Properly splitting and stacking oak, pecan, hickory, and ash

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Oct 17, 2011
123
central Texas
Gentlemen,

I am going to build, or have built, a covered shed that is open on three sides to store my tractor, splitter, and firewood in. In this set up, the west wall and south wall will be open for wind and heat to pass through. East to block the view from the highway. Does it matter how the wood is stacked? I have stacked split and pie up. Is that correct, or can just pile it up. I expect to have a good three-five year stash after the drought and storms reveal how many dead trees I get to cut up and split.

Thanks for the pointers on stacking.
 
I would stack it rather than toss it in a pile, if that's what you're asking, to save room. You might keep the Ash in the best spot so it's ready by this Fall, but I think anything you have is going to be cured in two years in that dry TX heat.
 
A stack will use the area more efficient, stacked takes up less room.
With tat much wood, keep track & rotate, burn the oldest first.
Now we have to wait for the pictures, pics of the build process gives ideas for the next member's build :)
 
I'd stack it like the others have said. but I don't think you really need a wood shed in central Texas. You get plenty of heat, wind, and sun to dry your wood and not a whole lot of rain. If you have a shed, great, but I wouldn't feel it is necessary to have build one just to store wood.
 
Rain wise, we average 39 inches a year at my house. Some years closer to 45-50 inches while others down around 28-33 inches. This year was an anomaly. That and I will keep the wood probably fiver years before I burn it means I don't want it to rot.
 
Besides... the main point of the shed is to have a new home for the "N," right G6? Gotta protect our Ns. The wood can just come along for the ride.
 
G6 at Snook said:
Does it matter how the wood is stacked? I have stacked split and pie up. Is that correct, or can just pile it up.

I do both. I much prefer the toss in as it takes a lot less time, the tractor can do a lot of the work and their is zero chance of toppling. The challenge is the side loads. If you could come up with something like an old wrought iron fence so that you can maximize the use of the space and the airflow, I wouldn't stack it.
 

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G6 at Snook said:
Gentlemen,

I am going to build, or have built, a covered shed that is open on three sides to store my tractor, splitter, and firewood in. In this set up, the west wall and south wall will be open for wind and heat to pass through. East to block the view from the highway. Does it matter how the wood is stacked? I have stacked split and pie up. Is that correct, or can just pile it up. I expect to have a good three-five year stash after the drought and storms reveal how many dead trees I get to cut up and split.

Thanks for the pointers on stacking.

When you stack it in the shed it matters not if the bark is up or down. Which ever way works best for you. For some odd reason it always seems to stack best with the bark side up as I can get tighter stacks that way. If I wanted to dry it fast though then I would not stack it tight.
 
G6 at Snook said:
Kenster said:
Besides... the main point of the shed is to have a new home for the "N," right G6? Gotta protect our Ns. The wood can just come along for the ride.

That was a secondary concern. One CAN kill two birds with one stone.

And Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird. Go figure.

These metal buildings are so good, and relatively cheap, that I am leaning towards that route. There is an existing wood/tin barn on the property, but to add on to it was seemingly expensive.
 
SolarAndWood said:
G6 at Snook said:
Does it matter how the wood is stacked? I have stacked split and pie up. Is that correct, or can just pile it up.

I do both. I much prefer the toss in as it takes a lot less time, the tractor can do a lot of the work and their is zero chance of toppling. The challenge is the side loads. If you could come up with something like an old wrought iron fence so that you can maximize the use of the space and the airflow, I wouldn't stack it.

The Feed Stores and Tractor Supplies around here sell paneling that would turn goats and I can use that as my backstop for the wood.
 
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