Can wood be too old ???

[jackdaw]

Hi Guys.

 

I realise this may be a dumb question, but is it possible that wood can be too old to burn effectively ?

I ask as I've been burning some 20 odd year old fallen Oak that just doesn't want to play. I've recently run out of stored firewood, so decided to saw up an Oak tree that has been lying in our woods for many years. Its as hard as a rock, and pretty well rot free. I can get it to burn slowly if I open all the stove vents, but it just don't wanna play the game. No hissing from moisture or the usual signs of wet wood etc. Pain in the backside, as I spent 4hrs Friday sawing splitting and lugging the stuff home, it looks like the ideal fire wood.

Edited February 15, 2015 by jackdaw

[mendiplogs]

Hi Guys.

 

I realise this may be a dumb question, but is it possible that wood can be too old to burn effectively ?

I ask as I've been burning some 20 odd year old fallen Oak that just doesn't want to play. I've recently run out of stored firewood, so decided to saw up an Oak tree that has been lying in our woods for many years. Its as hard as a rock, and pretty well rot free. I can get it to burn slowly if I open all the stove vents, but it just don't wanna play the game. No hissing from moisture or the usual signs of wet wood etc. Pain in the backside, as I spent 4hrs Friday sawing splitting and lugging the stuff home, it looks the the ideal fire wood.

 

HI JACK what was the size of oak thanks jon

[jackdaw]

HI JACK what was the size of oak thanks jon

 

 

Hi Jon.

 

About 18 inches side to side, probably around 50-60 year old.

[5 shires]

Hi Guys.

 

I realise this may be a dumb question, but is it possible that wood can be too old to burn effectively ?

I ask as I've been burning some 20 odd year old fallen Oak that just doesn't want to play. I've recently run out of stored firewood, so decided to saw up an Oak tree that has been lying in our woods for many years. Its as hard as a rock, and pretty well rot free. I can get it to burn slowly if I open all the stove vents, but it just don't wanna play the game. No hissing from moisture or the usual signs of wet wood etc. Pain in the backside, as I spent 4hrs Friday sawing splitting and lugging the stuff home, it looks like the ideal fire wood.

 

Very old oak is excellent as fire wood, burns slow with hardly any flame but produces good heat just a little smoky. So don't exspect good flames but once going it's throws out good heat.

[mendiplogs]

Hi Jon.

 

About 18 inches side to side, probably around 50-60 year old.

 

HI JACK there you go if it on ground then it still take on moisture it not like hanger jack were it drying out in the wind sun mate we had 3ft oak tree that was down for over 30 years it was very wet in side thanks jon

[skyhuck]

Fungus has probably had the best of it, leaving poor fire wood.

[Mortimer Firewood]

Has it been struck by lightning as we had an oak tree in back gelid struck in the late 80s remember helping split it real nice wood that wouldn't not burn

 

Wood can be to old if it's not stored correctly you would be surprised how fast it can turn

[jackdaw]

Very old oak is excellent as fire wood, burns slow with hardly any flame but produces good heat just a little smoky. So don't exspect good flames but once going it's throws out good heat.

 

Well there is heat from it but not great. One thing I have notice is the lack of ash that remains, Get up in the morning and it looks like the fire was never lit, saves one job I suppose.

[Mountain man]

Wood left whole can hold onto moisture for a long long time. You can ring up fallen wood and it's as damp as the day it fell over.

[mendiplogs]

Well there is heat from it but not great. One thing I have notice is the lack of ash that remains, Get up in the morning and it looks like the fire was never lit, saves one job I suppose.

 

HI JACK that how i find OAK mate lack of ash but great for over night burning mate thanks jon