Firewood drying and storage in cheap silos

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

I used to have a lot more when I was doing racecar stuff. The black zip ties do indeed last longer in the sun.

That is odd, I read recently that the reason they make PVC fence only in white, is because darker colors get too hot in the sun and ruin the fence.

The black ones look much better, too.

 

[SpaceBus]

That is odd, I read recently that the reason they make PVC fence only in white, is because darker colors get too hot in the sun and ruin the fence.

The black ones look much better, too.

Yeah, the black last longer, sometimes years, but the white ones might only make it a few months.

 

[Tron]

To be fair, zipties usually are not designed to last outdoors. But the black ones I mostly use hold up fine.

 

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

Yeah, the black last longer, sometimes years, but the white ones might only make it a few months.

My nylon cord doesn't do well in the sun, either. Really falls apart.

This is useful information regarding the difference in the color durability. I was just given a big bag of 11" ones a couple months ago, and they unfortunately are not black!

 

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

So, I was looking at one of my welded wire silos that's been full for at least a couple of years. It is showing considerable bulging in spots. I'm sure it will remain useful, but I bet the remesh would still be straight as it started out.

 

[Tron]

My remesh silos only show bulging where the door is, you really don't get it closed all the way once you've cut it. Other than that, still straight after a couple of years. One's a bit bent at the top (and almost impossible to bend back by hand), but that's because a tree fell on it during a storm...

 

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

My remesh silos only show bulging where the door is, you really don't get it closed all the way once you've cut it. Other than that, still straight after a couple of years. One's a bit bent at the top (and almost impossible to bend back by hand), but that's because a tree fell on it during a storm...

I hope I can get my hands on some remesh one day. I'm too cheap to buy it, but I'm amazed at what people give me and throw out. Definitely will be keeping an eye out.

 

[SpaceBus]

I hope I can get my hands on some remesh one day. I'm too cheap to buy it, but I'm amazed at what people give me and throw out. Definitely will be keeping an eye out.

I know a concrete guy, might be able to score some.

 

[Tron]

I admit, having no other source I went an got another one at a construction store last Friday. Cost me about $50, but worth it.

Advice to transport it in a Pickup: roll it up from the short side to make a roll of about 3-4' diameter, wrap two tie-downs around it to keep it in shape and put it on the bed (tying it down with two more tie-downs, obviously). It's flexible enough that it will roll out flat afterwards, not that you need that. The roll will then be 8' long and fit on the bed of most Pickup trucks if you leave the tailgate open.

 

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

I admit, having no other source I went an got another one at a construction store last Friday. Cost me about $50, but worth it.

Advice to transport it in a Pickup: roll it up from the short side to make a roll of about 3-4' diameter, wrap two tie-downs around it to keep it in shape and put it on the bed (tying it down with two more tie-downs, obviously). It's flexible enough that it will roll out flat afterwards, not that you need that. The roll will then be 8' long and fit on the bed of most Pickup trucks if you leave the tailgate open.

Thanks for sharing the cost. I was curious.
It's probably what I would consider a fixture, or infrastructure, to a property, as it'll likely last as long as we will. And, I know it saves tons of time and effort.

I'd like to get at least a handful of my stacks to infrastructure status. Bottom, sides, and top, then just stack the wood in and be done. Now everything is temporary.

 

[Tron]

as it'll likely last as long as we will.

FYI, those remesh sheets don't have a zinc coating, as they are meant to be encased in concrete, so yes, they do rust. I don't know how long you intend to "last", but they may require replacement every few decades or so (Just speculating, I have not had them in service that long, but I did not see any degradation after 8 years, which was when we sold the home and left them there).

 

[SpaceBus]

Is this the right material?

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Common-5-ft-x-150-ft-Actual-4-9166-ft-x-148-5-ft-Steel-Remesh-Roll/1000821774

Am I right to assume it would not work to make two identical circles and zip tie them to make one tall cylinder? Being only 5' tall is annoying. I'll have to call the local lumberyard and see if they carry any.

 

[Tron]

No, it is not. That is way too thin and will not hold.
I think the one I got said 6-gauge (which is about 4mm rod diameter), with squares of 6x6". The usual size is 8*20".
That 10-gauge from Lowes is only 2.5mm rod diameter, that will kink too easily and won't stand up properly by itself.

