Stacking 2 Wide Or 3 Wide

[Bacffin]

When I go to stack my wood on 48" wide pallets, should I stack the splits 2 wide leaving space in the middle, or stack them 3 wide without space. The splits are 16" long so 3 will fit. Will the drying time be the same with both methods

Thanks,
Bruce

 

[ScotO]

I have stacks that are a lot more than three wide, and I have never had a problem. BUT, I also season my wood for 3 to 4 years......something to consider. And I top-cover the wood I plan on using in a given winter the summer before use. What are you planning as far as seasoning goes? I wouldn't stack them too awful tight, you want air to move through the stack. You'll get lots of opinions on here (a lot of them very good ones), this is a debatable topic. It all depends on how soon you plan on using your wood.

 

[bogydave]

I use the 2 rows with a space between for the stacks that need seasoning.
Better air flow to all sides. Faster & more even drying.
If you have a tight middle row, less air flow to the ends of the splits. It works, but takes longer is all.



Of course for a perfect seasoning stack is: off the ground in a single row, N/S. In an open area for sun & wind. (In the desert LOL )
If not in the desert, top cover only.

After it's dry, it goes to the wood shed, tight stacked 5 rows deep.
There until needed, dries a little more there but it went into the shed ready to burn.

 

[basod]

The way you're going through the log load I'd guess you'll be several years ahead soon.

If keeping short seasoning woods separate for burning these first few years stack single, or just put the oak in the middle and faster stuff on the outside.

Keeping a space between the two sounds like a good idea, but when one of them falls over(it will gauranteed) you now have 2 stacks to fix.

Curious why you are going 16", the clydesdale will easily take 20-22" wood, I guess you can fill the sides N-S with splits.

 

[Gasifier]

I stack two wide. Space 3-4 inches in between. Placed in an area that gets some wind and sun. Works very well in 12 months time. I burned Ash for quite a few years that were in those stacks from early spring until late fall. 7 months time. But Ash dries fast. The longer the better of course.

 

[Standingdead]

I typically stack 5 solid rows, 8-9 feet high. Each of these big rows are separated by 6 feet, oriented to funnel the west wind through them. Like Scotty I season for 3-4 years. This gives plenty of time for the center of the big stacks to dry. I stack in such big rows for stability. I usually pinch the 2 outside rows into the middle 3. I ust T posts on the ends. I stack my wood this way cause I hate nothing more than restacking.

My brother stores his piled in an unused 50x20 foot cement feed bunk (think concrete floor, 4 foot high block walls, open air) once a year or so he goes in with pallet forks on his loader to stir up the wood. Covers this years wood pile in woven black field plastic to keep dry but let air in. Keeps this years and next that way. Seems to work for him and saves time to!

Lots of good ways to get the job done

 

[Gasifier]

I typically stack 5 solid rows, 8-9 feet high. Each of these big rows are separated by 6 feet, oriented to funnel the west wind through them. Like Scotty I season for 3-4 years. This gives plenty of time for the center of the big stacks to dry. I stack in such big rows for stability. I usually pinch the 2 outside rows into the middle 3. I ust T posts on the ends. I stack my wood this way cause I hate nothing more than restacking.

My brother stores his piled in an unused 50x20 foot cement feed bunk (think concrete floor, 4 foot high block walls, open air) once a year or so he goes in with pallet forks on his loader to stir up the wood. Covers this years wood pile in woven black field plastic to keep dry but let air in. Keeps this years and next that way. Seems to work for him and saves time to!

Lots of good ways to get the job done

Standingdead. I didn't make this rule up. The hearth.com wood misers did. Pics of this. Or it didn't happen. Those are some big stacks!

 

[Bacffin]

I have stacks that are a lot more than three wide, and I have never had a problem. BUT, I also season my wood for 3 to 4 years......something to consider. And I top-cover the wood I plan on using in a given winter the summer before use. What are you planning as far as seasoning goes? I wouldn't stack them too awful tight, you want air to move through the stack. You'll get lots of opinions on here (a lot of them very good ones), this is a debatable topic. It all depends on how soon you plan on using your wood.

At this point, I am just looking for the shortest seasoning period. I do have the space for lots of pallets, so that is really not the concern. I have single stacked along the trees on the go-cart track, but I am running out of space on that.

