Finally got the last of the wood for next year stacked in my 'ready to burn' pile. I think it is earlier than I did last year - not sure though. But it sure looks nice to me all sitting there next to the driveway waiting for the cold. About 4 cords (maybe a tad more) in one large cube. I'll have to post pictures of course.
Even got some progress in re-cutting and stacking some of the 11/12 wood. I have a cord or so of oak that was split and cut too large for my stove - it is just over a year old now since I got it (already split). So I started cutting 3-5" off the ends that needed it and stacking it all in nicer rows so it will dry faster over the next year or so. This will be the 'best' wood for my 11/12 season (well, and whatever doesn't get burned this winter). Then I'll have the wood I split over this winter to re-stack (away from the house/deck). So far it seems to have been drying quite well, but it is oak so even at a year old it still feels quite heavy (especially compared to that 2-3 year old apple I had just moved).
I had to finish the 10/11 stack to make space to stack oak I'm re-processing now. Then I'll be moving the wood under the deck up to where this oak is currently stacked... The joys of living on a small plot of land - having to move wood around more. Sometimes I feel like it is a giant version of one of those tile puzzles where you have to slide the tiles in the frame to unscramble the picture, only the tiles are large piles of wood that weigh a ton...
I'm also changing my stacking style to allow more space between rows in hopes it will let the wood dry faster... rather I suppose I'm creating rows for the first time. Previously I stacked on the pallets filling the whole pallet surface area and building up in columns. This means that everything will take up even more space so I'm not sure how long I can keep it up, I can't stack as high this way (was going up 6-7' on my pallet stacks since they were solid cubes). I'm hoping that I can put another row of pallets in front of the row on my property line and not get too much resistance from my wife for eating into the yard. I expect I'll have to put my 12/13 wood back in the 'woods' behind the house which is going to be a serious pain given the terrain and won't get any sun, but we'll see how it goes. I have quite a few hours of work to do before I get there (and some more gathering perhaps). No point in stressing about it now - most of that wood is in a heap of partially split (planked?) pieces at the end of my driveway which is actually getting a lot of sun and seems to be drying quite nicely. I just have to get it moved before the winter 'no street parking' ban hits and I need the spot for the truck.
Anyway, just felt like sharing - I'm making progress and enjoying the process. Was a nice way to spend a few hours on Sunday AM.
Even got some progress in re-cutting and stacking some of the 11/12 wood. I have a cord or so of oak that was split and cut too large for my stove - it is just over a year old now since I got it (already split). So I started cutting 3-5" off the ends that needed it and stacking it all in nicer rows so it will dry faster over the next year or so. This will be the 'best' wood for my 11/12 season (well, and whatever doesn't get burned this winter). Then I'll have the wood I split over this winter to re-stack (away from the house/deck). So far it seems to have been drying quite well, but it is oak so even at a year old it still feels quite heavy (especially compared to that 2-3 year old apple I had just moved).
I had to finish the 10/11 stack to make space to stack oak I'm re-processing now. Then I'll be moving the wood under the deck up to where this oak is currently stacked... The joys of living on a small plot of land - having to move wood around more. Sometimes I feel like it is a giant version of one of those tile puzzles where you have to slide the tiles in the frame to unscramble the picture, only the tiles are large piles of wood that weigh a ton...
I'm also changing my stacking style to allow more space between rows in hopes it will let the wood dry faster... rather I suppose I'm creating rows for the first time. Previously I stacked on the pallets filling the whole pallet surface area and building up in columns. This means that everything will take up even more space so I'm not sure how long I can keep it up, I can't stack as high this way (was going up 6-7' on my pallet stacks since they were solid cubes). I'm hoping that I can put another row of pallets in front of the row on my property line and not get too much resistance from my wife for eating into the yard. I expect I'll have to put my 12/13 wood back in the 'woods' behind the house which is going to be a serious pain given the terrain and won't get any sun, but we'll see how it goes. I have quite a few hours of work to do before I get there (and some more gathering perhaps). No point in stressing about it now - most of that wood is in a heap of partially split (planked?) pieces at the end of my driveway which is actually getting a lot of sun and seems to be drying quite nicely. I just have to get it moved before the winter 'no street parking' ban hits and I need the spot for the truck.
Anyway, just felt like sharing - I'm making progress and enjoying the process. Was a nice way to spend a few hours on Sunday AM.
Ha!
