Seasoning wood

[charles1056]

Maybe this is an obvious for some, but I was wondering about seasoning wood. I know it has to dry for several months prior to using it, but it there anything else involved in the seasoning process? I have access to pecan and am currently drying some for smoking, so would appreciate any further info on this from the forum.

 

[bassman]

You should dry if off the ground (such as stacked on 2X4s) to let air circulate. Probably don't want moldy wood!

Keith

 

[walking dude]

i would think you would want to stack it like they do for fireplaces..........so air can circulate around and thru the wood stack.....

 

[smok'n steve]

The wife wanted a fence, so I build one for her every year, then.........I burn it when it is the season!!!!

 

[ds7662]

I like just salt and pepper on mine

 

[capt dan]

Steve, looks like ya got a good start on it there!

 

[smok'n steve]

Realistically, I should have the top covered to keep the moisture off it to properly season it, but at the end of the summers, I move my art work under cover and make a different "fence" and start all over.

Seriously, there are sites on the i-net on proper ways to dry wood. I tried to find my favorite site, but couldn't. It is amazing the difference in btu-s compared to wet and dry. Believe it or not, all wood has the same btu rating when dry, but its the weight or density that delivers the most bang for the buck. Example, Cherry is much heavier than Poplar, so it takes less to keep the house or smoker warm , whatever. If one were to try to heat a house with pine, it might take 3 cords more than with oak.

Seasoning wood is best done in a shed with vented or open style walls and a roof:-)

Steve

 

[nh3b's]

So, is this like saying a dryed piece of say....Shagbark Hickory is equivilent to White Pine? When Dry?

 

[nh3b's]

Ive never seen a blue flame off of a dryed log of pine

 

[richtee]

Nice flag.

 

[zapper]

Steve;

That is beautiful! And I am not a man that uses the word "beautiful" very often. If you have any other pics of the like from different veiws or projects I would like to see them. Thanks

 

[smok'n steve]

As far as BTU's go, From what I understand, if all wood is at the same dryness(obviously, water is heavy), and you burn it, it has the same btu rating per pound, so 1 cord of hickory may weigh 4000lbs, and one cord of pine might weigh 1000lbs, so one would have to burn 4 cords of pine to get the same heat as the hickory. But technically, BTUS are the same for wood per pound-----I THINK___some one should google it to get the stats.

In short, if you know your would is all dry and you don't know the different kinds of wood you have, (if dry) the heavy piece will yield more heat:-)

 

[zapper]

So, is a pound of Ironwood heavier than a pound of Cottonwood?

 

[smok'n steve]

What about feather wood?

Hi Zapper, Thanks for kind words, I will try to get another pic of that woodpile for ya,

Steve

 

[walking dude]

HAHAHAHAHA.........you funny................

that joke is older than me..........hehehe

 

[zapper]

http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/howood.htm



There are other sites, but this was the first that popped up.



I wish I could find mt little black refference book

 

[smok'n steve]

Here 2 more pictures, I wish I could find my other pictures, I have done 8 or 9 years worth of different wood pile styles and creations. Kind of one of those things, I enjoy doing it but I don't always take good pictures:-)

 

[zapper]

Cool.

I am gonna have to get a firewood processor just so I can start stacking cordwood cabins and the like.

And for Walking Dude....

If a rooster laid an egg.....

I got a million of them.....

..........Unfortunately they don't get any better!

 

[bwsmith_2000]

Steve's got the answer for you.

Seasoning wood is best done in a shed with vented or open style walls and a roof:-)

Steve

A long time ago, we heated with wood and that's exactly the way we did it. Protect it from the elements, allow ventilation and time. Good luck.

 

[philthysmoker]

Nice Stack Steve!!!