Corn crib storage space..

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
TheBigIron

TheBigIron

Feeling the Heat
Dec 23, 2014
274
Peru, IL
Wanted to get some expert opinions about a wood storage idea that I have. Grandpa has a couple of old corn cribs on his property that are empty, and I thought that this would be an ideal spot to store firewood.

Pros #1. It's covered and out of the weather, (i don't need to put tarps on the wood)
#2 Air can and will move through the crib and dry wood
Cons#1 No sunlight hits the wood so I'm at the mercy of the wind to dry the wood.

Does anyone else do this? Is this a good idea? Or should I just continue to stack and cover with tarps. Thanks for any information.

Dave
 
A corn crib sounds like a great idea. It was originally designed to breathe well so it should work for cord wood.
 
If you do a search you should find some threads on other members that have used corn cribs, to my recollection it works well.
 
I have my ~7 cord CSS in an old corn crib. They're built to hold weight and the slats allow for great air flow. On windy days with green wood you can smell the sap, etc. as you walk by. If yours has multiple doors for easier corn loading back in the day, consider leaving them open in the summer for increased air flow and some more sunshine.
 
My Dad built a small one, holds like 2 cord. I put cut offs I get from a sawmill in it and it works well since you can't really stack it.
 
Thinking other folks here have done just what you have proposed . . .
 
I just thought it would be a good idea for me anyway since it is sitting there empty...
 
My brother used one on his farm for years, it held six cords. When he sold his farm and moved to a smaller property he said his only regret was not dismantling the corn crib and taking it with him.
I wished I had one.
 
A corn crib will dry wood faster than just about anything else. That is pretty much what it is designed to do.
 
If you can keep the raccoons out it's a great place to store wood. If not they'll make a nasty mess all over your piles. Feral cats and rats will too.
 
Farmers have used them for that exact reason. If it can dry corn why not wood. Seems like plenty of guys here have done it give it a try.
 
Thanks for the idea! I was wondering what to do with all the short ends. This afternoon I took a 12 ft length of 5 ft high welded wire fence that I had lying around, bent it round and put it on top of the skid that my stove arrived on a couple of months ago to get it off the ground, fastened it down with four bent nails and filled it with the short ends. I'll cover the top with a piece of plastic before it rains, and maybe even cover it with the shrink wrap that the stove came wrapped in. Instant mini solar kiln.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Max W
Minisplits and wood
Replies
4
Views
914
The Inglenook
EbS-P
EbS-P
P
Some cold weather thermoscans
Replies
11
Views
2K
The Green Room
woodgeek
woodgeek
Longknife
HT-2000: 1 year (plus) Review
Replies
4
Views
3K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
begreen
begreen
JimBear
Old corn crib for wood seasoning & storing.
Replies
12
Views
3K
The Wood Shed
Paulywalnut
Paulywalnut
P
Drying firewood - shed or covered in open?
Replies
59
Views
17K
The Wood Shed
FTG-05
F
Top Bottom
Back