Leaning Stacks

[Craig S.]

When the far 2 racks were stacked earlier last year, they were fairly level ... over time, they seem to be leaning more and more. You can see the stacks in the foreground (racked more recently) aren't leaning yet. I assume its because that side is shrinking faster as it dries since it faces the sun. Thoughts?

Since I have kids running around in the yard ... yes ... I'm going to re-rack them before they fall on someone.

 

[avalondouglas]

I have the same issue. I keep pushing splits in as I'm trying to avoid re-stacking. That's a lot of wood!

 

[BrotherBart]

Evening entertainment. Beer in one hand, hammer in the other. Sip, tap. Sip, tap. Sip...

 

[Jon1270]

I assume its because that side is shrinking faster as it dries since it faces the sun.

Not likely. Movement in whatever the stack is sitting on is much more probable.

 

[Woody Stover]

I assume its because that side is shrinking faster as it dries since it faces the sun.

Interesting theory. I had some single-row stacks start leaning, and I think the majority were leaning toward the direction of the sun and wind. I stack in the woods (not a lot of sun/wind) where the soil isn't compacted so I figured that it was going to end up leaning one way or the other. And the ground is usually not level. Since I've been stacking double rows on pallets, no problems. I've got a couple single rows on Sassafras sleeper logs, one row of Cherry was leaning away, so I don't know. I used Bart's method, adjust the stack back closer to vertical with a hammer, or just shove the top back in line. Can't remember if I had a beer or not....might be good to balance out the weight of the hammer.
I'm going out in a few minutes to set up a stacking area. I got the OK from my neighbor to stack in a windy spot on his property for the summer. I think this time I'm going to try two Sass sleeper logs and put pallets on top of those. I don't think the stacks will lean but with the unimpeded heavy straight-line winds over there, they could blow over....

 

[BEConklin]

Evening entertainment. Beer in one hand, hammer in the other. Sip, tap. Sip, tap. Sip...

and with hickory it's musical entertainment...each split "clinks" with a different note when you tap it.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

When the far 2 racks were stacked earlier last year, they were fairly level ... over time, they seem to be leaning more and more. You can see the stacks in the foreground (racked more recently) aren't leaning yet. I assume its because that side is shrinking faster as it dries since it faces the sun. Thoughts?

Since I have kids running around in the yard ... yes ... I'm going to re-rack them before they fall on someone.

I'd try to push the pile or hammer them back in. Actually I doubt it will tip over on you. I've had some lean pretty bad but still not tip over. I usually don't worry about it.

As for the shrinking faster, I highly doubt that. We stack 3 rows together and they all shrink at the same rate. Sometimes the logs we lay down to stack on are a different size and the smaller log will sometimes sink into the ground more causing the stack to lean. But in over 50 years, we've had only one stack fall over. Here is the proof. Still not bad with only one in all these years.

 

[jatoxico]

I'd try to push the pile or hammer them back in. Actually I doubt it will tip over on you. I've had some lean pretty bad but still not tip over. I usually don't worry about it.

As for the shrinking faster, I highly doubt that. We stack 3 rows together and they all shrink at the same rate. Sometimes the logs we lay down to stack on are a different size and the smaller log will sometimes sink into the ground more causing the stack to lean. But in over 50 years, we've had only one stack fall over. Here is the proof. Still not bad with only one in all these years.

View attachment 131833

That's only proof you've had at least one .

 

[tsquini]

Evening entertainment. Beer in one hand, hammer in the other. Sip, tap. Sip, tap. Sip...

+1 on the beer. After a few brews the stacks look straight again.

 

[midwestcoast]

Could also be the ground on the sunny side thawing & going spongey while on the shaded side it's still firm. I agree with the hammer remedy if you're gonna burn it next season. If not, re-stack.

 

[weatherguy]

I have 5 racks and one rack always does that, in fact I went up to the stacks one night and the whole front row was on the ground. Now I tap them in every now and then with a small sledge hammer.

 

[Craig S.]

One of the two racks I was able to make a modest correction with a hammer in one hand, and a beer in the other. The other was yay close to falling, so I re-racked it.

 

[pen]

Had part of one tip over this winter. Had 2 rows, 1.5 cord in each, about 1.5 feet apart. Rows stayed perfectly straight until 3 weeks ago when the frost starting coming out of the ground. When it did, the ground thawed on the outside of each row, but not between the rows (the rows provided good shelter while the outsides had full sun) Each row bent outwards. About a 1/2 cord fell from the one row. Now that the ground has thawed evenly, the stacks came back into level.

I blame a few things here, first, I stacked higher than normal at about 5.5 feet. Secondly, leaving that much space between for the location that I have. I think I have a mix of full sun / shading between that is an issue, coupled with an area where run-off from water can keep the ground pretty saturated here.

Long story short, next year, to stack in the same area, I'm going back to 4 feet stacks, and am either going to put two rows closer together and tie them together near the top or else shorten the distance and go three deep. We'll see what mood I'm in when it comes time.... Part of me says to go back to the holz hausen, even though I hated building the sob and said I'd never do it again.

 

[Woody Stover]

beer in the other. The other was yay close to falling, so I re-racked it.

"Re-stacked" the beer in your stomach? Nice save! So the stacks, and you, got hammered.

 

[Hickorynut]

I stack 5 to 6 ft. high and have had some leaning occasionally. I try to watch and catch this happening before it gets too bad. I use a sledge and go to town on them. I agree that alot of times it is the foundation changing on you. I have alot of chipmunks and I think they have been the cause on some of it, burrowing around the blocks I lay my landscaping timbers on. And the type of wood seems to make a difference. Locusts stacks usually remain rock solid as they shrink very little as I've noticed. Making heat from firewood has so many variables and it all can be summed up in "it's alot of work"

 

[jimdrea]

Looks good. I had a similar problem last year. I built racks to keep the wood straight. 8 feet long by 6 feet high. What do you use to cover the wood.It looks like hard plastic. I use cut up tarps that look crappy. That plastic looks good.

 

[red oak]

I put several stacks together, and build a bit of lean into each so that they lean into each other.

 

[Applesister]

Ive got some "bulging tires" myself that are ready to blow. I think its weight and uneven thawing of the ground. And stacking on soil thats not compacted.
The stuff I stacked in a gravel driveway hasnt budged. But then rodents dont dig in compacted gravel.
I really love a gravel base.

 

[Craig S.]

...What do you use to cover the wood. It looks like hard plastic. I use cut up tarps that look crappy. That plastic looks good.

A friend replaced the panels on his greenhouse, and gave me the leftovers. (the two racks in the distance have neatly folded tarps).
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Suntuf-26-in-x-8-ft-Clear-Polycarbonate-Roofing-Panel-101697/100021329

 

[richg]

+1 on the beer. After a few brews the stacks look straight again.

After a bunch of beers, my straight stacks appear quite curved.

 

[Highbeam]

I walk along and bump the stacks straight with my chest and arms. NOT one stick at a time. A few chest bumps and all is straight again.

 

[Paulywalnut]

I push the tops back often to keep them straight. Once they start leaning too much then they become top heavy. I had one stack go down from a deer misjudging height jumping over it. Scared the poor thing half to death.

 

[jatoxico]

I'm guilty of overstacking. Between that and all the ground heaving we've had I've had to restack more than once.