When to Top Cover

[Woody Stover]

My stacks are in the woods. Even though the leaves aren't falling now, there are catkins falling and storms will generate debris that will fall on my stacks. I'm going to cover the tops of my new stacks soon to prevent any buildup. My year-old wood is already covered.

 

[peakbagger]

I sit wooden pallets on top of the stacks and then cover them with some old plastic signboard. The signboard is water proof but the open spaces on the pallet allow air flow on top of the stacks. It works well unless it gets windy if I dont attach the signs to the pallets.

 

[ruserious2008]

For climate reference I am in sunny tropical (after this winter southern NH. I'm with BWS on this and agree non punky wood is not a sponge. I've measured wood moisture content before a rain and a week after and there's no change. I would cover anything you are going to burn in the near future (I have a small shed next to the house that holds a little over a cord for my ready to burn stuff) and I cover the tops and a foot down the sides with tarp during the time of year snow may fall figuring not much drying happens in winter anyway and that snow would also be a cover to trap and contribute moisture. Otherwise its open air for my stacks.

 

[osagebow]

I recently got some pallets from our local lumber yard. They receive dimensional lumber by the traincar, and I've found that the stuff they cover the big pallets of 2x4's etc with makes excellent cover for my outdoor stacks. Free, unlimited supply & one side is even black to help capture some heat. I probably wouldn't bother to spend money on a tarp or shed to cover with since my area's generally fairly dry, but I couldn't pass up those free 'tarps.' I top-covered right after stacking, figured it couldn't hurt.

'

Good idea! Nice to see Shen Valley people on here ailanthus -I'm just gettin' started. Are ya close to Woodstock?

 

[cptoneleg]

'

Good idea! Nice to see Shen Valley people on here ailanthus -I'm just gettin' started. Are ya close to Woodstock?

Front Royal here Welcome

 

[Woody Stover]

I've found that the stuff they cover the big pallets of 2x4's etc with makes excellent cover for my outdoor stacks

That stuff lasts a long time, too...maybe longer than a tarp.

 

[ailanthus]

'

Good idea! Nice to see Shen Valley people on here ailanthus -I'm just gettin' started. Are ya close to Woodstock?

Greetings, Osagebow & Cptonleg! - I'm just north of Harrisonburg, so not too far. That is a sweet-looking bow in your profile picture, by the way - it's funny my son was just getting on me to make him a bow since I broke his last one. Anyway, enjoy the spring temperatures - I have a feeling it's gonna feel like guatemala around here pretty soon.

 

[cptoneleg]

I probably should cover this or it is going to get Too Dry To Burn, look it's splitting and cracking. Maybe by covering I can stop so much moisture from escaping

 

[ohlongarm]

View attachment 64784 I probably should cover this or it is going to get Too Dry To Burn, look it's splitting and cracking. Maybe by covering I can stop so much moisture from escapingView attachment 64784

A Blaze King stove wood get a woodie seeing how dry that is.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

[quote="cptoneleg, post: 1102970, member: I probably should cover this or it is going to get Too Dry To Burn, look it's splitting and cracking. Maybe by covering I can stop so much moisture from escaping[/quote]

I've still yet to see firewood that is too dry to burn. It won't matter if you cover or not, that won't get too dry.

 

[cptoneleg]

[quote="cptoneleg, post: 1102970, member: I probably should cover this or it is going to get Too Dry To Burn, look it's splitting and cracking. Maybe by covering I can stop so much moisture from escaping

I've still yet to see firewood that is too dry to burn. It won't matter if you cover or not, that won't get too dry.[/quote]



I was just joking, the farmer where I got that B L last October said he knew that tree had been laying there 20 years, it was one of those times I brought home wood that would have burnt good the day I brought it home. but I didn't I had plenty of dry wood. So I just stacked it.

Black Locust is the only standing or laying dead tree that doesn't rot or get punky (very often) I c/s/s about 3 cords of that stuff.
Still Not Going To Cover

 

[Backwoods Savage]

cptoneleg, as ash to that list that doesn't rot. I've had some down for many years now and it is still good. We've had some lay right in water for a long time and it still doesn't hurt the wood although you can tell the difference. Still lasts a long time.

 

[BrianK]

Front Royal here Welcome

My oldest son is in his first year of college in Front Royal. Beautiful country there.