Seasoning and drying

[mickdundee]

Is there a difference between seasoning and drying firewood. Some of the threads I've been reading through are talking about seasoning in the field in lengths for a year or more. Then splitting and drying under cover for a few months. Does it not speed up the process to split as early as possible to expose more surface area of the wood.

[carpenter1]

yes it speeds it up,

its the dry storage that would be needed, which is my problem

[log on tommy]

you are absolutely right to assume that the wood dries better when split. in my experience hardwood dries painfully slowly if left in lengths. we're currently turning some large windblown beech into firewood, been down 18 months and moisture still squeezes out when we split it. drying a treat now though!

[mickdundee]

Is there any benefit to being left outside for these long periods rather than just split and covered

[Stubby]

I think there is a distinct difference between seasoned wood that has got wet from rain and freshly cut green wood . I leave mine unsplit in a stack outside because I have no choice . I split it when I need to refill the log store and it drys out relatively quickly .Green freshly felled stays outside in the stack for a couple of years at least .

[mickdundee]

I get what you mean about the difference between green wet, and rain wet. But if wood is split soon after felling or falling and then gets below 20% moisture in say 9 months instead of 2 years, why bother leaving it long for all this time

[Stubby]

I get what you mean about the difference between green wet, and rain wet. But if wood is split soon after felling or falling and then gets below 20% moisture in say 9 months instead of 2 years, why bother leaving it long for all this time

 

Yes , absolutely . If you can get it split and stacked so that it does not get wet but gets all the wind going then you are a bit ahead of the game . I don't use it as quick as that so for me its best to leave it in the round until I need it but if you want a faster turn around tjhen yes split it as soon as you get it but make sure it gets plenty of air and no wet ....

[mickdundee]

Or right I think I'm with you now. It's better in the round if it need to be outside for storage purposes. I thought maybe there was a benefit to the firewood at having a couple of years in the elements. Thanks mate

[adam_coverdale]

Another thing to note is that most wood splits easier when green so if your splitting with an axe or maul then leaving it to dry in rounds can take you a lot longer to split.

 

Even if my stores are full I get them sawn into rounds then split as soon as possible so I don't have to do it when their drier!

[Farmerdowling]

Splitting by axe when seasoned is a bugger for some woods! I have some unsplit logs that are now on my 'when we have a big garden party fire' pile!