The Forestry Forum

We have an outstanding debate about the weight of wood green versus dryed for using.  I thought that if we start with 2000 lbs of green sawn oak and let it dry to be ready for carpentry,  this wood now could weigh around 1000lbs.  loosing at least 50% of its original weight.  Am I correct in this?  Thanks much KeithD: 8) 8)

My referance says: Red Oak     green weight is 64# /cu ft, Air dry 44#
                             White Oak     green is 63# /cu ft, Air dry47#

checkout my table at:

http://www.klondikekonsulting.com/weightable.htm

Air dry weight depends on region though. I think dutchman's figures are for MC = 16 %

cheers

That sweetgum figure is right. I had pieces about 60 pounds and after almost a year of sun drying they felt feather light compared to before.

I wonder where water oak stacks in weight. To me it feels a lot heavier then white oak.

It is my understanding that green oak can actually run over 100% moisture content, having more water weight than wood weight.  I have notoced that fresh hemlock is very heavy while dried is not.

Soft maple can go to 100% or more. At 100%, you have one pound of water for each pound of wood.

Oak in Pennsylvania averages around 70%.

The DKOM says that Northern Red Oak will weigh 4.96 lbs per bf at 70%, 3.59 lbs at 15% and 3.37 lbs per board foot at 8%.

weight of one board foot green red oak =

64 lb*ft³ =
 12 bf*ft³

5.33 lb/bf

where there is 12 bf in a cubic foot. 1ftx1ftx1ft = 1ft³ and a bf is 1 inch x 12 inch x 12 inch  ;D

weight at MC 12% =

43 lb*ft³ =
 12 bf*ft³

3.58 lb/bf