Live Oak firewood

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I just brought in another load of live oak for firewood and I have to say the stuff is hard as nails and has interlocking grain that makes splitting difficult. Do any of you ever use this wood as firewood?

I typically stick to make, tanoak, madrone and some alder.

I go through several cords a year. Trying to split that stuff by hand is like beating on a truck tire. Even splitting wedges don't make a lot of difference. Not sure what you mean by "interlocking grain" but I get a lot of stuff with almost a spiral grain to it. Big woodsplitter is the only way to go with this stuff. When it's dry it makes great firewood but keep it up off the ground or it'll get white rot.
 
I go through several cords a year. Trying to split that stuff by hand is like beating on a truck tire. Even splitting wedges don't make a lot of difference. Not sure what you mean by "interlocking grain" but I get a lot of stuff with almost a spiral grain to it. Big woodsplitter is the only way to go with this stuff. When it's dry it makes great firewood but keep it up off the ground or it'll get white rot.

That makes sense. the interlocking grain is how the strands seem to go in an "X" pattern when you try and break it appart. It might the worse splitting stuff I have ever tried.
 
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That makes s4ense. the interlocking grain is how the strands seem to go in an "X" pattern when you try and break it appart. It might the worse splitting stuff I have ever tried.

Yup...sounds familiar. Usually I'm about a year ahead on my firewood so I'll buck the logs and deck the rounds over the summer. During the winter I'll do the splitting. They seem to split a lot better if they're seasoned a bit. Each to their own I guess but I've always hated splitting madrone...when it's dry it seems to want to explode out of the splitter. I've got the shin scars to prove it. :laugh:
 
Yup...sounds familiar. Usually I'm about a year ahead on my firewood so I'll buck the logs and deck the rounds over the summer. During the winter I'll do the splitting. They seem to split a lot better if they're seasoned a bit. Each to their own I guess but I've always hated splitting madrone...when it's dry it seems to want to explode out of the splitter. I've got the shin scars to prove it. :laugh:

I have a serious madrone supply since I work for a timber company and I can choose the logs that are cylindrical rather than knotty or twisted. I also use tanoak or maple.
 

Sure been some changes there the last few years. I was born and raised in Humboldt County and I can remember a lot of my relatives working there. For some of them, most actually, it was their only job ever...clear to retirement. My grandfather ran the first 'Cat that PL ever had...he always said he wanted a logging job he could do sitting down and that seemed like just the ticket.:)
 
Sure been some changes there the last few years. I was born and raised in Humboldt County and I can remember a lot of my relatives working there. For some of them, most actually, it was their only job ever...clear to retirement. My grandfather ran the first 'Cat that PL ever had...he always said he wanted a logging job he could do sitting down and that seemed like just the ticket.:)

My familty has been at placo for 5 generations and I am currently thier Sr. Wildlife Biologist. It is a much different job than any of my previous family members.
 
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