To cover, or not to cover, THAT is the quesion

[ansehnlich1]

How many times can you beat a dead horse?

Haha! Now THAT is funny That's the exact, without argument, bottom line, no lie, intent of this entire thread

I joined up here back in '06 (and ain't been banned......yet ) and I've heard bantered about the barn and back the question of covering wood, and it really ain't a big deal what a guy/gal does far as I'm concerned, and most of all, I'm just thrilled to be a part of a great group of wood burners, stickin' it to the oil man

 

[oldspark]

My point was that I think for the most part you have to find out what works for you.

 

[BillLion]

Hey all, I'm brand new to these forums and only a couple years into burning wood with our fireplace insert. Man, I've become obsessed quickly!

In January I began collecting wood instead of (or in addition to I guess) buying dry/split cords. I got apple, black locust, norway maple, pin oak & elm (ugh!) split and stacked on pallets.

I know this thread is funny/frustrating to you vets, but it's very interesting to me as a I try to figure all of this out. The guy I buy wood from encouraged me to leave the wood uncovered until winter & then to cover to keep the snow out. He's a solid guy, and his wood is always great so I'm taking his advice and I'll see how it goes.

So short answer: Uncovered for this novice...for now!

 

[Ashful]

The guy I buy wood from encouraged me to leave the wood uncovered until winter & then to cover to keep the snow out. He's a solid guy, and his wood is always great so I'm taking his advice and I'll see how it goes.

Nothing wrong with that. I used to cover as soon as split, but the wisdom of several on this forum has convinced me to give your plan a try, too.

Welcome to the Hearth!

 

[captjack]

I built a 20x12 lean-to shed this year. The sides and back are pallets so air can flow. I have been curious if this will work better than just leaving out in the open. The shed is in the woods and it only gets a little sun but has good air flow. I am building another one this weekend. I will have about 26 (give or take) under roof. Most of it is red oak. I really dont like the idea of moving wood from stacks to the shed every year. This just seems like a lot of extra work. It will be interesting to see how the wood dries in the sheds verses out in the field.

 

[BillLion]

Nothing wrong with that. I used to cover as soon as split, but the wisdom of several on this forum has convinced me to give your plan a try, too.

Welcome to the Hearth!

Thanks & good luck!

 

[MrWhoopee]

In a recent thread on the other site
(broken link removed)

one of the respondents referred to a study of wood drying/storing methods.
(broken link removed to http://www.aqfairbanks.com/wp-content/uploads/Wood-Storage-Best-Practices-Final-Report-2.pdf)

The study was done in Alaska and utilized the major fuel woods available there (white birch, spruce, aspen and cottonwood). The findings are interesting.

 

[jharkin]

(broken link removed to http://www.aqfairbanks.com/wp-content/uploads/Wood-Storage-Best-Practices-Final-Report-2.pdf)

Thanks for a great read - interesting to see its actually been studied scientifically. I am amzed that the fully tarp covered wood dried at all!
Id love to see a similar test with eastern hardwoods...

 

[BillLion]

In a recent thread on the other site
(broken link removed)

one of the respondents referred to a study of wood drying/storing methods.
(broken link removed to http://www.aqfairbanks.com/wp-content/uploads/Wood-Storage-Best-Practices-Final-Report-2.pdf)

The study was done in Alaska and utilized the major fuel woods available there (white birch, spruce, aspen and cottonwood). The findings are interesting.

What a super helpful resource. Very interesting how quickly the uncovered wood dried, but then regained moisture in the elements. Thanks for sharing!

 

[oldspark]

What a super helpful resource. Very interesting how quickly the uncovered wood dried, but then regained moisture in the elements. Thanks for sharing!

Unless the wood is wet for a long time the moisture from rain only soaks in a small distance and then is quickly dried out with sun and wind.

 

[Machria]

I disagree with ALL of you!

 

[ansehnlich1]

I disagree with ALL of you!

Now THAT is funny!

I noticed some high tech scientific research from other sources being thrown into the mix here, appears we here don't have a monopoly on this craziness eh?......interesting stuff.

 

[MrWhoopee]

Unless the wood is wet for a long time the moisture from rain only soaks in a small distance and then is quickly dried out with sun and wind.

That has always been my contention, however:

From the cited study

Uncovered

This storage method was studied only for the spring firewood harvest. The moisture content of the
spring harvest firewood left uncovered fell rapidly over the summer months (Figure 1c). Split firewood
met the 20% moisture content criteria for a full cure within approximately 6 weeks. The rate of drying
was similar to the firewood stored in the simulated wood sheds. However, the uncovered firewood
was highly susceptible to absorption of moisture from rain, snow, and frost. For example, the split
birch had dried from an initial moisture content of 57% to 19% by early July, then had increased to 35%
by late August, presumably due to rain immediately prior to the August sampling event. The moisture
regained by the firewood over the late summer and winter had dissipated by the final sampling event
in early summer 2011

 

[oldspark]

That has always been my contention, however:

From the cited study

Uncovered

This storage method was studied only for the spring firewood harvest. The moisture content of the
spring harvest firewood left uncovered fell rapidly over the summer months (Figure 1c). Split firewood
met the 20% moisture content criteria for a full cure within approximately 6 weeks. The rate of drying
was similar to the firewood stored in the simulated wood sheds. However, the uncovered firewood
was highly susceptible to absorption of moisture from rain, snow, and frost. For example, the split
birch had dried from an initial moisture content of 57% to 19% by early July, then had increased to 35%
by late August, presumably due to rain immediately prior to the August sampling event. The moisture
regained by the firewood over the late summer and winter had dissipated by the final sampling event
in early summer 2011

yea I read it and its a good read but I just dont agree with that and can find many sites saying it does not soak in much and I have not covered my wood for over 30 years and have never it had it pick up any moisture to speak of, next time it rains I can go split a piece and see what it reads, I do cover what I think I need for the winter in late fall but other wise it never gets covered.

