Drying firewood in an oven?

Question

So I just got scammed -- I bought 1/2 cord of firewood from a guy who told me it was cut, split, and seasoned. It turns out that it was cut and split, but not seasoned. It is not dried out, and in fact is quite wet.

My question is this: do you think it is safe to dry split firewood by putting it in my (electrical) oven? I was thinking of putting it on low heat (200 degrees max, probably more like 180, which most kilns operate at), a few logs at a time, to dry them out. Is there any danger to this?

A few more details: the wood is oak, so there's not the pine resin issue. I agree about the wood chips; I could put foil or something down to catch anything that might fall on a coil. I have a little bit of the seasoned wood left over. I was thinking that I'd start fires with the seasoned wood and once the fire is going, add the new (wetter) wood. When the seasoned ran out, I'd use the oven dried wood. So, I was thinking that I'd dry out maybe 1/3 of the wood -- to use as "starter" wood -- and then just use the normal wood once the fires have gotten going.

Answer 1

If you've gotta dry firewood fast, the best way to do it is to build a fire from some fire starters or small kindling in your fireplace. stack the wood as close to it as you can get it. Keep the fire going for a few hours and that will help dry out your wood. Do not put it in your oven.

Answer 2

An electric oven you said.. I would not recommend it because there are generally coils that heat up and some of the wood chips might fall onto the coils and cause a fire... I really feel that you have no problem with the fireplace... put in a wood starter to get the fire going and the drying out will take place automatically.. I have done it many times when the wood was not quite as dried out as I thought it was.

Answer 3

I've been cutting, seasoning firewood for many years and have an old Villager stove plus an Esse W23 woodfired stove which does cooking and hot water. The problem I have is that for the last year I have been flat out busy trying to save my company (credit crunch etc). I have just about succeeded at this but now find I have no wood stacked for the coming winter and no time penciled in to do it until Sept at the earliest. I have access to plenty of fallen trees and active coppice which I have managed, mainly beech and alder.
http://www.vermontgoodwood.com

Answer 4

Are you sure the wood is not "seasoned"? Just because it is wet does not mean it is not. Seasoned wood will have a darker color and it also will be lighter than unseasoned. If it is "green" I wouldn't put in my oven. It would cost more in electricity than it is worth. I would check back with the guy that sold it to you ....if you have his number.

Answer 5

use your old wood to start the fire and new wood to burn also put the new wood close to the stove to help it dry out, the oven is a waste of time and money, if it caught fire is it worth it?
dry with your wood stove and even put in extra wood that will not be in a good place in stove to burn but it will dry out in there good

Answer 6

lol.... i dont think thats a good idea. but let me know how it goes. i think you should call the gemtleman back and complain or get another cord of wood.
but i have to say... i think it would work... but... thats a lot of work when only a few pieces will fit in there at anyone time. and i would have to think it would take an hour or two per " load". you could be there for weeks....winter might be over kinda thing..

Answer 7

It depends on the kind of wood. If its pine, the danger might be the resins in the wood. Pine resin is very flammable.

Answer 8

I've never heard of anyone doing such a thing, but I can't see any problems with it. I'd monitor the first couple of batches carefully just to be sure. Good Luck!