I've started doing this, using Sassafras trunks from dead trees, 4"+ diameter. I'm waiting to see how stable these stacks will be, but it seems like they should be pretty good as the weight is evenly distributed all the way along the sleeper poles.If you keep any amount of wood, pallets are out the door and 3" saplings cut to length are the ticket
If you keep any amount of wood, pallets are out the door and 3" saplings cut to length are the ticket
Even better than treated lumber now is the "fake" treated wood, the plastic stuff that looks like wood often used on docks and decks now.
I disagree. I have my pallets arranged in three long rows, for three years of storage. Each row is made up of 19 pallets, with 12 laid flat and 7 as book ends. Each "crib" is one cord, when stacked 5.5 feet high, making for very easy tracking of what you have. I figure that a hardwood pallet should last about 3 years under such conditions, so when the wood stacked on it gets moved to the house, the pallet gets cut up for kindling. Saplings and Machria's racks might work well enough if you're storing just a few face cords, but for storing mass quantities, I'll stick with pallet cribs.
To each his own, but I'm not sure how "19 pallets" laid about your lawn is going to save any space!
Something I forgot to mention, ah, kinda a MAJOR thing for me! Pallets won't work in my yard because it's not flat. My yard is all sloped, so it would be difficult to make the pallets flat. Burrying 2x4's and bolting the cross memebers on lets me actualy utilize the extra space I get from the slope nicely.
Same here, last two years or so then replaceI just replace them when they start to break down . . . and then they go on the burn pile . . . it's very easy to find pallets around here.
19 per row x 3 rows = 57 pallets! Only 36 are laid flat, though, the rest are propped up as book ends. In this way, 18 cords stacked will take up only about 13,000 sq.ft., with 5 feet space between rows. You're right, though... to each his own! I found this system works well for me, but it's by no means the best system out there. It's just what I was able to come up with quickly, in a time of need. I'm already planning something better, and more permanent. I don't like stacking more than 6' high (0.5' pallet plus 5.5' of wood), as I've seen too many taller stacks capsize after a year.
I put concrete pavers or bricks under the low corner(s), and roughly level each pallet, when I'm setting up a new row. It works well enough on grades up to 20% - 25%, but probably not a good option on anything steeper.
... and we come full-circle to the OP's question. I keep pallets off the ground by putting pavers or bricks under the lowest corners, and sometimes at mid-span of each pallet. I don't care if the high side sits right on the dirt... the pallet will be cut up for kindling, after the wood has sat on it seasoning for three years.
I can't really picture that. When I used pallets it took 7 or 8 of them to fit 3 cords.
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.