 

[BillLion]

Unless the wood is wet for a long time the moisture from rain only soaks in a small distance and then is quickly dried out with sun and wind.

That's what my wood guy says, so I'm going uncovered until winter to see how it goes. Thanks!

 

[BillLion]

yea I read it and its a good read but I just dont agree with that and can find many sites saying it does not soak in much and I have not covered my wood for over 30 years and have never it had it pick up any moisture to speak of, next time it rains I can go split a piece and see what it reads, I do cover what I think I need for the winter in late fall but other wise it never gets covered.

Is that purely to keep the snow out?

 

[oldspark]

Is that purely to keep the snow out?

yea mainly, at that point in time the seasoning is done so I am just trying to keep the wood dry as it goes in the garage and would take forever to dry the surface moisture. In the winter we dont have the warm temps so once it gets wet after its cold it stays that way for a long time outside.

 

[BillLion]

yea mainly, at that point in time the seasoning is done so I am just trying to keep the wood dry as it goes in the garage and would take forever to dry the surface moisture. In the winter we dont have the warm temps so once it gets wet after its cold it stays that way for a long time outside.

That's very helpful. Thank you.

 

[HDRock]

yea I read it and its a good read but I just dont agree with that and can find many sites saying it does not soak in much and I have not covered my wood for over 30 years and have never it had it pick up any moisture to speak of, next time it rains I can go split a piece and see what it reads, I do cover what I think I need for the winter in late fall but other wise it never gets covered.

I was out splitting n checking some ash, some under my make shift shed, and some that has been uncovered since March and there was no difference, it has been dry here last couple of weeks.
If there is bark on the wood it will hold a little more moisture a little longer though.
I will cover all of mine just before the leafs really start falling cuz when they do, It's like it is snowing out back ,woods on the east side wind comes from the east

 

[MrWhoopee]

yea I read it and its a good read but I just dont agree with that and can find many sites saying it does not soak in much and I have not covered my wood for over 30 years and have never it had it pick up any moisture to speak of, next time it rains I can go split a piece and see what it reads, I do cover what I think I need for the winter in late fall but other wise it never gets covered.

Not sure what you disagree with, it's just data. I was just surprised that the total moisture content rose that much. Because they weigh a piece of wood, oven dry it and weigh it again, we have no idea how deeply the water penetrated. I suspect that a moisture meter would have measured very high moisture content on the surface and little or no change towards the center. It would have been nice to know how recently it had rained and what the MC was a week later and a month later. My thought was that, if you live in an area of frequent summer rain, it might be beneficial to top cover the coming winter's wood sooner.

 

[oldspark]

Not sure what you disagree with, it's just data. I was just surprised that the total moisture content rose that much. Because they weigh a piece of wood, oven dry it and weigh it again, we have no idea how deeply the water penetrated. I suspect that a moisture meter would have measured very high moisture content on the surface and little or no change towards the center. It would have been nice to know how recently it had rained and what the MC was a week later and a month later. My thought was that, if you live in an area of frequent summer rain, it might be beneficial to top cover the coming winter's wood sooner.

Exactly what I was getting at, the moisture only was on the outside and not in the middle, the data is misleading.

 

[BillLion]

Exactly what I was getting at, the moisture only was on the outside and not in the middle, the data is misleading.

Interesting too that there was a big difference between the moisture change with different types of trees.

 

[Machria]

I'd like to see data / study of what the actual affects of moister in wood is, in real life. Got a feeling it doesn't make as much difference as everyone thinks.

 

[MrWhoopee]

I'd like to see data / study of what the actual affects of moister in wood is, in real life. Got a feeling it doesn't make as much difference as everyone thinks.

Funny you should ask:

(broken link removed)
"The effect of moisture content on recoverable heat energy is quite significant, and wood or bark fuels may contain considerable amounts of moisture. Evaluation of wood or bark as fuel should consider the effect of moisture on recoverable heat energy."

(broken link removed)
"High moisture content in firewood results in less effective burning of the wood and in a loss of energy in evaporating the water during burning. A cord of paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) firewood with 15 percent moisture (dry weight basis) would be expected to use an energy amount equal to 470,000 British thermal units (Btu) during burning to evaporate this moisture. An equivalent cord of paper birch that had a moisture content of 80 percent would be expected to use 2.5 million Btu (Ince 1979). The dry cord will produce more than a 12-percent increase in usable heat."

 

[oldspark]

I'd like to see data / study of what the actual affects of moister in wood is, in real life. Got a feeling it doesn't make as much difference as everyone thinks.

Are you talking about moisture from when the tree was green, if you are it makes all the difference in the world, water does not burn very well.