Thread: Wood seasoning - How long betwen chopping down and using as firewood?

providing the weather holds fine and the heat keeps up Id say that 300mm lengths of say wrist thickness should be good to go in 6 months.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

-----300mm lengths of say wrist thickness ----

That's just the kindling.

I've been cutting firewood for my in-laws at Easter for the last 10 years. Mostly I'm cutting trees that provide blocks from the main trunk between 450mm and 100mm in diameter.

Whilst you can burn timber that's cut green after about 9 months :-
(a) it doesn't burn like well seasoned timber, ie not as hot
(b) it "tars up" your chimney, which over time will create a fire hazard.

So, I cut green timber two years in advance of burning and this seems to generally be OK. It does help to split the larger diameter blocks after 12 months but generally I don't do this.

I'd suggest you allow at least two summers before burning your wood pile.

Hi,

Depends totally on what sort of tree it was. Monterey cypress from around here cut and burned on the same day burns like aged sugar gum but if you leave it for a year it will spit and burn like radiata.

Redgum can take years. The ultimate is dry black wattle (known to melt Coonarras) but be aware the high silica content in the wood will screw chainsaw blades if cut dry. It is the ultimate stove and fireplace fuel in Vic at least.

cheers, DL

I cut redgum whenever I can, usually about 4/5 tonne each year. If I cant find it then 6/7 tonne of whatever.
Ive never had the luxury of storing it more than from now to winter, besides I have a suburban block.
It burns really well by then ( 6 months) far as giving problems with soot or tar, I find a really hot fire every month clears out the flue. I sold a Coonara two years ago that had probably 80 tonne through it & the flue looked like a car exhaust with no buildup whatever.

Originally Posted by DeeJay

I cut redgum whenever I can, usually about 4/5 tonne each year. If I cant find it then 6/7 tonne of whatever.
Ive never had the luxury of storing it more than from now to winter, besides I have a suburban block.
It burns really well by then ( 6 months) far as giving problems with soot or tar, I find a really hot fire every month clears out the flue. I sold a Coonara two years ago that had probably 80 tonne through it & the flue looked like a car exhaust with no buildup whatever.

Try some (often overlooked) dry black wattle when you get the chance DJ and see.

Soot and tar will not be an issue. Burns about as fast as aged sugar gum but way hotter.

cheers, DL

i would suggest leaving it till next spring then haveing a bbq and we should all come around and inspect it to see if it is ready to be used

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

providing the weather holds fine and the heat keeps up Id say that 300mm lengths of say wrist thickness should be good to go in 6 months.

The trunk was a couple of metres circumference (1.2m Diameter?) so the lower parts need to be split to fit in the stove.

From what Mellow Yellow says, I should keep it separate and burn it in 2011, but then DeeJay thinks it's OK in 6 months. Hmmmmm......

Perhaps I better put it to one side of the wood shed, and see how it burns in 6 months, and if it soots things up then I'll leave it until 2011.

Thanks for all the feedback. Much appreciated.