Firewood....

[WFM]

This past fall my girlfriend wanted to put a hot tub on one end of our front porch. Being 'way' back in the sticks , no neighbors. Hey, if she buying it. Whatever. So that took up part of my firewood space for winter. So I made the end of my deck rail open up with hinged rails. Stacked my firewood on pallets, shrinked wrapped them and today in nice weather replenished my wood that I had burnt off the porch. Heres a couple pics.

 

[crmorse]

Nice! That's sneaky brilliant!

 

[itsaz]

"Nice weather"????
What's all that white stuff?

 

[8upbowhunter]

That much firewood would last me 15 years down here[emoji13]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[bearskinner]

It's so nice being able to come in and hang around the fireplace. I might be a bit of a pyro, but it's just so cozy warm. Nice to be able to load with a forklift

 

[Montana Rick]

You da man!

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[WFM]

Thank You. I do love a wood fire. Nothing like the heat from a wood stove when its 0*F out . If anyone is ever shopping for a great efficient wood stove , the Jotul Oslo is the model I have used for 15 years. Have replaced one gasket last year in 15 years of use.
We had 30* today. A very warm December day.
I wish all the members here a safe and Merry Christmas.

'For unto you born today in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ our Lord'
Luke 2:11

 

[Trail]

Interesting. I'm not familiar with anyone that uses pallets and shrink wrap like you do. I've thought about putting mine on pallets, but hadn't thought of shrink wrap. My problem is I can only store about 2-3 days worth inside my house. So the rest is stacked in various areas outside. I have some close, and some relatively far (depending on how much snow we get).

At what point do you shrink wrap the wood? I would think it would be right before snow comes so you get it drying out as long as possible without the wrap.

This is a really good idea. Tell me more.

 

[eipo]

I went down the pallet road, in a different way. I made baskets with welded wire fence to get the full seasoning effect.

That was the start of the operation. I ended up getting about 80 pallets done before I realized 2 things...

1st) We heat with wood. In order to store the amount of wood we need each heating season AND stay 1-2 years out, Im gonna need alot of pallets and those pallets are going to take up alot of space. Each pallet only holds maybe 1/2-3/4 of a face cord.

2nd) Without putting some effort into building a pad, or doubling my pallet needs, pallets are going to freeze to the ground. Which means an even higher cycling of pallets.

So I stopped filling baskets and went back to stacking...

I built a lean too off the garage last winter and that will become wood storage for each heating season. It will sit out on the edge of the field for 1 year and then spend 1 year under the lean too.

I was thrilled about the reduction in handling wood... But in the end, it was a process that didn't need fixing, for me.

 

[eipo]

Here was my full on palletizing operation...

Wood came off the splitter right into a basket.

 

[Tooljunkie]

So i was thinking, the 250 gallon chemical totes are in metal cages. Remove plastic tote and theres a perfect frame for stacking wood. My wood comes in pellet form. So already manageable.

 

[eipo]

15 full cords of scrounged oak, locust, maple and cherry waiting for me to find time...

 

[eipo]

So i was thinking, the 250 gallon chemical totes are in metal cages. Remove plastic tote and theres a perfect frame for stacking wood. My wood comes in pellet form. So already manageable.

I use the tote frames to move wood from my old staging are to the house. They will also be handy for when, like now, I cant get my wood back to the rows to be split and stacked off the splitter.

ETA: But I also get them for free. If I had to buy them, Id find a different way.

 

[WFM]

WOW...now there are some great pallet firewood ideas there. And the idea about removing the tote and using the frame is good too.
Some asked about my shrink wrapping ,once I get my dry wood stacked on my pallets , I get a roll of heavy plastic sheeting from Lowes or Home Depot , thick mil thinkness. Without unfolding it I cut it 5' long , then unfold it so its double thick plastic. I run it down the sides of the wood evenly like 8" or so and staple it really good all the way around pulling it tightly. Then shrink around it. The shrink keeps the wind from loosing the plastic sheet also. Thick plastic stapled really does stay in place good.
And good advise from other members about having your wood already drying for next year. I generally have several years wood ahead.
In another thread here from last year there is a photo of the vanhussen (European round stacked wood pile). Should anyone be better with this forum computer stuff then I am, they could post that here. Thanks

 

[Tooljunkie]

Theres about 3 cords in the shed,2 more outside waiting to be cut. My buddy keeps hid wood here and just backs in and grabs a week supply at a time.
This was the first time in a few years he did a blitz and hauled enough to fill his wood shed.
I wanted to set him up with a few totes , but time didnt allow for it this year.

 

[eipo]

A fully loaded 275 gallon tote frame filled with oak is about all my 2650 wants with a rear blade on the back for ballast. More weight on the back would be better. But I'm not swapping just for that. A fully loaded tote with oak will last me about 1.5 weeks depending on temp. Red maple last about 4 days.

They are tall for reaching into and getting the last bits of wood. My main one, I cut the top ring off so the kids can get into it easier. My others I have left in tact. I may jimmy up some type of hinged/drop down section.... Or just have the kids clamber up in to it to get the last bits..

 

[bearskinner]

Here's my firewood for the next few years. I got a semi full of mostly birch and some red fir, delivered and stacked. I can start cutting in the spring. I'll use the Grapple, pick up one 28' log at a time, and hold it in front of the wood shed, so they fall where they need to be stacked. Much easier than dragging it all out of the woods by myself. One load like that is at least a 3 year supply

 

[WFM]

One thing I'm guilty of and not a lot of folks relize is fire wood does have a life span. I've seen my brother inlaw get truck loads delivered and before he can get it all cut and stacked. The outside 3" of the log is punky and growing mushrooms. I'm lucky (and lazy) I generally trade for firewood all cut and split. And stay several years ahead with my drying.

 

[eipo]

Alot factors in wood rotting... I cut and split 8 cords of ash and oak that has been literally laying on the ground in full tree form for about 8 years.

All the ash was still perfect, but it also didnt have any bark on it. The only parts that were getting punky where the ones that were in direct contact with the ground.

The oak, all still had its bark on it and was getting punky about 1" in. Some of it was completely solid, but not much. I still cut and split it because I don't let alot go to waste.

There was a fair bit of walnut as well... All still had its bark on and was about 90% punky.

Get it split and stacked, cover the top and get it off the ground and it should last long enough to be cycled through. If you want to just cut but not split, get the bark off....

 

[D2Cat]

A wood's lifespan is also determined by what wood you choose to burn. I cut or buy Osage Orange for the coldest of days/nights. I bought some at an estate sale 5 years ago. It had been in the barn for 30 years. Excellent wood, no decay. The older it is the harder it is to cut. So it gets cut to length desired and stacked.

Osage Orange (also know as hedge) is used for fence post around here. I've seen post that have been set 40-100 years ago. Still as strong as the day they were set.