Splitting firewood

[West Highlander]

I know that splitting means it dries faster. But I have just cleared a lot birch that varies between 4 and 8 inches. As I have a log burner that takes 12 inch diameter logs I was planning on just cutting to length and stacking it to minimise the work required.

 

It'll be 2 and probably 3 years before I burn it so I reckon that is enough time for it to season unsplit. Does that sound reasonable?

[mark stamper]

Birch will burn right away if you want it to. It has very low moisture content when "green"

[Dan Earp]

More than enough time bud

[West Highlander]

Birch will burn right away if you want it to. It has very low moisture content when "green"

 

Whilst I know birch has fairly low moisture content I thought it still needed seasoned to get it down to circa 20%. I've very occasionally put green ash in the stove but I'm loath to burn anything that's not well seasoned in case the chimney is coated with tar.

[Dan Earp]

Whens needs must ive burnt birch and ash green. But if you have the time to season it all the better

[AlexB]

It'll be fine, though at 3 years it might rot before you burn it.

[West Highlander]

It'll be fine, though at 3 years it might rot before you burn it.

 

That's stored under cover, or am I missing something?

[Serendipity]

Even under cover it will deteriorate and start to rot. Especially after 3 years.

[woodyguy]

I've just stacked 6.5 cubic metres of birch cut to 16 inch lengths freshly felled. Much of it is unsplit as from thinnings, up to 4 inches. Started at 35% moisture but after two months under cover it is down to 14%. The bigger split stuff is lower still but birch will dry fine as rounds up to 6 inches, just a bit/lot slower. Once dry, don't see why it would ever rot. All this assumes it is covered and with decent airflow.