question about red oak

[iceman]

i got my hands on a couple of cords of red oak.... been left in round for 2 yrs. now it was stacked on the ground 3 rounds high 3 rounds wide by at least 20 ft... covered with plywood and tarp on plywood... it seems like the outer ring that oak has is rotted out on just about every piece i split , i can understand the ones on the ground but the next 2 up? is this common for those of you who leave wood in the round for awhile?

 

[smokinj]

tarps help trap moisture

 

[LLigetfa]

bark helps trap moisture

 

[JustWood]

The wood may have been cut in the spring when the sap was high. The sap wood (phloem) will rot fast when sugar content is high as bacteria will go after it in the wood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phloem

 

[Redburn]

That's common for red oak I had some like that to.. It makes a mess but still burns great .. Big mess..

 

[LLigetfa]

The sap wood (phloem) will rot fast when sugar content is high as bacteria will go after it in the wood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phloem

I always thought Phloem was that green stuff I hork up from the back of my throat.

 

[billb3]

is this common for those of you who leave wood in the round for awhile?

Yes.
Covered or uncovered.

Short rounds and long logs.

Even when blocked up well off the ground.

I tend to split oak, cherry ASAP.

 

[JustWood]

The sap wood (phloem) will rot fast when sugar content is high as bacteria will go after it in the wood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phloem

I always thought Phloem was that green stuff I hork up from the back of my throat.

My biology teacher always said phloem-up, zylem-down.

 

[Dune]

Red oak rots. White oak is highly rot resistant. It is still burnable, without doubt.

 

[EKLawton]

only the outside will be soft. I had some tops that laid on the ground for 8 years that are good in the center

 

[iceman]

do you guys try to take it off or just split as normal and burn it?

 

[smokinj]

do you guys try to take it off or just split as normal and burn it?

splitt it most will just fall off

 

[btuser]

I've got some red oak and some white oak. Besides the God awful smell of the red oak, I can tell the difference as it dries. The red oak sap wood starts out lighter than the heartwood, but then turns darker to almost black and then the bark falls off. I've moved my woodpile to higher/drier ground, but it 1 year on the ground took its toll.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Red oak almost always rots a bit on the outer layer. No worry though, just burn it.

As far as the odor of red oak, I happen to be one who likes it. Actually there is very little wood that I don't like the smell of.

 

[myzamboni]

red oak almost smells like cheap wine. i like the smell.

 

[oilstinks]

most red oak i find in the woods is rotted about a inch in and good the rest of the way

 

[branchburner]

The sap wood (phloem) will rot fast when sugar content is high as bacteria will go after it in the wood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phloem

I always thought Phloem was that green stuff I hork up from the back of my throat.

My biology teacher always said phloem-up, zylem-down.

Xylem zips up, phloem flows down - can't believe I remember that!

 

[JustWood]

The sap wood (phloem) will rot fast when sugar content is high as bacteria will go after it in the wood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phloem

I always thought Phloem was that green stuff I hork up from the back of my throat.

My biology teacher always said phloem-up, zylem-down.

Xylem zips up, phloem flows down - can't believe I remember that!

You're right some how i got that twisted around.

 

[btuser]

red oak almost smells like cheap wine. i like the smell.

I've got some white oak that has a strong scent of vanilla. Wonderful. When it burns and I get a whiff of the smoke I start getting a jones for scotch or whisky. The red oak smells like vomit when 1st split.

 

[LLigetfa]

red oak almost smells like cheap wine. i like the smell.

I've got some white oak that has a strong scent of vanilla. Wonderful. When it burns and I get a whiff of the smoke I start getting a jones for scotch or whisky. The red oak smells like vomit when 1st split.

Ja, cheap wine makes me vomit. I don't like the smell of it either before or after.

 

[iceman]

well got my hannds on another 2 cords of red oak.... now this stuff has been sitting for 2 years in rounds ... no rot on exterior 24-36 in dia.... as soon as i moved then the beark fell right off, they had cracks in the middle from drying out ... some were drier than others but it should be ready to burn in a month or so.. some had termites in them but i was able to split around them.... but it was 2 free cords of red oak.. in the end... now i gotta go back to the guy that has the oak with some rot around the edges ...

i am happy my back yard is a mess but its just about all red oak!@..... i wish i could get some locust!....
will post pics tomorrow

 

[mainstation]

split it, leave it outside under roof /tarp outta the rain for a while and it'll be fine to burn.
Oak burns hot.

 

[Wet1]

Burn the termites too, extra btu! :cheese:

 

[billb3]

Burn the termites too, extra btu! :cheese:

The screaming doesn't keep you awake at night ?

 

[Skier76]

I have a small selection of red oak; it was mixed in with the pine rounds the previous owners left behind. The first inch or two is a bit punky. This stuff burns great though! I've been burning a lot of pine this shoulder season. I tossed in some red oak for the over night and the coaling was amazing vs the styrofoam pine.