So, I decided to check out this whole oak wood burning thing. Everyone talks about how it’s the best, but I wanted to see for myself. I got my hands on some oak logs, they were pretty hefty. The first thing I did was make sure they were properly dried. I’d heard that oak needs a good long time to dry out, otherwise, it just won’t burn right.
Now, I’m no expert, but I read that oak should dry for at least two years. Some folks even say three or four years is better. I guess it’s because of all the water inside. Apparently, firewood needs to have a moisture content between 15 and 25% to burn well. Freshly cut wood, or “green” wood, has way more water than that – like 40-50%. Makes sense, right? You can’t burn water.
I stacked the oak logs in my shed, making sure there was good airflow around them. This is called air-drying, and for oak, it can take anywhere from six months to two years to get the moisture level down to where you want it. Mine had been sitting for a while, so I was hoping they were good to go. I used a moisture meter to check, and they were around 20%, which seemed perfect.
Building the Fire
- Preparing: I cleaned out my fireplace first. Nobody wants old ashes messing up a new fire.
- Laying the Fire: I started with some smaller kindling, then added a few medium pieces of wood, and finally, I placed the oak logs on top.
- Lighting: A bit of fire starter, a match, and whoosh! The kindling caught quickly.
The oak took a bit longer to catch than softer woods, but once it did, wow. It burned slow and steady. The flames were smaller than what I was used to, but the heat was intense. It was a different kind of burn – very consistent. I didn’t have to keep poking at it or adding more wood constantly. The fire burned evenly, without a lot of popping or sparking.
And the best part? Hardly any ash. After the fire burned down, there was just a small pile of fine ash left. Much less mess to clean up than with other types of wood I’ve used.
My takeaway? Oak definitely lives up to the hype. It’s a dense wood, so it takes longer to dry, but that density is what makes it burn so well. It’s like the marathon runner of firewood – it goes the distance. It’s now a staple fuel in my home. If you’ve got the patience to let it dry properly, I’d say give oak a try. You might just become a convert like me.
