How long after stacking and splitting a standing dead hickory that has probably been dead for 16-18 months will it be ready to burn? I have read that the hickory takes forever to dry to an efficient burning level. Thank you for the feedback.
Standing Dead Hickory
- Thread starter BCS
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
thats' a tough call. iv'e found some that could be burnt almost right away.and some that i split and let sit for a couple of weeks.small stuff can usually be burnt pretty quick.if the bark comes off when you split it it's just about ready to go. the bark is a great fire starter.
zogger
Tree Freak
the hickory I get here is one season ready to go, as opposed to redoak, which is two full summers. My oak will burn after one summer, but burns much much better after two summers. Hickory seems just fine after one, especially with no bark on it..
bowtechmadman
Addicted to ArboristSite
I'm smoking with some 2 yr's dried hickory today. Couple pork butts and a couple fatties....Merry Christmas
I also have some black walnut and oak that is on the ground. It has been on the ground for 6 months dead for at least a year before that. I am assuming since this is probably pulling moisture out of the ground it will take a while to dry out as well?
zogger
Tree Freak
Yes it will take time to dry, the interior wood. However, if you need wood now or soon, if you split off the outside semi punky stuff, stack that loose and airy, cover and uncover as needed to keeop rain off of it, it will dry pretty fast. It is porous from the punkiness of it, lets air in well. It will burn faster than the interior heartwood or sapwood, but still throw decent heat.
There aren't a lot of options for cut now, burn immediately wood, not in a regular stove anyway. Standing dead elm with the bark off of it, the upper levels of standing dead pine, etc. Split thin helps. To speed up drying even faster, cut fat cookies instead of regular longer length, as this exposes the ends where they dry, and being short, it doesn't take as long, say around 4 inch long cookies. This is not common to do, it is a lot more cutting on a log, but it really does speed up the drying time immensely.
Makes splitting, busting into stove-fit chunks, pretty easy though.
It looks like others have answered your question so I'll offer up some unsolicited advice.
Make the felling cut high as termites often carry dirt up the trunk of dead trees for some distance. Cut the felled part up first then finish up with the two or three stump cuts that are below the felling cut. That way your saw is sharp for most of the cutting Vs. getting dull right at the start. Always cut dirty wood last. Believe it or not I often eye ball the height of my felling cut so the 2 or 3 lowest cuts are of a good firewood length as there's lots of wood to be found there. If it's real full of dirt I leave it uncut. Your mileage may vary.
Make the felling cut high as termites often carry dirt up the trunk of dead trees for some distance. Cut the felled part up first then finish up with the two or three stump cuts that are below the felling cut. That way your saw is sharp for most of the cutting Vs. getting dull right at the start. Always cut dirty wood last. Believe it or not I often eye ball the height of my felling cut so the 2 or 3 lowest cuts are of a good firewood length as there's lots of wood to be found there. If it's real full of dirt I leave it uncut. Your mileage may vary.
That's for the advice. I ended up dropping this one over Christmas but discovered that from 12 feet up from the trunk to 20 feet up the tree was completely hollow. Is it worth splitting up the outer edge of the tree or just leave that section in the woods?
zogger
Tree Freak
SteveSS
Addicted to ArboristSite
How thick are the walls of the hollow portion? If they're 4" to 5" thick or so, and not punky and soft, I'd cut it and split it.
SteveSS
Addicted to ArboristSite
I'd split it and stack it.
flashhole
Addicted to ArboristSite
I burn a lot of Shag Bark Hickory. It's as dense as my wife's head but seems to season well in just one year. Burns hot and makes nice coals. I don't find much standing dead hickory. Lots of standing dead Ash and Maple but not much Hickory. If the wood is not punky split it and burn it. Surface moister will dry in a week or two depending on your environmental conditions.
D
Deleted member 83629
Guest
Repped for the dense as the wifes head
that hollow hickory should make some good burnin. had one like that last year and it was ready to burn in about a week. split some dead standing that was cut monday and it will be ready to burn in about 2 weeks.
D
Deleted member 83629
Guest
burn the hollow hickory it beats a snowball.
Yeah it will! I'd burn it, too.
The tree reacts to the strength loss the hollow causes and grows a bit denser and stronger. In arboriculture it's called 'reaction wood'.
SteveSS
Addicted to ArboristSite
Good info, Del_. Thank you.
