lightning struck oak wont burn

[eabadger]

Anyone heard the story you cant burn a lightning struck tree?
We had one fall on our land from the local lane, and apparently it became ours, checked with the local dignitaries and affirmed.

So tree was well dead, and very dry, and hard, it was an oak after all.
I have cut it and blunted chain and split it, it was so dry I threw a lump on the fire, but no good.
Having just googled lightning struck tree wood burning, I see loads of info on it wont burn, so have I wasted my time cutting it, or I am thinking it appears seasoned, but in fact although dry, still needs a two year rest.

Any thoughts?
old wives tale?
true?

steve

[Baz]

We all know it burns slowly but still manage to consume it if normally felled. Perhaps the charr on the outside is less porous than other woods giving it a protective coat.
I imagine any reputation about lightning struck trees came about from the days when villagers could only gather windfall rotten or small branches. They would never encounter solid heartwood except from a lighting struck tree and by comparison to a stick fire it seemed to do nothing. Burning logs from the trunk wastfully like we do now is a recent  activity.

[Richard Owen]

I only ever get anything more than a slow smoulder out of oak (no matter how well seasoned) if I burn it alongside something like ash or sycamore.

[Heinz]

I had a pile of free oak a few years ago. Not much burn or heat as a day time fire, but cut into big rounds a few inches thick and one on the fire at bedtime would still be slowly burning in the morning.

H

[bram]

Likewise, struggled with some of the oak we have had, but last batch wasn't too bad. Have been told it makes a huge difference if the tree is cut when its in leaf as oppose to cutting it in winter when its dormant. But not sure how true this is.
Sort of makes sense, sure some one will know.
Its what I do now if I have the choice, ie its not blown down or rotten.

[renewablejohn]

Why do you think they use oak in traditional timber frame buildings. When the timber catches fire the outer surface of the oak chars leaving the frame structurally sound. Pity you cant say the same for a steel beam.

[titan]

Anyone heard the story you cant burn a lightning struck tree?

I have heard it but didn't find it to be true. A few years ago an Oak was felled by lightning across a bridle way I use a lot on my mtb. It completely blocked the lane. I saw the farmer in the pub sometime later and asked if I could clear the lane, he said yes and I could take as much wood as I wanted but to be aware would not burn and all the sage old boys in the bar agreed. A google  seemed to indicate there was no evidence for the old wives tale so I spent three days cutting and removing all I wanted. It has burned well, a very hot fire , glowing almost like coal.

[eabadger]

If oak burs so badly, why does it say good wood to burn? I thought I had won a great windfall  .
But would appear not, have just had a lovely roast pork dinner courtesy of our wood burning stove, and the wood removed from our roof last year, yummy.

Would smaller pieces get hotter? Split more ?

steve

[charlieb]

Oak burns great if you split it small enough - it needs lots of surface area - and put it in an already hot stove.   I'd always want a mix of oak and something quicker burning (ash, sycamore, pines, birch) but I reckon you get more heat off a cube of oak than any other firewood. 
Lighting thing must be old wives' tail. Just cut it up small, and then split it even smaller and dry for a bit longer.   That was a lucky lightening strike for you.

[eabadger]

Yep I think you have got it, the splinters I collected were brilliant, cooked tea on it and heated living and sleeping areas.
So now have to split logs further.
 
It was lightning struck years ago, it sat at the edge of an used country green lane, which adjoins our bottom field, when it fell down it covered road and the tip was in our land, with the aid of a mini digger and dumper we managed to get it, having chain sawed into 4 big bits, one bit still in wood, within the sprit of the local rules, it should remain where it is, but.
Have 3 dumpers full, 2t dumper so buck is about 2mtrq, lot of free wood.
Heating for next year I hope.

steve

[offthegridandy]

Oak does burn well but must be really dry and small unless you have a massive fire.  We used to get off cuts from an oak frame house manufacturer.  Off cuts from sole or header plates measuring 8 inch x 6 inch split in half and they burn great, used to end up sitting in your** undies it was so hot. It will burn slow all night when WBS is shut down.

NB ** should that  be my undies, we didn't go so far as sitting in anyone elses undies

Andy

[Woodrascal]

We've burned oak for about 30 years and it burns very well if, as other have said, it's very dry and cut into relatively small sections We tend to split it into quite fine pieces, some almost 'stick' sized. It works best for us when mixed with other wood -  beech, oak and very dry softwood in a stove gives off some fearsome heat.

It also works really well in my outdoor 'rocket stove' wood grill and my outdoor masonry oven. The small sections of oak burn very hot initially with a strong flame that then form a great ember bed that gives any food you cook that fabulous slighty smokey flavour.

I'm sure that over the years I've probably managed to burn some 'lightening struck' oak - but I couldn't be sure...

[eabadger]

thanks for all the replies, have re split all logs as advised, burning very well now. good windfall, should see us through a year.
steve

[chickenman]

Ive had  'pig oak' before....it doesnt like to burn