Getting the winter's wood ready

[Backwoods Savage]

Before some begin wondering if I'm just now putting up this year's wood, the answer is no. We dry the wood outdoors then in October we put enough wood in the barn to run through the winter and not have to dig through snow to get at it.

Still have quite a bit to put in there but at least it is started. The second row is about half done or maybe a bit over half and then one more row to go. There should be about 2 1/2 cord when we get done.

Most will notice a big difference in the way the wood looks. After many years of not doing so, a few years ago on a whim we decided to try not covering the wood at all. It has been a long time since we had not done that and I can tell you that it will no doubt be a lot longer before we do it again. The uncovered wood was not punky but I feared perhaps within another year it might be going that way. So, that will all get burned this winter and fortunately there was not that much of it. That also means next winter I'll still be burning some wood that was cut in 2008-2009.

 

[etiger2007]

Good post Dennis , Makes me want to measure it with the moisture meter to see how the covered compares to the uncovered. Should burn good either way.

 

[Todd 2]

Looks good Dennis, do you have a problem with that metal roof dripping condensation every sunny cold morning or is it not enough to worry about ? I noticed ours at work dripping in the morning but they are not enclosed, thought that might make a difference. I plan on getting one next summer if all goes well, plus the winter tarps are getting bad and have always been a pain.

Thanks, Todd

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Good post Dennis , Makes me want to measure it with the moisture meter to see how the covered compares to the uncovered. Should burn good either way.

Bring it over Ed and we can check some.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Looks good Dennis, do you have a problem with that metal roof dripping condensation every sunny cold morning or is it not enough to worry about ? I noticed ours at work dripping in the morning but they are not enclosed, thought that might make a difference. I plan on getting one next summer if all goes well, plus the winter tarps are getting bad and have always been a pain.

Thanks, Todd

Todd, we did worry about this a little bit but have had very little condensation problems. There are only 2 or 3 spots on the whole roof where we see it. What we have is one of the carports that we made a barn out of. We just fully enclosed it. There are 3 windows, one walk-in door and 2 overhead doors. The only thing wrong is that, as normally happens, we wish we'd went a bit larger.

 

[timusp40]

Backwoods,
Only wish we had a large woodshed or some type of covered storage like yours. Ours will be outdoors for at least the next year. Which is why we top cover and keep the stacks off the ground. If I remember right, you burn mostly Ash, having ample supply of it on your property. Good burning fuel for sure.
Take care,
Tim

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Tim, worry not. It has been only in the last 3 years we've had this barn. This is how we used to do it.

In the second picture, notice the splitter? It is under the snow between 2 wood piles. We just put a couple wood planks under the tires and threw a tarp over the rest. Didn't hurt the splitter at all.

 

[timusp40]

This is how the stacks spent last winter and they will do the same this year. Still would like a nice woodshed though. Till then, the cheap polytarps will have to do. The metal roofing that I see many using is hard to find around my neck of the woods.
Take care.
Tim

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Looking good Dennis......

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Finished up today. Right around 2 1/2 cord stacked there. Barn is a bit of a mess now but it will get straightened up tomorrow. Today, I'm tired.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Yeah no more grass cutting going on unless you use it for the leaves....

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I lied. The barn is still waiting to get arranged so it is not a mess. Maybe tomorrow...