How to Cure Oak Wood
Curing oak wood is commonly practiced to reduce the moisture levels in the wood after the trees are cut down and the wood is milled into boards or the logs are split. Oak is ready for use as lumber or firewood once it reaches the 20 percent moisture content level. The process used to cure oak firewood is less sensitive than that used to cure oak lumber, but both are similar with very few exceptions.
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Things You'll Need
- Chainsaw
- Hydraulic log splitter or ax
- Wood racks
- Heavy plastic sheets, or an open-air shed
- Hammer and roofing nails, or staple gun
- Warehouse or large shed
Instructions
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Cure Oak Firewood
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1
Cut the oak limbs into 2 to 2 1/2 foot logs with a chainsaw. Split all logs with a diameter measuring over 4 inches using a log splitter or an ax.
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2
Lay the logs on top of racks of horizontal wood or metal rail supports with 1 to 2 inches of ground clearance for airflow. Stack logs on top of each other with the saw cut sides facing out. Limit log stacks to 4 feet high.
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3
Cover the top of the pile with heavy plastic and secure the covering with nails or staples, or store the wood pile under an open shed.
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4
Leave the wood pile outdoors for an entire year to cure oak firewood so the moisture content drops to 20 percent. Use cured logs for fires anytime after the curing is completed.
Cure Oak Lumber
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5
Stack milled planks of oak lumber lengthwise over rails that are at least 3 inches off the ground. Slip stickers, or wooden spacers between every four boards to allow airflow between the planks.
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6
Provide a shelter for curing oak wood that protects the lumber stack from getting wet in rain and snow. Keep the pile in an open shed, or cover it with heavy plastic whenever storms threaten. Lumber drying sheds are built with open-air sides and some are equipped with an entire wall of fans for constant air circulation.
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7
Cure oak lumber outdoors during the warmer seasons and store it indoors in a warehouse or shed for the winter if possible. The quality of the lumber suffers somewhat with exclusive outdoor curing.
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8
Leave oak lumber to cure for one year and check the condition of the planks. Leave the boards to cure more if the wood is still too moist for tooling. Drying oak lumber may take as long as two full years.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid kiln drying oak lumber as this causes damages that make the wood less preferable for furniture and musical instruments.
References
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