standing dead white oak

[dwl47630]

the tree has been dead at least one year.how do i tell if i can burn it this year.

 

[brnchbrkr]

Fell it.
Buck it.
Split it.
Stack it

Repeat

check a sticky for Moisture content ( 13% ? )

if not ready for this year, you will have a good start on next years or the next.

hurry before someone on here scrounges it up before you can get to it.

Enjoy it, tis the season.

 

[H-Ranch]

Even cut, split, and stacked oak may not be ready after a year. Some of the upper branches could be OK, but it's not likely that the majority of the tree is good for this winter.

 

[Circle B MN]

The time it takes for oak to season is dependant on what length it is cut, how small it is split, where it is stacked, etc. Regardless of that, I would not consider a standing oak tree any where near ready to burn this season. Even cut as logs, they will be "green" for years.

 

[spike60]

The time it takes for oak to season is dependant on what length it is cut, how small it is split, where it is stacked, etc. Regardless of that, I would not consider a standing oak tree any where near ready to burn this season. Even cut as logs, they will be "green" for years.

I agree. White oak can look like it's ready to burn when it's standing dead, but as soon as you split the first piece you'll probably find plenty of moisture in there.

 

[husky455rancher]

ive always found standing dead trees to be very wet. i personally wouldnt consider burning it this year.

 

[SWI Don]

Ditto on what the others have said. The only thing that I have run into fairly consistently ready to burn when cut dead standing is elm. The bark needs to be off and the bottom few slices should probably have a short dry time. I still like to let the elm dry off for a couple of weeks after cutting and splitting before burning.

I have a catalytic stove so it doesn't really like burning wet wood at all. Or I don't like cleaning a plugged catalyst that often.

Don

 

[Mntn Man]

Last fall I cut down a bur oak that was standing dead 3 years. The rounds would splash water out when the Fiskars SS bounced off. I just checked the stacked splits today and I think they will be ready this year, especially later this winter. I was amazed how much weight they had lost. That stuff was heavy when I split it and hauled it home. Not the ash that I usually work.:biggrin:

 

[mschoff]

I have been cutting on a red wood tree that came down late in fall and it is still green the bark falls of pretty easy but it at 28%

 

[blackdogon57]

I find that logs that have been left piled for a year or two dry out much faster than fresh cut. I am processing two year old logs right now
that are 20-30% moisture content when split. They usually get below 20% in about a month when stacked in a dry windy area. The smaller
diameter stuff is usually burnable right away.

 

[ponyexpress976]

I just hacked one up today...after seeing this thread i got the meter out for giggles and the fresh split pieces read 20%. This was standing dead but dead because it had ripped out of the ground, tearing off all but one root. I was really surprised to see it that low.