When is firewood to rotten to burn?

[calvertbrothers]

18899
The father in-law has a firewood business and said I could have this wood that’s been sitting outside for a few years it’s split for wood stoves so I still have to split it to wrist size. Just wondering if is worth burning in the arch.

[Russell Lampron]

If it will fit into your arch burn it without splitting, it will crumble if you try to split it. As long as it's free you'll get some heat out of it but it will burn fast. Try using some of it and if you like it burn all of it.

[Haynes Forest Products]

Good thing he doesn't own a restaurant. I'm with Russell shove it in whole and open the draft door or hit the blast gate to the air under fire.

[calvertbrothers]

The pieces do fit in the arch easy firewood!

[maple flats]

Several big benefits, free wood, father in law happy, which makes wife happy, there may be other benefits too. As long as the wood is dry, use it.
From time to time I burn some rotted wood, if dry it still makes syrup. Just be prepared to refuel more often.
If you have some better wood, you may find it best if you just put a little of the "rotten" wood on top after you put the better wood in first.

[wnybassman]

My own personal rule of thumb is when I split it, if it has enough structural integrity to split from end to end it is good. If it breaks out mid split, then it goes to the camp fire pile.

[calvertbrothers]

I was digging through the pile to hoping to find dry wood in the middle and bottom but that was not the case, this stuff is wet. Idk if it will dry in time for sugar season. Or with wood that has been cut dry and got wet like this stuff, will it dry faster any? Or am I better off cutting some live ash down and splitting it?

[maple flats]

If you split it and stack it where good air movement will help and you put some tin roofing over it to keep snow and rain off, it has the best chance. From there it's up to mother nature. If you keep the stacks well spaced it helps.

[buckeye gold]

I think I would pitch it and get as much new as possible. If it is so deteriorated it is holding moisture it does not have many BTUs left in it. It will be hard to keep dry and you'll use a lot of heat just burning it. Free is not always good.