the round for 2 years when I can get the same result in 3-6 months by splitting and stacking/vented bags

[Dave Martin]

The same thought crossed my mind! (unless its going to be Kiln dried)

 

I have taken ash and sycamore out of my own forest in the past 2 months and it wont be going anywhere this winter.

Your test also confirms that timber will not dry until it is cut and split.

 

I agree totally with that. I just do not understand the people who process straight into their trucks as seasoned just because it has been felled for a year or so

[Michael C]

I agree totally with that. I just do not understand the people who process straight into their trucks as seasoned just because it has been felled for a year or so

 

Because it makes the job a lot easier. There is a guy not far me buys in a lot of spruce, stacks it (in a way that allows air go through it) in his yard and covers it with plastic sheeting. Its left for at least a year, and he processes it on delivery day. He claims its dry, but its hard to believe a 3m 14" log will be dry in the middle.

Still though, at least he is trying. Others do the same with an uncovered stack that was delivered to their yard a month earlier!

[Johny Walker]

iv got some 18mth old s/w 3m lenths in the yard & it is bone dry ,& is now in the pile split

[mikey10]

iv got some 18mth old s/w 3m lenths in the yard & it is bone dry ,& is now in the pile split

 

I have the same, some soft wood seems to dry very well in lengths, douglas fir always seems to be dry when i cut it:thumbup:

[sandbach-sticks]

my request for silver birch cord is for a big alcove in a pub. All logs for winter 2011/2012 was split Nov 2010 March 2011, some of the stuff i am processing now will be sold March 2012 if dry enough. I keep logs in potato crates where the wind really does get through them and some logs will be below 25% moisture within 6 months, i always leave oak for at least 18 mnths, but i have to say that there is no definite time scale regarding how long you should season logs. I kept some oak logs in a barn for 2 years and they went mouldy (not enough air around them). I burn my own logs and when a sample reads <25% i burn them myself and if happy sell them. I found that my best wood last year was eucalyptus which i had in potato crates for 18 months. I now leave a foot between each stack of crates and take the sheets off the tops on really hot days, this really does help season the logs.

[mendiplogs]

I agree totally with that. I just do not understand the people who process straight into their trucks as seasoned just because it has been felled for a year or so

 

HI dave your there mate we lots people like that here mate all the best jon

[Alycidon]

iv got some 18mth old s/w 3m lenths in the yard & it is bone dry ,& is now in the pile split

 

I bet that when you cut and split it the moisture content on the freshly split face will be 25% - 30%. If it was cut a split earlier in the summer it should be OK.

 

Invest in a moisture meter, £36 inc VAT and tax deductible to boot, you then know exactly where you are.

 

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