 

[Bacffin]

I use the 2 rows with a space between for the stacks that need seasoning.
Better air flow to all sides. Faster & more even drying.
If you have a tight middle row, less air flow to the ends of the splits. It works, but takes longer is all.
View attachment 81131


Of course for a perfect seasoning stack is: off the ground in a single row, N/S. In an open area for sun & wind. (In the desert LOL )
If not in the desert, top cover only.

After it's dry, it goes to the wood shed, tight stacked 5 rows deep.
There until needed, dries a little more there but it went into the shed ready to burn.

Dave, May I steal your stabilzer idea? That is great. No desert here for sure. Just the oppisite. These stacks will be in the woods with tarps on top only.

 

[Bacffin]

The way you're going through the log load I'd guess you'll be several years ahead soon.

If keeping short seasoning woods separate for burning these first few years stack single, or just put the oak in the middle and faster stuff on the outside.

Keeping a space between the two sounds like a good idea, but when one of them falls over(it will gauranteed) you now have 2 stacks to fix.

Curious why you are going 16", the clydesdale will easily take 20-22" wood, I guess you can fill the sides N-S with splits.

I have been keeping the shorter seasoned wood seperate. This is really my first full year burning.
If I do decide to space out the rows and, If I use the stabilizers like BogyDave, it should help from falling over.
My thinking on the 16" lengths was just a shorter time to season. My next round of logs I will cut 18-20" long. I should be dry ahead enough by then on this load. N/S has to be 12" on this stove.

 

[Bacffin]

I typically stack 5 solid rows, 8-9 feet high. Each of these big rows are separated by 6 feet, oriented to funnel the west wind through them. Like Scotty I season for 3-4 years. This gives plenty of time for the center of the big stacks to dry. I stack in such big rows for stability. I usually pinch the 2 outside rows into the middle 3. I ust T posts on the ends. I stack my wood this way cause I hate nothing more than restacking.

My brother stores his piled in an unused 50x20 foot cement feed bunk (think concrete floor, 4 foot high block walls, open air) once a year or so he goes in with pallet forks on his loader to stir up the wood. Covers this years wood pile in woven black field plastic to keep dry but let air in. Keeps this years and next that way. Seems to work for him and saves time to!

Lots of good ways to get the job done

I do have forks for the tractor. I'll have to give this idea some thought for the future. The stuff I buy from the dealers are in huge enormous piles andI know they dont turn that stuff.

 

[Standingdead]

As a new poster I didn't realize your rule of post a picture or it didn't happen, sorry about that. While I was doing morning chores I got these photos

My wife took this one

A side view of one stack

Side view of next stack

5 row stack currently getting filled in

This years wood in basement

Shoulder season wood outside basement

 

[Gasifier]

Holy chit Standingdead. I think you passed the test for pics and are good to go! That's a lot of wood. Good job brother! Way to make a lot of wood burners happy! We love pics of wood, fires, stoves, boilers, furnaces, tractors, saws, splitters, tools, good food, and well just about anything else.

 

[corey21]

good job looks like you are in great shape being ahead.

 

[onetracker]

it is crystal clear that you are serious about woodburning. does your family or neighbors think you've lost your marbles? some of mine surely do!

 

[Standingdead]

it is crystal clear that you are serious about woodburning. does your family or neighbors think you've lost your marbles? some of mine surely do!

Yup! Thankfully I live on a farm so no real neighbors to bother. I do find myself trying to rationalize my "wood habit" to those who comment by explaining the need to be 3 years ahead.....I think all they hear is blah, blah, blah - doomsday prepper....

That is why I enjoy this site so much! Everyone here understands why. They appreciate the effort. Encourage one another. Helpful advice. I may be an old dog but I am learning new things all the time on this forumn .

Apologies to the OP for diverting the conversation a bit, but I guess my point is given enough time, cut, split and stacked wood will cure now matter the size of the split or the size of the stack.

 

[nate379]

I stack 3 deep on racks I built with 2x4s. The racks are around 6ft wide. Have about 10" between each stack.
Don't really have issues with anything falling over. I just keep an eye and if a row starts leaning out I push it back into place. I take a big of time to stack it level and straight though... My stacks look nothing like the "stack" in the above photos!

 

[aussiedog3]

Yep, you win.
Nice stacks. Good work.