Two Part Question

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lukem

lukem

Minister of Fire
Jan 12, 2010
3,668
Indiana
Greetings,

Two questions.

How much wood (partial cords) will fit in a half-ton truck with a 6.5 box if it is somewhat neatly stacked in? I'll assume weight won't be an issue, just cube. Trying to figure out how many loads I'm up against (just started burning again this year after a 10 year break).

Next question. Nearly all of our red elm trees have developed some sort of disease and they are dying. Bark coming off, etc. Anyone have any experience burning this? I know it's a PITA to split with a maul, but if it's good wood and burns well I'll give it a go.

There's a ton of it and it's easy for me to get to...got some red/white oak that's a proven winner and splits easy...but it's harder to come by/ get to.
 
Elm is a PITA. Splits hard, not a premium burning qualities. The good news is that a lot of elm trees have tops that can be burned almost immediately (if they have been dead for some time).
Oak has its problem too. It takes at least 2 yrs to season and it must be small splits in a good location.
 
lukem said:
How much wood (partial cords) will fit in a half-ton truck with a 6.5 box if it is somewhat neatly stacked in? I'll assume weight won't be an issue, just cube. Trying to figure out how many loads I'm up against (just started burning again this year after a 10 year break).
Click to expand...
Don't know about somewhat neatly stacked, but just thrown in it will hold at least one third of a real cord.
 
Adios Pantalones said:
elm dries faster than oak (give oak a couple years after it's split), but throws less heat. Any wood burns- take what you can get cheap or free first!
Click to expand...

Does oak take 2 full years even if the tree is standing dead / down for a couple years. I never cut green wood...no sense in killing a perfectly good tree.
 
quads said:
lukem said:
How much wood (partial cords) will fit in a half-ton truck with a 6.5 box if it is somewhat neatly stacked in? I'll assume weight won't be an issue, just cube. Trying to figure out how many loads I'm up against (just started burning again this year after a 10 year break).
Click to expand...
Don't know about somewhat neatly stacked, but just thrown in it will hold at least one third of a real cord.
Click to expand...

+1 maybe up to 1/2 cord
 
If you stacked the wood neat, and assuming a bed 6' long X 4' wide X a 2 ' high stack would give you 48cuft - div by 128 give about .38 cord (a little less accounting for the wheel wells). Depends how high your truck wants to be stacked without crying! Cheers!
 
Standing dead may have already dry wood on top. I had a 2 yr standing dead tree with burnable wood on top, and water gushing out of the trunk when cut. One year seasoning after splitting and it was good to go.
 
Adios Pantalones said:
Standing dead may have already dry wood on top. I had a 2 yr standing dead tree with burnable wood on top, and water gushing out of the trunk when cut. One year seasoning after splitting and it was good to go.
Click to expand...

+1. The wood cells don't lose much moisture through the bark. The moisture is most effectively removed through the ends and splitted surface of the wood.
 
A little over 1/3 cord when stacked in the truck. A little under 1/2 cord when splits are stacked vertically to make a higher truck bed. Not 1/2 cord like you see everyone advertising though.
 
We've burned a lot of elm over the years and mostly we do wait until after the bark has fallen off. Here's a little hint that few seem to be aware of. When you cut the elm after the bark has fallen off it splits much, much easier. That is not to say you won't get a few logs that are still hard to split but most will split good. I've split a bunch of elm with a splitting maul....but not so if you cut live elm.

As for heating qualities, it is still good heat you get from elm. You just won't get that good coaling like you get with oak. Just because it is down a bit on the scale does not mean that it is bad wood. It is good burning wood. Take it!
 
Thanks guys.

Might get a 16' trailer anyway, so I could haul a lot of wood on that...but not too, too much because I don't have a TBC yet.

It's a shame all those trees are dying.... literally hundreds on about 35 acres. Bark is already off the tops and all the way down on a good number of them. I'm sure it would flake off with only a little help.

Good news black walnut trees are growing up in their place. In another 50 years I'll be rich! If I make it that long.

Gonna have to be cleaned up anyway, so I might as well burn them. I've never burned any before...just wanted to make sure they weren't the worst wood to burn and I wasn't wasting my time.
 
Any rules in Indiana regarding how far you can transport infected wood ?
 
NH_Wood said:
If you stacked the wood neat, and assuming a bed 6' long X 4' wide X a 2 ' high stack would give you 48cuft - div by 128 give about .38 cord (a little less accounting for the wheel wells). Depends how high your truck wants to be stacked without crying! Cheers!
Click to expand...

My Silverado has a shortbed, its 6.5 long x 1.5 tall x 5 wide. Its 4' between the wheelwells. Works out to be about the same volume, just a clarification.

If you stack it neatly and load the truck up the rails, you're at about 1/3 of a cord. If you heap it up (still stacked neatly) you're getting pretty close toa 1/2 cord. At this point though, a half ton truck is probably sagging pretty badly and you're near, or over your GVWR.
 
I like elm. Yes, it can be hard to split, but for some reason I like the wood. It is far from the worst wood you can get, especially for you, since it is dying and easy to reach.
 
billb3 said:
Any rules in Indiana regarding how far you can transport infected wood ?
Click to expand...

I've never heard of any. Doesn't mean they don't exist.
 
mayhem said:
NH_Wood said:
If you stacked the wood neat, and assuming a bed 6' long X 4' wide X a 2 ' high stack would give you 48cuft - div by 128 give about .38 cord (a little less accounting for the wheel wells). Depends how high your truck wants to be stacked without crying! Cheers!
Click to expand...

My Silverado has a shortbed, its 6.5 long x 1.5 tall x 5 wide. Its 4' between the wheelwells. Works out to be about the same volume, just a clarification.

If you stack it neatly and load the truck up the rails, you're at about 1/3 of a cord. If you heap it up (still stacked neatly) you're getting pretty close toa 1/2 cord. At this point though, a half ton truck is probably sagging pretty badly and you're near, or over your GVWR.
Click to expand...

1/2 cord of "dry" elm weighs 1600lbs. Door sticker says max load rating of 1800. Now this wood won't be really dry, but I won't be over by too much.
 
Finally got out to cut some of this. Cut into rounds and stacked in the truck to bring it home.

Started slitting yesterday. Some is one swing...some can't be split without making toothpicks from all the swinging. Those will be my "overnight" chunks.

I got right at 1/2 cord on the truck...and by the look and feel of it I could have gotten more. They sure do build 1/2 ton trucks beefier than they used to.

It's been a few years since I've split any wood. Little sore, but I like it.
 
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