wood direction

[BSH1F]

okay guys and gals, i have my wood stacked on skids alternating direction of the pieces on each row. after reading alot, ive decided that this wasnt the best way to dry wood efficiently. ive noticed that the pieces of wood in each pile that are facing north/south seem to have a lower moister content than the pieces facing east/west. does anybody else have experience with this? i know different areas will have different results when it comes to drying but i thought this was interesting as every piece that i picked up in either direction i could clearly tell had different moister content. maybe i should stack all my wood north/south? or maybe its not what it seems?

 

[BobUrban]

Stacks are going NS/EW or each individual piece? Did you actually test MC or just go by "Feel"? In a perfect world I am sure the "best" possible way is to have the stacks going opposite prevailing wind with the individual pieces running parallel to it but then the wind needs to cooperate. Obviously the more low and protected the split the slower it is effected by the elements but I seriously cannot imagine it is significant enough to "restack" your wood unless you are overly ambitious.

 

[BSH1F]

(broken image removed)
Here's my pile now, i stacked it like this to keep air flowing around each peice, i used my moisture meter to test a few peices and the rows of peices facing n/s are about 5-10% less than the rows going e/w. So every peice facing n/s is seasoned and every peice facing e/w has to season some more. That's why in considering re stacking.

 

[BobUrban]

Wow, wow, wow - you clearly are over ambitious!! Just use the crib stacks on the corners and stack in rows between. I would guess at minimum 50% faster to get it stacked and have no clue on seasoning speed.

Also - if you have that pile completely covered in plastic it will trap moisture and take Forever to dry - maybe longer.

 

[BSH1F]

Thanks, the plastic doesn't cover the pile completely, just the top, and i also have plastic under the skids. I have noticed that i get a more even moister content having the pile covered to season vs open dry. 18% on outside of wood and 20% on inside when i cover. I left 2 piles open to dry in weather and the outside is 13% and middle is 20%, if that makes a difference.

 

[BobUrban]

I use plastic under my pallets if I have it as well and thought that may be what you are doing. Helps with weed grow through to some degree. The general consensus is top covered wood is best but mine is open and free willy to the elements because I hate using plastic or tarps and seeing them self destruct. I am working on some rubber roofing and steel deck to use at which time I will top cover as well.

Best bet is really what you have discovered. Stop complete cribbing and start stacking in rows opposite prevailing wind. All should improve accordingly.

 

[Lumber-Jack]

I use plastic under my pallets if I have it as well and thought that may be what you are doing. Helps with weed grow through to some degree. The general consensus is top covered wood is best but mine is open and free willy to the elements because I hate using plastic or tarps and seeing them self destruct. I am working on some rubber roofing and steel deck to use at which time I will top cover as well.
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Try using used lumber wrap material, it holds up very well to the elements, much better than plastic or those cheap tarps. It can often be acquired free and lumber supply yards where they often just throw it in the garbage after they sell the lifts of lumber. This stuff is designed specifically to protect wood from the elements.
Lots of people also use it for landscaping fabric too, to prevent weeds from growing through landscaping rocks.
(broken image removed)

 

[BobUrban]

Great tip LJ - I will look into that!

 

[blades]

You will have better drying if only stacked 2 rows deep.

 

[bill2500hd]

okay guys and gals, i have my wood stacked on skids alternating direction of the pieces on each row. after reading alot, ive decided that this wasnt the best way to dry wood efficiently. ive noticed that the pieces of wood in each pile that are facing north/south seem to have a lower moister content than the pieces facing east/west. does anybody else have experience with this? i know different areas will have different results when it comes to drying but i thought this was interesting as every piece that i picked up in either direction i could clearly tell had different moister content. maybe i should stack all my wood north/south? or maybe its not what it seems?

 

[bill2500hd]

what I've used under some of my wood racks is roofing tar paper, kills grass and hope it will last a while. ON some stacked wood I do use tarps, but attach a peace of elect. conduct to the end of the tarp. Makes it easier to remove and put back.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

(broken image removed)
Here's my pile now, i stacked it like this to keep air flowing around each peice, i used my moisture meter to test a few peices and the rows of peices facing n/s are about 5-10% less than the rows going e/w. So every peice facing n/s is seasoned and every peice facing e/w has to season some more. That's why in considering re stacking.

I can't see much airflow going through there, it is too tightly packed, do you cover it up with the rest of the plastic?
I would only do crisis cross stacks if you keep them individually to allow airflow.
The other way is single stacked in the sun and wind. You will get much better results....

 

[mustash29]

Thanks, the plastic doesn't cover the pile completely, just the top, and i also have plastic under the skids. I have noticed that i get a more even moister content having the pile covered to season vs open dry. 18% on outside of wood and 20% on inside when i cover. I left 2 piles open to dry in weather and the outside is 13% and middle is 20%, if that makes a difference.

If I read that correctly, your covered pile averages 19%, and your uncovered pile averages 16.5%. This is assuming an equaly quantity of wetter and drier pieces.

 

[BSH1F]

If I read that correctly, your covered pile averages 19%, and your uncovered pile averages 16.5%. This is assuming an equaly quantity of wetter and drier pieces.

I'm honestly beginning to agree with those who leave split, stacked and uncovered in sun and wind, then cover first week in Sept. To burn on late Oct. That's what I'm doing with my next tree in October. it's a silver maple, I cut one down last January, left the small rounds (maybe 6-10 in diameter 16" long) unsplit in the sun and wind, i just split them yesterday and the middle was 21% probably because it was a softer wood in assuming, I've had oak lengths to match 1 year at 30 plus.

 

[STIHLY DAN]

Silver maple will dry if you blow on it.

 

[BobUrban]

Maple dries if you stack it in a pool. It is one of those strange deals where cut fresh it is like 99% water with sap pouring out and rounds weighing way to much for their size. Then 3 months later they have lost 80% of it and if split and stacked can be ready in a season. Two years is best