holtz Hausen- fun with firewood

[baronrenfrew]

If you make a pile 8 feet in diameter then put some 8 foot wood across the pile at regular intervals. I keep all wood until about 2 inches so I burn the branches and not just the stem of the tree. These sticks are dangerous to cut with a chainsaw so I cut them at the house with a circular saw so there's lots kicking around. If you really want to test wood you can buy a moisture gauge, or you can mark some pieces and weigh them. Of course is also matters how wet the weather is. Certain tree species dry quick and easy such as ironwood (eastern hephornbeam) and some are terrible for holding water and rot quick such as birch or the stems of elm. When I cut a birch i will cut the bark with a chainsaw lengthwise from top to bottom: as it dries the bark curls away; or i'll split it regardless of size (except the very small wood).