Firewood Seasoning Shed

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aeblank

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Dec 12, 2013
22
Cadillac, MI
Does anyone have any experience with a "firewood seasoning shed"?

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/shelterlogicreg;-firewood-seasoning-shed-10-ft-x-20-ft-x-8-ft

From the description:
The ShelterLogic® Firewood Seasoning Shed is designed to create burnable wood fast. This innovative, patent pending product creates dry, seasoned wood for efficient burns 2x faster than open air-drying. Drying times are dependent upon geography and seasons. A heavy duty steel frame provides a strong, stable building, a translucent polyethylene fabric cover allows light in and retains heat, a vapor barrier keeps excess ground moisture out, and cross ventilation aids in the drying process. This unit is sized to hold up to 7 cords of wood.

I put my wood in a standard shed, and it sure doesn't dry well in there. All my wood is long-dead and cut for at least a year ahead of time. It may only be split for 6 months prior to burning though. This "shed" looks like it's intended to let air pass through it, which I can see helping. Also there is somewhat of a greenhouse effect, which seems logical it might help.

Still though, has anyone used one? Is it worth the effort?

Naturally the goal would be to get a couple years ahead on the splitting side of things, and do some additional shuffling (or my ultimate goal would be to have *many* pallets that I can shuffle around, especially for spring/summer/fall seasons.

Thanks,
Andy
 
I have no idea but my common sense says putting upto 7cords of wood in there is not going to do the trick like letting it sit out in all the elements in a single row stack.....
Maybe if it had a heater in it and a flue for steam to escape, or a dehumidifier.....
 
Snow loads with destroy that in one year in MI.
 
Snow would be a concern, yeah. Would have to shovel it.. Or maybe it could be filled full enough that the wood would carry it. Dunno, that's why I'm asking. Interesting concept, I thought.
 
Cant remember the poster, but there was a thread on here a while back where someone used a domed greenhouse for their woodshed. Had a box fan on one end with a timer to run during the hottest part of the day. Temperatures up around like 130+ degrees during the summer. The reports were pretty good about moisture content and drying time.
 
My question would be where the moisture form the wood went.

If the condensate ran down the inside of the shed to the ground out side of the bottom vapor barrier it would work.

If the ventilation across the top wasn't enough, you might get a hot and DAMP environment.

Basically you're making a building designed to replace proven method - time.
 
We have a shelterlogic round style garage, it's pretty much the same just bigger, it does get hot in there. Snow doesn't seem to be a problem, slides right off, wind is a bigger concern, we anchored ours down extra. I don't keep wood in there, not sure how that would work out since it stays damp in there from the building sweating.
 
Andy, you need to split the wood as soon as it is cut. Rarely will six months split wood be good enough for a decent burn. Try to get it cut, split and stacked as soon as possible. Depending upon the wood, it needs to be split a minimum of a year. Around here, pretty much all I have is various oak and it needs up to three years split and stacked before it is burnable.
 
metalsped said:
Is this supposed to be a solar kiln?
Click to expand...
Yes, it is a type of solar kiln. It is possible for it to work in theory.
Seven cords would certainly overwhelm the system though, except in the south.
Also, it the wood touches the membrane the drying will be short-circuited. If you don't think it will handle a snow load, don't bother.

Frankly a better bet is likely to be found here; http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WoodDrying/wood_kiln.htm
 
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