Dealing with fresh cut oak.

[butterpants]

Bought some rectangular cuts of white oak off ebay. Lotta pine and crappy scrub oak where I live so felling in the forest isn't an option. The cuts look ok with minimal end grain exposed. 1"x1"x6"

The crammed full box just arrived and the pieces smell excellent.... but they smell excellent because this oak is green and has been freshly cut up (love that smell).

Looking for a tried and true method and duration for rapid weathering. I don't need info on toasting or charring.... plenty of that here... BUT what exactly do I need to do prior? I don't really feel like leaving them outside for a year before starting my experiments.

I was thinking some sort of cyclical soaking in water then drying out via sun and elements. Every 48 hours resoak and move in/out of the elements. Just not sure for how long/cycles or what the litmus test is for completion and enough sap is removed to ensure great flavor production post toast and charring.

I'm sorry if this has already been addressed but I couldn't find exactly what info I needed.

[raketemensch]

Patience is the toughest thing to put in a bottle, right?

For every post about soaking to shorten seasoning I see 3 posts saying not to. That doesn’t mean it’s not doable, but personally I’d dig around for a little seasoned oak to use while the stuff you just got sits outside for a year.

[ShineRunner]

I’ve seen people talk about doing the soak and dry cycle that you’re talking about, but not many report back with results. My guess would be that it would be better than using raw wood, but not as good as seasoned wood. You would likely remove most of the tannins, but not have the time to form the fungi that break down some of the wood. At least that’s my understanding..

Where are you in CO? You may not even get enough rain to really clean it anyways! I bought a half barrel planter from lowes last year and have more oak than I know what to do with.. that could get you by for the next year or so until your oak seasons up?

SR

[butterpants]

Between work and home I run the Springs to Denver a few times a week. I'd love to take a bit of oak off your hands... will drive for it too. Drop me a PM, appreciate it.