When to split Oak

[cqaigy2]

Got some newly cut oak from a friend. Living in PNW one rarely cuts or burns anything but pine or fir so this oak is a novelty to me. I've been bucking it up and it seems to cut ok while green but im wondering about when it is drier. There are a bunch of smaller pieces i wont need to split but some of the larger pieces are between 24-30 ish across so they will need to be split. Does this stuff split easier after dry or when still green?

 

[burnieman]

Split it now. It turns into rocks as it ages. Good luck

 

[lockhaven]

it depends on what you are splitting it with, with a maul wait till it freezes and it will pop open except for the knots, with a splitter split it now it will hold water forever until it is split.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Split it NOW! If you wait it will turn into concrete. Also, it will dry much faster after it is split. You won't get much heat out of it this year, since each piece will be boiling a gallon of water up the chimney, but if let it season until next year it will be great firewood.

 

[Western]

Most all I use is oak, splits pretty easy by hand when fresh, not to bad when it's a year old either. What Lockhaven said, is why I'd split it now, speed up the drying.

 

[blucoondawg]

split it asap, I have cut dead standing oak trees that had been dead for a long time and had no bark left on them and they were still wet as ****, oak takes awhile to dry, and when you throw it in your house you can't mistake the smell of it, has a sour smell.

 

[cqaigy2]

Thanks for the input!
I only have a splitting maul so will go to work on it right away. I have enough dry seasoned wood to last me thru this winter so will be looking forward to next year. I hear oak is nice to burn. I did notice the sour smell of the wood, fir or pine smells kind of sweet to me, pleasant. one thing ive notice is how much heavier it is!

 

[techwrtr2]

Oak is a good solid wood for heating. Some of the weight is water of course, but even when dry you'll notice how much heavier it is. You'll also notice it burns longer.

I've been dragging oak out of the woods lately to burn. It's been down for a long time. I am continually amazed how solid the core is. Outer edge may be a little soft (ignites easier though), but the bulk of each log is solid enough that you'd think I dropped it last month not... well a long time ago.

 

[lockhaven]

I guess it what you are raised on I love the smell of fresh split oak

 

[Pete Judd]

I have an Alaskan chain saw mill, and I hate to see the stuff going into a wood stove, to much fir and alder around here to burn a good hardwood like oak. But sawing, or splitting wet is better than dry. It can turn into a "rock".