The moisture testers i have seen all say to split then test also of course logs will dry eventually. It will dry faster if split and put were the wind and sun can get to it have a roof over it with room for air to flow not set on top and best would be after a year outside put in a wood shed
Last year Aug '23 I had about 8 cords of logs delivered and I got to them just this summer in July. I couldn't believe how hollow some of the maple rounds sounded when they fell on each other. I processed them and some were in the low 20s. The splits have been in my bins for a couple of months and they are dry as hell. However, the red and white oak still need time but the hard maples and cherry birch are good to go. So yeah, you are right that it can be done and yeah they look pretty, not sun kissed.
All these wood exsperts can talk all they want my bro. And i cut split stack 8-10 cord every summer mix'ed hard wood cover it with plywood and it' good to go the following year nothing rot's or goes th waste if i did a how to video on this it would last 2 min. At the most what a bunch of bla bla blaing!
That'll work but a lot of us want to be prepared and keep dozens of cords of firewood on hand so we have 5 plus years stocked up. Living year to year on firewood is like living paycheck to paycheck and I've seen too many guys become burdens to their neighbors cause they couldn't be bothered to prepared for the inevitable year they where injured and couldn't get to the woods to cut. Your plywood pile will be much lower quality 5 years from now than my log piles.
