NH_Wood said:
CTYank - 'face cord' is not a term meant to confuse. In some areas, folks sell and buy wood as 8' long, 4' high, single row (assuming 16", but could be different) stacks. Three face cord should be very close to 1 normal cord as you are familiar with. I agree that sometimes it can confuse the conversation here - for example, a post might state that they've burned through a cord in 2 weeks, when it is likely they burned a face cord. Oh well, it's all wood! Cheers!
I hear you, but must disagree. Because many buyers are quite hazy about even what a cord is. Then you put a "face" on it? I've seen surprise that the pickup load I was delivering was not the full cord specified, but only half; guess who had been ripped off.
My understanding is that many states specify in transactions for firewood that measurement be in cords, or fractions thereof. No "face" in the place.
Some (e.g. NY:
http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/WM/WMwood.html) specify truth in advertising: specifying volume of stack (length x width x height) & what is allowed as "hardwood", and required sale documentation.
"Should be" and "close to" are just too sloppy, IMHO, and are a result of this rubber ruler. The reason we have standards of measure is to enable honest communications and commerce. "Cubic foot" has meaning, as does "ton" and "cord." "Face cord" not.