Top covered the stacks today...

[KaptJaq]

It has been very dry around here all summer, the plants and grass are fried. . The leaves are starting to come down early due to the lack of moisture. They finally are forecasting rain over the next two days, some of it very heavy. I decided to top cover the stacks to take advantage of the dry spell and to keep the leaves out of the gaps between stacks. I stack in a large block. 20" splits, 6 to 7 feet high, 10 or 12 feet long and about 15 rows in a block with about 6 to 8 inches between rows. One large tarp covers each block. The centers of the blocks are higher than the edges so the rain and snow slide off.

Before I covered I checked a few splits. Two year oak averaged about 22%, one year closer to 27%. The three year stuff, this season's fuel, were all under 20%. My stacks are in the sun at the top of a gully and are hit with the prevailing winds broadside... The gully funnels the winds into the stacks.

KaptJaq

 

[ScotO]

Sounds like you are ready to go, Kapt! I covered my stacks around a month ago, right before we were hit with a solid week of rain. I use recycled rubber roofing (EPDM) for my top-covering which, being black, seemed to help the temps climb in the stacks. Maybe that helped a little, but my 3-year wood is already set to to, so I'm good either way. Now, I want some cooler weather. I'm getting antsy to fire up the stoves!

 

[bogydave]

Great time to cover it up while it's good & dry.
Weather change due .

I bet the covered stacks would make a great picture

 

[KaptJaq]

I bet the covered stacks would make a great picture

Yeah, I know, "Pictures or it never happened..."

(Click on image for larger size)



There is one more block of stacks that is not yet covered, hope I'll finish before the rain.

There are still a couple of piles of rounds that need splitting but I don't split 'till it cools off a little...

KaptJaq

 

[bogydave]

Yeah, I know, "Pictures or it never happened..."

(Click on image for larger size)

View attachment 111328 View attachment 111329 View attachment 111330 View attachment 111331

There is one more block of stacks that is not yet covered, hope I'll finish before the rain.

There are still a couple of piles of rounds that need splitting but I don't split 'till it cools off a little...

KaptJaq

LOL

Great pictures

 

[Gary_602z]

PM Scotty for a T-shirt!
Looking Good.

Gary

 

[velvetfoot]

Kapt: Is that the wood you'll burn this winter?
I ask because I moved a couple cords onto the driveway this year (to make way for a possible truck) and I tried top covering, with some down the ends and a little on the sides, and putting a bunch of staples in it. I figure your tiedown method and my way would both allow the snow to be brushed off without pushing off any splits acting as weights. Here's hoping the staples hold.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

You can also use sandbags for weights to hold the tiedowns. Even gallon milk jugs filled with sand can work nicely.

 

[KaptJaq]

with some down the ends and a little on the sides, and putting a bunch of staples in it.

I like tying it down with the cords. It makes it easy to take off the tarp without ripping it and I can pick a split near the bottom with a lot of weight on it for the nail.

You can also use sandbags for weights to hold the tiedowns. Even gallon milk jugs filled with sand can work nicely.

With the tarps as big as the ones I use I've seen them catch wind and flip water filled gallon jugs across the yard. Yes I know this from experience. You should see the damage 8 pounds of ice can do....

KaptJaq

 

[KaptJaq]

Kapt: Is that the wood you'll burn this winter?

Under the deck is about 600 CF of wood that has been there for almost 3 years. That is this season's primary wood. It is red oak. It looks fresh split on the side in the photo because that side is protected from the weather by the deck. The other side that faces the weather and sun has grayed nicely. Checked a few splits and the were all under 20%.

KaptJaq

 

[JOHN BOY]

Mine stay covered

 

[NortheastAl]

Nice stacks you got there, Kapt. Those the heavy duty brown tarps with the silver underside? If they are, it is a great tarp.