Wood moisture
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,649
Likes: 2
From: Wallingford, CT
Wood moisture
I'm trying to get into the firewood business around here. My brother was into it last year and I've inherited some of his old clients. I don't intend to try to grow my client base past his old customers for this year as I don't have but a few cord 100% ready for this year.
I have a moisture meter and have been testing any wood that I consider "questionable" in its being ready. Some of it wasn't cut and split until late this spring so I'm not totally sure about selling it yet. I know the wood should be 15-20% moisture when it's ready to sell.
My issue is this: What is the proper place to test a piece of wood? For example I found one piece of wood today that when I stuck the end grain (which was exposed at the edge of the stack) I read 36% moisture but when I tested the wood on the side it read 16% moisture. Which reading should be trusted? A lot of people try to get into selling firewood around here but a lot of it is junk wood. I'm trying to offer a quality product and I'm not sure which reading I ought to believe. Anyone out there know the answer?
I have a moisture meter and have been testing any wood that I consider "questionable" in its being ready. Some of it wasn't cut and split until late this spring so I'm not totally sure about selling it yet. I know the wood should be 15-20% moisture when it's ready to sell.
My issue is this: What is the proper place to test a piece of wood? For example I found one piece of wood today that when I stuck the end grain (which was exposed at the edge of the stack) I read 36% moisture but when I tested the wood on the side it read 16% moisture. Which reading should be trusted? A lot of people try to get into selling firewood around here but a lot of it is junk wood. I'm trying to offer a quality product and I'm not sure which reading I ought to believe. Anyone out there know the answer?
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 36
From: British Columbia
The end grain is what to check. Actually you should use the highest moisture content as your standard, but since moisture escapes wood mostly out the end grain, that will remain moist longest.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 2
From: Juneau, ALASKA
OK I should have said that is not the whole State just Juneau maybe other places the thing here is it is really hard to cut firewood becasue of restrictions on State and Federal lands plus all the logging road in town have been "Reclaimed" or closed so it hard to get to a place where you can cut wood and get it to a truck easily. Also lots of people don't know better and see $250+ plus bucks for good firewood and think $100 is a good deal. Alaska is primary conservative and pro development somehow Juneau ended up the State strong hold for granola crunching, tree hugging, vegans.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,180
Likes: 669
From: Scio, OR
You should try Oregon. We used to be a major wood producer, and had a fine economy based on it.
Now days, it takes an act of God to cut down a tree. A good share of the forests in my area are dead from insect infestations and they are barely allowed to cut that down.
Now days, it takes an act of God to cut down a tree. A good share of the forests in my area are dead from insect infestations and they are barely allowed to cut that down.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 36
From: British Columbia
In Canada it's similar. They are destroying old logging roads to keep the citizenry from accessing the woods. Unfortunately both big logging companies and the greenies are lobbying for this, so there is a lot of pressure to keep the people out.
Ironically a firewood scrounger was prosecuted in B.C. recently for taking wood cut down and discarded in a clear cut. I guess he was ruining millipede habitat.
Ironically a firewood scrounger was prosecuted in B.C. recently for taking wood cut down and discarded in a clear cut. I guess he was ruining millipede habitat.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,649
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From: Wallingford, CT
Man I never thought I'd say I'm glad to live in CT.
I'm glad that we've got 13 wooded acres that need to be wide open soon. And I'm sure that by the time I've got it cleared we'll have another site ready to start on.
Thanks for the input!
I'm glad that we've got 13 wooded acres that need to be wide open soon. And I'm sure that by the time I've got it cleared we'll have another site ready to start on.
Thanks for the input!
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Cargo Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 36
From: British Columbia
I live in the city but even so there are often trees cut down or blow down. Luckily the city crews or homeowners often cut them to length and pile them on the boulevard as freebies. There was a couple truckloads on the roadside about a mile from my house today of what looked like birch. I'm full up so didn't take any. It seemed to be mostly gone by tonight.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,256
Likes: 7,694
From: Chino Valley, Arizona
I am glad that I have access to 180,000 acres of juniper, we cut 14 cords this year, no permit no one cares! no tree huggers! just happy rancher cause we are making more grazing land.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,290
Likes: 2
From: SEMO
Pete
Drill the end of the wood and see what your meter says it is.I buy HT lumber that is dryed to 19%.This stuff burns like paper.
I'm glad in MO I can still go to the farm and drop a tree with out someone raising h#ll about it.
Drill the end of the wood and see what your meter says it is.I buy HT lumber that is dryed to 19%.This stuff burns like paper.
I'm glad in MO I can still go to the farm and drop a tree with out someone raising h#ll about it.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 15,014
Likes: 35
From: Semper Fi tell I die!
OK I should have said that is not the whole State just Juneau maybe other places the thing here is it is really hard to cut firewood becasue of restrictions on State and Federal lands plus all the logging road in town have been "Reclaimed" or closed so it hard to get to a place where you can cut wood and get it to a truck easily. Also lots of people don't know better and see $250+ plus bucks for good firewood and think $100 is a good deal. Alaska is primary conservative and pro development somehow Juneau ended up the State strong hold for granola crunching, tree hugging, vegans.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 2
From: Juneau, ALASKA
Yeah and you should hear them whine when a pair of size 12 Whites steps on their toes man corks don't hurt that bad
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