Seasoning Sweetnut

[Sako]

Hi all

 

Just wondered how long you needed to season sweetnut for?

 

I've got about 15 tonne that has been down 8 months and was just wondering if I could mix it in with the ash, oak etc this year.

 

Cheers

[geoff]

If it was split & logged, and under ideal drying conditions for 8 months, then I would have thought so, if left in lumps then no. sounds like it was felled in the winter , that helps imo.

[Rob D]

As above - if it was all split and kept off the ground for 8 months it'll be fine.... if left in the round and on the ground not a hope!!

 

 

 

 

 

[muldonach]

Hi all

 

Just wondered how long you needed to season sweetnut for?

 

I've got about 15 tonne that has been down 8 months and was just wondering if I could mix it in with the ash, oak etc this year.

 

Cheers

 

take it you refer to sweet chesnut? If so mix it with anything you have but make sure that the ash, oak or whatever will burn - cos the chesnut won't unless it is split small and dried out well

 

Regards

mac

[chestnut]

we usually season our sweet chestnut for two years

[Saw-sick Steve]

we usually season our sweet chestnut for two years

 

Ditto the above.Vital to get it split to expose the heartwood as its very reluctant to burn when sappy - very durable and good for estate work though.

[felixthelogchopper]

If it's in pole form, better selling it for fence posts surely?

[chestnut]

If it's in pole form, better selling it for fence posts surely?

 

we sell good stuff for poles - but logs actually return more

[felixthelogchopper]

Wow, I never would have guessed that. I just automatically thought that you would get more for the post.

[Catweazle]

Sweet Chestnut has loads of water in it, something like 125% of it's dry weight compared to just 30-40% for Ash. So, it needs a long spell drying out. I have some cut 3 years ago that is perfect but last years is also OK if it was split quickly ( very easy job, you can split a 5m long log into two with hand tools ). In some parts of France and Italy they burn little else.

 

Once it's dry it burns well, hot but not very long lasting. It's surprising how light a piece of really dry sweet chestnut is.

 

It was the charcoal of choice for blacksmiths years ago as the charcoal burns very hot and fast.