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Q: So, how do I tell if my wood is dry enough to use?
A:Partly, being able to tell if wood is dry is a matter of
experience. However, some of the signs you can use to tell
if your wood is dry are:
1) The wood is lighter than green wood. However, be
aware that the density and weight of wood also depends
on the species. White oak is denser and heavier than white
pine. Still, dry white oak is lighter than wet whiteoak. 2)
The bark is loose. As wood dries it tends to lose its bark.
This is not an absolute rule, but when your wood is dry
you should notice a good bit of barkless wood and free
pieces of bark. 3) The color of the wood fades. Different
types of woodare more or less colorful, but for all species,
dry wood is more subdued and faded looking than green
wood. 4) The wood shows radial cracks.As wood dries it
shrinks. As a result, it usually develops cracks, visible at
the ends, which radiate out from the heartwood to the
bark. Since the wood will often start to crack before it is
completely dry, the presence of radial cracks is not a fool-
proof sign that the wood is ready to burn. But, the total
absence of such cracks is a good sign that it is not ready
yet. 5) The wood loses its sappy smell. Dry wood is much
less aromatic than green wood. 6) Dry wood makes a
"crack" when hit. If you hit two pieces of seasoned wood
together, they will make a resonant sound, like a bat hitting
a baseball. Green wood makes more of a "thud".
Q: I have green wood, what do I do now?
A: If you have the time, carefully stack your wood and let
it dry. If you have no other options, try splitting the wood-
into smaller pieces, mixing dry wood or kindling with it,
and letting more air into the stove, so it burns a little hotter.
Q: What is the best way to dry my wood?
A: The best way to dry your wood is to split it and then
stack it so that it is well-ventilated, covered and off the
ground. Storing wood this way for 4-6 months can makea
big difference in the efficiency of your stove. Split wood
has much more surface area than unsplit wood. It also has
surfaces that are not covered with bark. Therefore, it will
dry faster than unsplit wood. The ultimate example of this
is birch wood. Because birch bark is waterproof, unsplit
birch wood will often rot from the inside without ever dry-
ing. Wood not only takes up less space when stacked, but it
allows air to circulate around the wood. Good ventilation is
the most important factor in having dry wood. It helps to
dry the wood by speeding up evaporation. If you have the
space, you might want to employ a trick used by old
timers. They stacked their wood in long thin rows spaced
apart, and at right angles to the prevailing winds to ensure
good ventilation. Covering the wood and keeping it off the
ground are important because these practices keep the
wood away from moisture. Wood acts very much like a
sponge. If it is exposed to rain, snow or moisture in the
ground, it will soak this water right up, putting to naught
all your efforts to dry it out.
With these basics in mind, there are a few simple rules you
will want to follow:
1) Do cover the wood, but do not drape a plastic sheet or
tarp over your wood pile so that it covers the sides of the
pile. This will trap the moisture in the pile and the wood
will not dry. If you can, make a simple wood frame to raise
the plastic cover a few feet above the wood. The ultimate
drying place is an open sided shed. 2) Use 2 x 4's, poles, or
pallets or some other method to keep your wood off the
ground. 3) If you dry your wood inside, allow for adequate
ventilation. Wood stored in a heated space does dry faster.
However, drying wood gives off a lot of water. If you do
not allow for that water to exit to the outside you will
probably raise a bumper-crop of mold and/or mush-
rooms. Another reason to be careful about storing wood
inside is the fact that ants, beetles or other unwanted
guests sometimes ride along on unseasoned wood.
A standard cord measures 128 cubic feet (or 4’x 4’x 8’).
Don’t cover your woodpile with a trap or plastic sheet that goes
all the way to the ground. Moisture will get trapped under the
tarp, and the wood will not dry.
Store your firewood off the ground on 2 x 4’s or 2 x 6’s.Cover it
with plastic or metal roofing. Leave the sides open
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