Wood dries through the end grain?

[svk]

Here's a resplit from my friend's stash of oak (don't ask me what subspecies as he bought a cord delivered).

As you can see 1/4-1/2" is dry all of the way along the outside edges yet the end grains are only partially starting to dry out. Very interesting as conventional wisdom says most of the drying is done through the end grain.

I guess this also helps support the fact that splits dry much faster than rounds

 

[blades]

Moisture will migrate out all over, about equally in my experience, if no bark is left on.

 

[Oldman47]

The moisture transport system in wood runs along its grain. That means that "all else being equal" the end grain is where moisture will most easily leave the wood. All else is not equal. The end grain may be 9 inches from the area that you want to dry while the center of a split may well be less than 2 inches from the wood surface. The difference in distance can definitely affect the rate of drying.

 

[blacklocst]

It looks like Black Oak.

 

[cus_deluxe]

The moisture transport system in wood runs along its grain

exactly, and so even though the ends appear to only be partially dry, while the outer edges appear to be dry 1/4-1/2", keep in mind that all the moisture leaving the end grain MUST pass through the end grain. Notice the gradual change in color on the ends vs the abrupt change in color on the outer edges.

 

[cus_deluxe]

But that does not take away from the fact that splits dry quicker than rounds. its all about surface area. It would be interesting to have some solid research done to quantify the difference in moisture loss through the ends vs through outside vs split surfaces. Obviously bark is a major factor as well.

 

[Paragon Builder]

Also don't forget the end grain is cut with a saw which seals the end grain pours to a large degree. So the moisture can't get out that way as easily.

 

[cus_deluxe]

not with my super awesome pro forest square ground race chain!!!!!!!!

 

[cus_deluxe]

 

[Paragon Builder]

View attachment 439257

And I'm chuckling!

 

[Paragon Builder]

There's a firewood processor called the Chomper that shears the pieces off instead of using a sawblade.
They claim dry time is very reduced due to not sealing the end grain up.

 

[Marshy]

There's a firewood processor called the Chomper that shears the pieces off instead of using a sawblade.
They claim dry time is very reduced due to not sealing the end grain up.

Sounds like hocus pocus BS to me. I'm not buying that line.

 

[haveawoody]

svk,

If it only came down to split wood then why does a 12" split dry much faster than a 16" split.
I think the bulk of moisture departs the end grain but any exposed surface will also depart moisture.


Lots of factors in how wood dries.
Hardwood pretty much anything under similar conditions will dry the fastest as short kindle, then long kindle, then short splits, then long split, then rounds, then as a dead tree or log.
Elm is a great rule breaker though since it dries as a dead tree at around the same rate as splits would.

Softwoods can be quite different for drying, forget to split some species and they are mushroom quite fast while others tend to dry in round format at nearly the same speed as splits.
Silver maple is a good example at least for me it makes little to no difference split or not up to rounds of about 3ft, at that point forget to split until fall and it's mushroom city.

 

[turnkey4099]

not with my super awesome pro forest square ground race chain!!!!!!!!

Naw!! A dull chain rips and tears at the wood opening up the pores! That's why all my chains have blackened teeth.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Harry K

 

[brenndatomu]

Well, my take on this is that if moisture only departed out the ends then making smaller splits would make no difference...but it does

 

[olyman]

Well, my take on this is that if moisture only departed out the ends then making smaller splits would make no difference...but it does

straight!!!!!

 

[haveawoody]

brenndatomu,

You got it.
Think it all comes down to exposed surface area.
The natural structure of wood cells is moving water up so drying tends to happen that way also, splitting wood just exposes more surface area allowing more area to dry.
An interesting experiment is to make a 16" bit of kindle and make a 16" flat piece of the same thickness.
Both dry at exactly the same speed so I think it's all about depth of wood to dry and surface area.
A 24" flat piece is not as dry as the 16" so end grain moisture loss is playing a big part of it also.

 

[ropensaddle]

The moisture transport system in wood runs along its grain. That means that "all else being equal" the end grain is where moisture will most easily leave the wood. All else is not equal. The end grain may be 9 inches from the area that you want to dry while the center of a split may well be less than 2 inches from the wood surface. The difference in distance can definitely affect the rate of drying.

Most hardwood has transport cells called sieve tube elements these are primarily sugar and starch movers. Water conduction or tracheary in xylem is more for water conduction and will move either vertically or horizontally! Small pores in the wood and stems called lenticels are responsible for off gasing and conduction of oxygen to the living parts of the plant. Once cut and split these vessels allow the drying to occur at a faster rate because the inner xylem is exposed to air and allowed to drain and off gas at faster rates than lenticels allow for. In summary wood will dry from all exposed areas at the same rate. The bark side being the exception as even though drying does take place it will not be at the same rate!

 

[buzz sawyer]

How long did the log set before it was cut into firewood lengths? If it sat for several months, I would think the outer areas would show more drying than the ends as seen in the OP photo.

 

[Marshy]

How long did the log set before it was cut into firewood lengths? If it sat for several months, I would think the outer areas would show more drying than the ends as seen in the OP photo.

I wouldn't expect that. Most cases I see my firewood is holding a significant amount of moisture under the bark. The exposed cut ends are significantly more dry.