Two Years Later and Still Hissing.

[Laird]

I've got about 2 cords of Red Oak I cut and split exactly two years ago. Its been under roof since then. I threw a couple pieces into the OWB last night and it immediately started hissing and spitting at me.
I prefer Hickory.

 

[coog]

If by "under a roof " you mean that the oak didn't get much sun and wind, I'm not surprised that it isn't dry. I prefer hickory, too.

 

[Laird]

If by "under a roof " you mean that the oak didn't get much sun and wind, I'm not surprised that it isn't dry. I prefer hickory, too.

It was on the East end and gets the morning sun. It obviously needs more sun than that.

 

[BHWood]

hissing wood

I have had the same thing happen with red oak. Split it over 2 years ago, covered only during rainy seasons and it still hisses. No spitting but definitely hissing in my insert. It was the larger splits only but come on, 2 years!

Brian

 

[olyman]

how do you stack your wood???

 

[Laird]

how do you stack your wood???

From the ground up!:rotfl:

 

[outdoorlivin247]

I'll bring the trailer over and haul that junk, STINKY, wet, wood away for you...:soldier:

 

[sunfish]

Yeah, read oak can do that. I prefer white oak.

 

[ray benson]

It's been rainy /high humidity the last few days. Probably has some effect.

 

[Swamp Yankee]

Yeah, read oak can do that. I prefer white oak.

Me too

Red oak's grain structure makes it like a sponge. Matters little how checked the ends are, if any outer surfaces get wet, the moisture will spread throughout the entire piece, almost like being back to square one.

Bringing red oak in a warm, dry place for a couple of days prior to burning seems to help.

Take Care

 

[STLfirewood]

The company that sold me my kiln said it can take up to 2 days longer to kiln dry red oak then any other wood. It says that in the manual.

Scott

 

[sunfish]

Read (Red) Oak has an open grain structure, white Oak has a closed grain.

But I don't mind a little hiss from the ends of red Oak splits...

 

[Laird]

I'll bring the trailer over and haul that junk, STINKY, wet, wood away for you...:soldier:

I think I'll just hold it over another year.

 

[iowa]

Complain complain! Don't be skeered. Burn it!

 

[PA Plumber]

I try to let Red Oak season, outside and uncovered, for at least two years before moving it in to a covered area prior to burning.

Nary a hiss.

 

[danrclem]

I try to let Red Oak season, outside and uncovered, for at least two years before moving it in to a covered area prior to burning.

Nary a hiss.

I haven't ever burned red oak before but I was thinking the same thing.

 

[reaperman]

My woods is 85% red oak. I have learned to stack it in single rows, it takes up more space, but the result is good. Also with red oak, if possible when splitting, get rid of the bark. Any moisture seems to get trapped between the bark and the wood and stays wet. If your wood has the bark on it yet, try using a splitting maul to remove it and check for moisture.

 

[RVALUE]

If it fits into the stove, does that make a hissy fit?

 

[Marine5068]

Weird.
All my Red Oak that's seasoned one and a half years is dry,dry, dry.
It burns GREAT!
I store it under a second-floor deck outside out of the weather.
Maybe you have water dripping or really moist air where it being stored?
Also make sure that the stacked rows have enough space between them for good air flow.

 

[Intheswamp]

My woods is 85% red oak. I have learned to stack it in single rows, it takes up more space, but the result is good. Also with red oak, if possible when splitting, get rid of the bark. Any moisture seems to get trapped between the bark and the wood and stays wet. If your wood has the bark on it yet, try using a splitting maul to remove it and check for moisture.

reaperman, stacking in single rows with plenty of space between the rows is what I'm doing, too. This is my first year trying to get ahead and I hate to say it but this was bought wood (good deal, though). Anyhow, this is water oak and knowing that it is slow to season I figured I'd give it all the help that I could. First thing is getting it up off of the ground and broadside to the prevailing winds. Each stack is 12' long and a minimum of 4' high (1/2 cord). There is roughly 5.5' between the rows and the rows that are stacked "end to end" have a gap there of about the same distance. It should give plenty of air movement through the stacks, hopefully.

I'm hoping that some of this will be good for the 11/12 season. If it's not, I've already got about 1/4 cord of dried oak and I've got access to a lot of bug-killed standing pine. My soon to (hopefully) be installed stove is a little F3CB and I'm down in south Alabama so I figure 1 to 1.5 cords will carry me through the winters.

Marine5068, with your cold dry air up there I can easily see how it'd dry out in 1.5 years. I'm hoping my location...full sun and somewhat windy location will help season this oak in a year or so...re-splitting the larger splits and the rounds (small firebox) I hope will help me, too. But, we do have some tough humidity, we'll see....

Ed