Season time?

[Pruning@trunk]

I am sure this can vary on a lot of things (temp. wind, stacking, etc.) but just trying to get a general idea on time it takes for "soft" wood to be seasoned. Like most say red oak takes 2 years for it to seasoned so what about soft wood. Mainly interested in boxelder, poplar, cottonwood, basswood, pine and silver maple. 6 months? The state is MN in open conditions.


Thanks

 

[Big_Al]

In Minnesota weather I would say a year would do it. Thats cut & split.

 

[Pruning@trunk]

Im sure a year is best but wondering if 6 months would be enough for those species. Meaning, 6 months the wood is at 25% and another 6 months the wood could be 15%-20%.

 

[Big_Al]

Possibly if it was cut & split and set out in the sun & wind in early spring. I grew up there and its a pretty humid state in the summer. Been lots of threads on this subject. Probably get a few more opinions in the am.

 

[svk]

I put green silver maple under my deck (so one end got sun exposure) and it was under 20 percent in two months. Ash and birch (must be split) also dry very quickly. Aspen seems to hold on to moisture a little bit more than the other softwoods but one summer in the sun will do the job.

 

[Fred Wright]

Poplar will be good to burn a few months after split & stacked. That's taking into account an ideal location for stacks. Full sun and wind exposure. My only gripe with poplar, it soaks up water like a sponge when left exposed. Keep it top covered.

 

[c5rulz]

All of my wood is white & red oak with a smattering of hickory.

One month ago:

The wood cut split last November is at 20%

The stuff I finished in March was at 25%.

It's in an ideal spot, gets sun all day and lots of wind and is stacked on pallets.

 

[benp]

Imo, and this I am sure is just me, a lot depends on what you are burning it in.

A normally aspirated high efficiency indoor stove? You are going to want the optimal drying times for the species. Not much wiggle room.

Forced air outdoor boiler? Waaaay more forgiving.

Also mixing the wood as your burning with dryer/real dry with other wood that might not be optimal helps.