Chunk Storage

  • 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.

velvetfoot

Minister of Fire
Dec 5, 2005
10,202
Sand Lake, NY
I'm toying with the idea of making something to store chunks. I've seen people make a square with pallets. I was thinking about using fencing in a circle. Any other thoughts?
 
I use a combination of the two. Single pallet floor, old wire fencing wire tiied to pallet. I currently have 2 of them full of chunks that will be burned most likely late this season.

Shawn
 
I stack two rows of 16 inch splits along the outside edges on my pallets. This leaves a gap of roughly 16 inches in the middle. I could put another row there but - I just throw my shorts, chunks, and uglies in there. So looking at my rows from above - it's a row of splits sandwiching shorts, chunks, and uglies. Works great. I can still see daylight through the 3 layers and I know the wind passes thru it. The rows keep the chunks in place and you can stack it to the top without any issues of it pushing the outside row down. Full sun and wind - it seasons great. Works for me.
 
i built a crib around a couple of pallets for chunks, uglies and slabs of bark.

4 upright posts and surrounded with chicken wire. i throw everything burnable in there (as long as its from a tree). i enjoy burning thru it and heating my house or shop with it. it may only last a week or two, but that's 2 less weeks i'm burning 2 year seasoned hickory, locust and white oak.

30 years ago i observed an old-timer/neighbor salvage every bit of fuel, wasting nothing. i don't go to extremes but his philosophy really stuck with me.

OT
 
basswidow said:
I stack two rows of 16 inch splits along the outside edges on my pallets. This leaves a gap of roughly 16 inches in the middle. I could put another row there but - I just throw my shorts, chunks, and uglies in there. So looking at my rows from above - it's a row of splits sandwiching shorts, chunks, and uglies. Works great. I can still see daylight through the 3 layers and I know the wind passes thru it. The rows keep the chunks in place and you can stack it to the top without any issues of it pushing the outside row down. Full sun and wind - it seasons great. Works for me.

This is a great idea - but what keeps the ends of the chunk row intact? I have tried the chicken-wire bin pile, but my chunks never seasoned properly that way.

Last year I placed my chunks/uglies on TOP of the 16" split stacks - spreading them out so they were only one layer deep. The stacks are separated by 8", and I placed 16" splits on top to "Bridge" the rows together so that the chunks would not fall between. I left them uncovered until about a month ago. Those are now the best seasoned chunks I have ever burned - it was amazing the difference compared with seasoning them in a chicken wire enclosed pile.
 
I toss the bigger chunks between two rows of splits stacked on pallets. I also have a pretty good mound of chips, smaller chunks, etc (basically debris from splitting) that I need to rake up, sift the dirt off, and store in a big garbage bin or something. A scoop or two of that stuff should really help a fire get going.
 
On the ends - I just pile up the uglies and it stays put.

I also collect up all the splinters from splitting into a bin to keep as kindlin.
 
I also like your Bridge idea and have done that before too. I like how the top level gets seasoned best. I put a layer of oak out that was split small and I was hoping to burn within a year. Putting it on the top in full sun really made a difference.
 
mine go on top the wood stacks, in the sun, dries 'em out in one summer, burn 'em in the fall.

some of it goes in the basement in 55 gal. drums after it's seasoned for the summer, for emergency use.
 
velvetfoot said:
Too bad about the poor seasoning when piled in a chickenwire enclosure.

seasoning??

that crib will be empty by thanksgiving.
 
ansehnlich1 said:
mine go on top the wood stacks, in the sun, dries 'em out in one summer, burn 'em in the fall.

some of it goes in the basement in 55 gal. drums after it's seasoned for the summer, for emergency use.

Same here . . . chunks go on top . . . usually they're ready for burning that Fall.
 
4x4x4 wire fencing wrapped pallet bins. It's home for the "uglies". I actually have 18 of these bins...mostly for pallet cutoffs. The front two panels are removable with 2 screws to make access to the bin as the level of wood drops.

I've tried the circle-of-fencing bin, but it's difficult to reach down as you use up the wood.
 

Attachments

  • woodbin1.jpg
    woodbin1.jpg
    73.3 KB · Views: 441
  • woodbin2.jpg
    woodbin2.jpg
    94.7 KB · Views: 441
I like that, Peter. Well done.
 
I just toss mine to the top of the wood piled in the shed. Pull 'em down as I consume the pile.
 
I have to do something today. I think I'll try the circle of deer fencing, if the local hardware place has it. I don't have as much stuff to corral. I figure one or two circles on top of pallets would do the trick.
 
A few uglies end up on the top of the stacks but most of the chunks just get tossed in a pile. I scrounge from the pile to use in my outdoor firepit. I should make a couple of bins like Peter did to keep them up off the ground and organized.
 
Needless to say, my bag of wood didn't work out. It looks sad, like a rotten Halloween pumpkin.
That deer fencing stuff isn't cheap either from the hardware store, but my wife has some plans for what's left.
Next time, a pile it will be.
 
Four pallets put together works pretty good, air circulation all around it. I just pick them up and move them when they are full with a bobcat. If you are going to build some let me know and I will explain it to you as I have modified my design from the pictures.
 

Attachments

  • MVC-008.jpg
    MVC-008.jpg
    52.3 KB · Views: 196
  • MVC-001.jpg
    MVC-001.jpg
    42.8 KB · Views: 222
  • MVC-002.jpg
    MVC-002.jpg
    38.5 KB · Views: 198
  • MVC-003.jpg
    MVC-003.jpg
    51.5 KB · Views: 204
Status
Not open for further replies.