OT: Firewood question

[Kenster]

Okay, so now that I've dragged that tree out of the woods....
I already have plenty of firewood for this winter courtesy of a huge oak hit by lightning over a year ago. The newest tree in question is green wood downed in the hurricane in September. The main trunk is cut into five sections six to eight feet in length. My question is... should I go ahead and cut those logs into fireplace size? Or, Will the seasoning process be slower if I leave the logs uncut until next fall?
I'm kinda new at this Paul Bunyon stuff. I don't know whether to go ahead and cut it for the fireplace; cut it and split it; or leave it alone until next year. I currently have the logs propped up off of the ground to hopefully slow down deterioration.

Ken

 

[Hick-From-Hell]

It will dry much faster if you cut it up and split it, otherwise it will take a long time to dry.

 

[larry cook]

i would cut it now. will be harder to cut when dry. would split it later when dry
larry cook

 

[Paul in MN]

Yes the seasoning process will e slower, but the internal rotting process of the log will be much faster. Whether it rots to the point of being useless is a matter of what species, the water tightness of the bark, the weather temperature, and how it is stored. Here in MN, I have had sugar maple logs rot almost immediately, their sweet sap is real food for the decay fungi. Oak and Elm are relatively slow to rot, but will decay if not cut and split in a few years. The water tightness of White Birch almost guarantees rotting within a year if not split. Another factor is how much sap was in the tree when it went down. I suspect your hurricane damaged tree was in full growing season, therefore it will have a lot of moisture in the log, and rots quickly. If you want the best firewood, you should cut, split and stack ASAP, but keep a rain cover on the pile. If the pile is fully tarped, it will rot from its own moisture and ground moisture, so a "roof" on the top of the pile is best.

Been heating our home with wood since '77.

Paul in MN

 

[D Squared]

Cut it now. Fresh wood cuts easier and the moisture helps cool the saw.

 

[Mr. Bob]

Cut it up now, will be seasoned better for next year. I"ve been doing firewood in large quantities since "81.
Mr. Bob

 

[Mad Farmer]

Cut, split and stack it. Stack it off the ground and cover the top
with a waterproof material. The local lumberyard here gives away
lumber shipping covers, that's what I use.