Oak smell when cross-cutting - rotten?

[coppicer]

I was clearing up some large branches that had been blown off an oak this afternoon, just cutting them into lengths of about 2m.

 

Generally the wood looks in good shape, some marks but nothing really noticeable with the exception of a couple of points where the wood gave off a strong sour smell when being cut, a bit like vinegar. At one point it was even weeping a little fluid (see below).

 

I'm guess that there is some rot in there but I know nothing about tree diseases. Can anybody enlighten me? My intention is to cross-cut for firewood and I'm just wondering if this apparent flaw in the wood will make it less suited for that.

 

Thanks

Dan

 

[Paul Cleaver]

the cracks are called shake, very common in oak - the smell is from bacterial wetwood which is common in cracks

[Mick Dempsey]

Anyway it won't affect the firewood value.

[coppicer]

Thanks for those replies. After cross-cutting and splitting them the smell seems to have largely dissipated. They'll probably be fine in 12 months!

 

Dan