Cord Estimate

[mass_burner]

I just gabbed a mini scrounge at my town's secret dumping site. I'm thinking this looks like 1/4 cord stacked, am I way off? Each round is about 15" diameter

 

[paul bunion]

And about 18" long? Your guess is good. Probably just under 1/4 cord.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

A good 1/8th I'd say....

 

[byQ]

1.5' wide (18 inches). You say 15" (1.25') diameter so 6 rounds x 1.25' = 7.5'. All we need is the height. Since there are 6 rounds on the bottom and 5 on top, I'll go with 2' tall (instead of 2.25' to 2.5' if 12 rounds instead of 11). There are air gaps between the rounds and air gaps between the stacked firewood so we'll say the difference isn't enough to worry about.

So,
1.5' x 7.5' x 2' = ~ 22.5 ft3

1/4 of a cord is 128/4 = 32 ft3
1/8 . . . . . . . . . .128/8 = 16 ft3
1/16 . . . . . . . . .128/16 = 8 ft3
1/32 . . . . . . . . 128/32 = 4 ft3

You have between 1/8 and 1/4 of a cord. Closer to 1/8 cord.

 

[mass_burner]

And about 18" long? Your guess is good. Probably just under 1/4 cord.

18" is the shortest, some are 24"+, average about 20"

 

[mass_burner]

with the bump in the length, brings it close to 1/4...

2' x 7.5' x 2' = ~ 30 ft3

 

[byQ]

with the bump in the length, brings it close to 1/4...

2' x 7.5' x 2' = ~ 30 ft3

20" = 1.67', so right between 1/4 and 1/8 cord.

 

[mass_burner]

right. thanks.

 

[Wood Duck]

20 inches / 12 inches /ft = 1.67 ft. a 15 inch diameter log has a radius of 7.5 in / 12 in/ft = 0.625 ft, and an area of 1.2 sq ft. 1.2 sq ft x 1.67 ft long = 2 cubic feet per log. 2 cubic feet x 11 logs = 22 cubic feet of solid wood. A cord is about 85 cubic feet of solid wood (128 cubic feet of stacked wood, which includes air space), so you have about 22 cu. ft /85 cu. ft./cord = 0.27 cords.

So, you have to split and stack it and measure the resulting stack, so we can see who did the calcs most accurately.

 

[mass_burner]

20 inches / 12 inches /ft = 1.67 ft. a 15 inch diameter log has a radius of 7.5 in / 12 in/ft = 0.625 ft, and an area of 1.2 sq ft. 1.2 sq ft x 1.67 ft long = 2 cubic feet per log. 2 cubic feet x 11 logs = 22 cubic feet of solid wood. A cord is about 85 cubic feet of solid wood (128 cubic feet of stacked wood, which includes air space), so you have about 22 cu. ft /85 cu. ft./cord = 0.27 cords.

So, you have to split and stack it and measure the resulting stack, so we can see who did the calcs most accurately.

i'll get right on that.

 

[paul bunion]

A cord is about 85 cubic feet of solid wood (128 cubic feet of stacked wood, which includes air space)

Are you sure that a cord of wood is really 85 cu feet solid wood. That would mean that it is about 1/3 air and 2/3 wood. 85/128= .664. My stacks certainly don't look like they are 1/3 air.

 

[Woody Stover]

Put it this way....keep scrounging, you need more wood!

 

[mass_burner]

Put it this way....keep scrounging, you need more wood!

that's an understatement.

 

[mass_burner]

Took a MC reading today at it is 30%. I don't know how long ago it was felled, but it must have been awhile for that reading. How much MC does green spruce have?

 

[mass_burner]

Got a few huge rounds of cedar from a vacant house. There are more there and some hardwood logs next door down. These houses will be torn down to build more expensive houses I presume.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Rest assured it always looks like more. Maybe stacked loose it might be close.

 

[Macpolski]

Rest assured it always looks like more. Maybe stacked loose it might be close.

Ain't that the truth!

 

[mass_burner]

Got a few huge rounds of cedar from a vacant house. There are more there and some hardwood logs next door down. These houses will be torn down to build more expensive houses I presume.

Ahhh! Fresh cedar! I'll end up with about 12 of these rounds, most bigger than these. Think I'm upto 1/2 cord now.

These rounds measured 25% on MM, tree looks to have been a zombie.

 

[mass_burner]

Down to 34 last night. Split one of those cedar rounds in the pic for burning. Very aromatic, burns well.

 

[mass_burner]

Ok, so I made a good connection with a local tree guy. He has a small operation. Very reasonable pricing. Figure I have close to 3 cords now. Got a lot of red oak split and the rounds are maple, silver I believe.

 

[paul bunion]

Those bigger rounds look more like Norway maple to me.

 

[mass_burner]

Those bigger rounds look more like Norway maple to me.

this maple is really tough to split. I can only get a few splits off the outside. As I work my way in, it gets tougher and tougher. Should I let it dry out a little more?

 

[Applesister]

No, you did good with the tree service, keep the momentum. Dont kill yourself over the tough ones. Norway and other yard trees are very limby. Just split what you can easily get done. Stack it so its off the ground and out of the way and then rent a splitter to do the big tough ones. You will get more work done that way. With no injuries. Keep yourself well so you can keep it going.

 

[Applesister]

Some sections of Norway maples might need you to use a chainsaw to get apart. If the splitter cant pull the knots apart and it gets messy. That knarly knotty stuff burns the hottest so its actually the best part of the tree. Have fun!!

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

this maple is really tough to split. I can only get a few splits off the outside. As I work my way in, it gets tougher and tougher. Should I let it dry out a little more?

No.... Buy a splitter.....