Stacking Lesson Learned

[mass_burner]

For outside wood drying, I have a 8 x 5 raised platform with vented sides, no top. I stack about 5' high. Its under some tall spruce trees and only gets about 3-4 hours of sun/day. I stacked 3 rows on this platform and the middle stack did not dry for use as the front and part of the rear did (the front faces the sun).

 

[CenterTree]

As John Denver sang:

"Sunshine, on my firewood makes me happy."

Err, something like that.

 

[STIHLY DAN]

If you had a top it all would have been seasoned most likely.

 

[Hills Hoard]

It took me a while to get my head around leaving wood exposed to season.....i do generally cover the top layer, but my pile for winter 2015 is out and proud...!...nothing open air above and on the sides..

 

[DanCorcoran]

As John Denver sang:

"Sunshine, on my firewood makes me happy."

Err, something like that.

Country stove, keep me warm...etc.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

We've stacked wood so that it got no sun many times and did not have any problems. Of course we also give it time to dry. Pretty much all the wood we burn has been in the stack 3 years or longer. This is how we stack.

 

[STIHLY DAN]

We've stacked wood so that it got no sun many times and did not have any problems. Of course we also give it time to dry. Pretty much all the wood we burn has been in the stack 3 years or longer. This is how we stack.

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I stack just like mr Savage, except I have my ends slope in some. There is not much level ground around here coupled with the frost heaves, I need more pressure inwards.

 

[NH_Wood]

John Denver doesn't deserve this - RIP John! . Cheers!

 

[Hills Hoard]

We've stacked wood so that it got no sun many times and did not have any problems. Of course we also give it time to dry. Pretty much all the wood we burn has been in the stack 3 years or longer. This is how we stack.

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Great looking stacks!!...I note you have rows of 3 there. Is there a noticeable difference in how long the middle row takes to season vs the 2 outside rows given that its more sheltered from the wind ?...

 

[Backwoods Savage]

No difference at all. One proof of this is that the rows all shrink as the wood dries. They all shrink the same amount. They all burn the same.

 

[Hills Hoard]

No difference at all. One proof of this is that the rows all shrink as the wood dries. They all shrink the same amount. They all burn the same.

Great, i might try this on my next pile then...i imagine they would be more stable than the 2 individual rows I have with a gap between them...and takes up less room too...you've got my thumbs up..

 

[mass_burner]

Next lesson was wood storage under the stairs going down to the garage/basement. Although it seemed like a good idea, I didn't anticipate how awkward it would be schlepping the wood up the back stairs into the house. I reverted to keeping 18 gal bins under the eaves next to the patio. It seems no system covers the whole movement completely.

 

[Hills Hoard]

No difference at all. One proof of this is that the rows all shrink as the wood dries. They all shrink the same amount. They all burn the same.

Well, not that I needed more incentive to try stacking 3 in a row, but I went and checked on my pile (for this winter) and the ends had fallen over and were leaning on a fence...this was partly from strong winds we just had, and and bad stacking on my part. Also the splits are all twisted and dont stack evenly.. Anyway, i re stacked and lesson learned...3 in a row it is for my next pile

 

[toddnic]

We've stacked wood so that it got no sun many times and did not have any problems. Of course we also give it time to dry. Pretty much all the wood we burn has been in the stack 3 years or longer. This is how we stack.

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Backwoods Savage, that's an amazing amount of wood. How much do you burn each year?

 

[embers aplenty]

When stacking on pallets, I seem to do better with 2 rows. With the extra space in the middle, I loosely throw in the shortys, uglies, and odd sizers that I always end up with, especially when I scrounge stuff left by the tree service that I sometimes end up recutting. The roofing metal that I use to top cover is 38" wide which is just shy of the 40" pallet width.

I like those big tripple stacks though. I've never tried to stack mine that high. Looks really good. You da man Mr. Savage.
That gives me some incentive to go higher. I'll have to use some rope to lengthen those cheap chessy rachet straps I use to hold my
metal in place.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Backwoods Savage, that's an amazing amount of wood. How much do you burn each year?

3 cord.

 

[xman23]

When you stack two rows with a small space between them, occasionally put a long split across the middle. I have stacks 7ft high and a 100 ft long. Never had any of it fall over.

 

[Hills Hoard]

When you stack two rows with a small space between them, occasionally put a long split across the middle. I have stacks 7ft high and a 100 ft long. Never had any of it fall over.

That is a bloody brilliant idea...funny thing is I have seen a similar solution used on brick walls and just never thought to apply it to wood piles...