How long can timber be stored for?

[jamesd]

I'm looking at adding to my stockpile of milled oak this winter and wondered how long you can store it for before it starts to degrade in any way.

At the moment all wood is stacked and stickered in a large barn.

The barn is not open to the elements i.e roof and four walls so it doesn't get a lot of wind or sunlight in there. Will it be ok to keep the wood in there for a long period of time?

I have a few long term projects for my wood so it may not get used for even 10years is this too long for it to be stored?

All the wood is Oak,

 

Any advice would be welcome,

 

Cheers, James.

[se7enthdevil]

as long as you can keep it free of worm and rot then you can keep it for decades.

 

i've had a few bits of oak that were barn stored for 30-40 years and were in great nick but like stone.

[jamesd]

as long as you can keep it free of worm and rot then you can keep it for decades.

 

i've had a few bits of oak that were barn stored for 30-40 years and were in great nick but like stone.

 

Whats the best way to prevent woodworm and rot?

[se7enthdevil]

rot should be easy as you just need to keep moisture away from it but the worms can be more difficult.

 

i just stack and isolate the wood and check it regularly but there are substances you can spray on it that do the job.

 

i'd ask one of the milling boys on here what the best stuff to use is.

[treequip]

Whats the best way to prevent woodworm and rot?

 

One of the best ways to preserve wood is to select timber that's not already pre disposed to decay. Have a read up on the teachings of the late great Shigo

[muttley9050]

I spray boards with borax if there nice and susceptible to insect attack. But I rarely spray anything on oak as only the sapwood is really at risk and i don't want that anyway.

[agg221]

I spray boards with borax if there nice and susceptible to insect attack. But I rarely spray anything on oak as only the sapwood is really at risk and i don't want that anyway.

 

This.

 

In fact, I go so far on some occasions as to let the sapwood rot off oak butts before I mill them. You do get the odd bit of worm in the heartwood while it's still green but there is so little that I tend to ignore it and it gives up anyway once the wood is dry.

 

Alec

[teed]

As se7enthdevil writes, you can have it be a really long time unless it is attacked. Only problem is that I noticed is that cracks can pull away uncontrollably. Here is a little video when I saw Oak on which at least 15years

 

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[openspaceman]

This.

 

In fact, I go so far on some occasions as to let the sapwood rot off oak butts before I mill them. You do get the odd bit of worm in the heartwood while it's still green but there is so little that I tend to ignore it and it gives up anyway once the wood is dry.

 

Alec

 

What we found after 87 was that platypus cylindrus would bore the oak sapwood in the first year but if left in the round would go deep in the heartwood by the subsequent years.

[slackbladder]

Wikabor works well against worm and fungal attacks, but is quite expensive