For sourcing that, call a local construction company that does concrete.

 

[Woody Stover]

How do you get airflow to the interior of that column?

That would be like a Holzhauzen, but not packed as tight. But yeah, nothing beats a single-row stack in the wind for drying. The bin would probably dry as fast as my 3-row stacks on pallets..maybe faster.

I'm going to try this with pallets for the bottoms so I can move them with the tractor.

In that case, I might cut flat panels out of the Lowe's stuff and build cubes with four sides on a pallet, using some of those heavy duty fence staples to nail the bottoms of the panels to the sides of the pallet. Should be easily moveable, or use a couple criss-crossed ratchet straps as additional insurance when you move them.

the whole thing probably weighs 8-10.000 lbs when filled with oak.
For the size with 8*20' remesh, the volume is about 6.8 m3 or 240 cu ft.

The rule of thumb I've seen mentioned is that in a pickup bed (for a volume example,) you can stack a half cord, but thrown in it's about 1/3 cord. So instead of 2 cords, you'll have closer to 4/3 cord. The heaviest dry cords are a bit over 4000, so you might have a little over 5000 lbs. in one of your bins. Plus you overlap the end of the remesh..

I use lighter welded wire fencing to do the same thing, because it is what I had laying around. It's mainly for shorts and uglies. I currently have three in service, and it works fine. The heavier remesh would be better, but not necessary, just don't throw heavy splits into the side, I just drop them in.
One is on a skid, the other two are on the ground, with a few layers of rough bark to keep the wood off the ground.

Yeah, if you aren't moving 'em, you can get away with a lightweight version. I haven't made a bin lately but my last one, for chunks and uglies, was two pallets, then I drove six t-posts to fasten the woven wire to.
What I've been doing lately instead of a separate bin is, when bucking a log, I'll cut the gnarly chunks to like 8" long. Then I split them down into wedge chunks so that two of them side by side will be the same length as a 16" split. Then I can just stack 'em with my other wood, mixing a couple in here and there.

That is odd, I read recently that the reason they make PVC fence only in white, is because darker colors get too hot in the sun and ruin the fence.
The black ones look much better, too.

They usually say on the bag of black or green cable ties, that they are UV-resistant.

 

[Tron]

You're right, 5000 lbs is probably closer to the truth. But they are rock solid. One of mine is listing a bit because the ground it stands on is not level, but there is no chance of it toppling over short of a major earthquake.
And yes, it dries fast. I started the first one last spring, and all of it is now <15%. That is with Mississippi climate, though.

 

[Poindexter]

Thanks for sharing. My first solar kiln was a clear trash bag with a bunch of small branches in it. I left the open end open, tuned it upside down, poked a few holes in the top and had dry kindling pretty quick.

The water from the green wood condensed on the inside of the bag and dribbled out the bottom. it worked good.

Next we'll all need forklifts to bring dry wood into the garage without touching it.

 

[Tron]

Going to my local construction dealer today, time to build silo #4...
I suppose nobody did any forestry in our woods for decades, so there are a lot of dead trees still standing that have not been eaten by beetles yet

 

[KindredSpiritzz]

basically a holzhausen, just not as pretty to look at

 

[Tron]

Basically yes, just much easier to build. I had my fourth silo up and ready to be filled in 15 minutes today.
I have not done any, but I heard that a Holzhausen stack takes a lot of skill.

 

[Tron]

3 filled, working on the 4th...

 

[Bad LP]

Last week I saw a TT load of rebar and mesh and immediately thought of this thread. LOL

 

[kennyp2339]

Last week I saw a TT load of rebar and mesh and immediately thought of this thread. LOL

Yea that @SpaceBus big score he was talking about

 

[SpaceBus]

I get a lot of ads for concrete making materials now

 

[Tron]

I get a lot of ads for concrete making materials now

Google knows everything...

 

[Woody Stover]

I get a lot of ads for concrete making materials now

Google knows everything...

I get "Trump is on a Roll." How did they know I'm outta food and have been craving a baloney sandwich?