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[lasor1]

Hello everyone I have a few questions about seasoned fire wood! How long does it normally take to have good seasoned firewood from fresh cut down trees? Next question is I have access to old trees that have fallen down across the road or along side it is from the highway department  anyway most of the trees are pretty good size trees and they been setting for a 1yr or so in the weather I notice cutting the big trees like from 18" to 3' diameter there is mosture in them well I Split and stacked them up how long do you think before a person good burn them as good seasoned firewood? Thank you for all the info on this forum I am new to the owb's I got my new heatmaster mf 5000 rdy to go. I have burned a indoor wood stove for years and I know that good seasoned wood doesn't smoke as much and is more efficient and that is what I am trying to do thanks

[jerkash]

Your last sentence is correct.  I stay one year ahead on my firewood which works very well.  Also on your down trees, If thats all you have for this year, burn it.  It is somewhat dryer than green wood and splitting it would speed up the process.

[jrider]

Way too many factors to give you a concrete time on seasoning.  But general rule is in the neighborhood of 1 year.  And that wood laying on the ground just sits there soaking up ground moisture - once off the ground though, it will be ready to burn faster than green wood.

[Yooper]

I have wood about 4 years old.  That wood sitting on the ground sure does absorb moisture.  We had some good rain the week before last.  Some of my wood wasn't covered with a tarp.  I split this wood.  The outside was slimy from sitting on the wet ground, but the inside felt dry.  Hey, I figured.  Big log.  Water won't soak through.  Wrong!  It felt dry inside, cold but dry.  I put it in the stove.  Stove wasn't heating up.  I looked at my wood.  There were boiling bubbles at the end of the wood.  Water had been sucked into the wood.  The wood couldn't heat the stove if it's heat was used to boil off water.

Birch and poplar are really bad for sucking up water.  They also rot quick if you don't burn it.

Tarps are a worthwhile investment.

[johnybcold]

I collect wood and stack it during the spring if it is pine I burn it that winter if it is hard I like to think it will age a year, but sometimes I am lazy and grab wood from the closest pile

[MattyNH]

I have wood about 4 years old.  That wood sitting on the ground sure does absorb moisture.  We had some good rain the week before last.  Some of my wood wasn't covered with a tarp.  I split this wood.  The outside was slimy from sitting on the wet ground, but the inside felt dry.  Hey, I figured.  Big log.  Water won't soak through.  Wrong!  It felt dry inside, cold but dry.  I put it in the stove.  Stove wasn't heating up.  I looked at my wood.  There were boiling bubbles at the end of the wood.  Water had been sucked into the wood.  The wood couldn't heat the stove if it's heat was used to boil off water.

Birch and poplar are really bad for sucking up water.  They also rot quick if you don't burn it.

Tarps are a worthwhile investment.

Yeah poplar and brich rots quick...Maple isnt far behind...Oak outlast's most wood rot wise

[bajonesy77]

I was told by some old timers to cut the wood for the next winter this winter. aka 1 year in advance, this way it keeps you warm twice! 

[JS4466]

     If you cut wood on Sunday it will burn hotter.