Let's Talk Stacking!!!

[Piston]

Stacking our firewood early is obviously very important.  Stacking it efficiently so that it dries out as best as possible is also very important. 
I'm not new to woodburning, but I AM new to burning wood efficiently.  When I was a kid my dad would simply cut down some trees throughout the summer, and drag them to the wood cutting 'station' in the yard.  He would buck and split them in late fall, and even through winter, and throw them in the old VC Defiant.  It seemed to burn it all, and it burnt it well, but I never realized how inefficient it was to burn that wood. 

Since I'm still learning about burning wood efficiently, I would like some tips and pointers on the best ways to stack your firewood. 

The few things I've learned so far:  (assuming you have the space)

Stack wood in a single row if space allows-This allows better airflow all around the ends of the wood, where a lot of the drying process happens.

Stack wood so the face of the stack is facing N/S.  By stacking so the ends of the splits are facing to the South (and of course North on the other side for you navigators out there  ;D) It allows the sun to beat on wood, drying it out quicker. 

Stack wood in an open area.  This allows the winds to freely ventilate the stack, and allows the longest amounts of daily sunshine to warm (dry) the stack of wood. 

Stack wood off the ground.  By stacking off the ground, the wood won't pull in the moisture from the ground.  I intend to stack my wood on free pallets that I get from my local lumberyard. 

Absolutely, positively, under no circumstances, would you ever, ever....EVER...cover the sides and top of the stack of firewood.  This would be the best way to NOT dry your firewood! 


That's about all I know  ;D

Could you guys add some tips and tricks to efficient drying? 

Should I stack my firewood 'loosely' to allow even more ventilation in the stack? 

Should I stack my wood on pallets, on crushed stone, over a sheet of plastic, so no moisture can be brought up from the ground? 


Enlighten me boys...  ;D

Pics are worth a thousand words, so feel free to post your wood stacks. 

[doctorb]

All of your tips are correct, IMO.  The problem arises when:
1). You don't have enough space to split and stack oak for NEXT heating season, not just this season.
2). You burn enough wood that you will have to move it twice.  Once when you split and stack it outside and a second time when you move it close to your OWB (in my case into the shed that houses my OWB).

So I am torn between getting my wood stacked in the shed in early spring - aging it for just one year - versus the extra effort it takes to optimally dry it stacked outside, only to have to move it again.  I have found that it's OK to do a mixture of both.

[beenthere]

Space is important for sure.

I palletize right off the splitter. Then stack two high for a couple years drying, before moving the pallets into the house (attached garage and use about a pallet every 5 days).

Palletized and stacked for drying.


Moving two pallets to house for burning


Stacked and covered through the winter, but open for drying


The small roundwood from limbs I place on a pallet with two upright pallets to contain it.

[Piston]

I was thinking of a similar idea with the pallets, as you have pictured.  I am thinking of building all my pallets that way for the split firewood, except instead of filling the pallet with 3 rows of wood (so a 4'x4'x4' pallet would be half a cord) I was thinking of just putting 2 rows of wood on each pallet, this way I would still have a lot of airspace between the two rows.

It would take 1/3rd more space to stack them this way, and of course I wouldn't be able to fit a 1/2 cord per pallet, but at least this way, I could stack the wood right off the splitter and move it around with my pallet forks on the tractor after that.  Essentially, I would only be handling the wood one time, as long as I design my woodshed to be accessible from all sides with the front end loader pallet forks. 

Although the down side to this is that I would need a lot of pallets, and also assembling them so they form a 'cage' like that makes them hard to store and stack when no wood is on them. 

[beenthere]

I added some pics to the previous post. And you are right, storing the assembled pallet is a pain. Not handling and re-handling the firewood is a joy.

Used to be by the time I tossed a split piece of wood on the fire, I felt like I recognized and remembered that piece.  A "goodbye 'ol pal" feeling.

[Piston]

Nice Tractor  ;D

They sure make the job easier!  I bought a grapple for the front end loader of mine last year, and it has made almost every forestry related thing I do 10 times easier.   8)

[sprucebunny]

I stack it on pallets about 5 feet high. For the top layers, I split big flat, wide, thin slabs and layer them on top of the piles like shingles. The wide pieces will usually break in half easily. Not a lot of choice where I put the piles because I live on a hillside so they are in areas around my driveway. I have forks for my backhoe bucket and dump it on the porch that leads to the woodstove room . Yes.... I stack it up again... I like stacking wood... good mindless exercise.

This time of year, I'm moving it on to the porch which is roofed. I can fit about 2.5 cords on the porch.

I may get sick of moving wood this winter since I won't be bringing my backhoe back from my woodlot this year and will need to move another 2.5 cords to the porch by hand.

[John Mc]

Piston -

I think your tips are right on, but remember, most of these are tips to use for the fastest drying. If you can get ahead of the game and allow yourself more time for drying, some of the suggestions I gave in another thread aren't necessary: For example, stacking in single rows will definitely speed up drying. If you have enough drying time, stacking in double or triple rows works fine. It may take longer to dry, but saves on space, and possibly on having to restack it more densely down the road.

Your idea of stacking two rows on a 4 foot pallet is what I do sometimes. I cut my wood to 16" lengths, and have a 12 foot long row of pallets. If I stack 4 ft high, I end up with 1/2 cord per row, or one full cord for my 12 feet of pallets (two rows on a pallet). For fastest drying, more space between the rows (allowing more sun down in between) would be better, but this works for me.

Another consideration: if your rows need to be closer together, there is some debate whether stacking the cut ends to the south is best, or running the rows parallel with the prevailing wind is best for fastest drying.

I tend to leave my stacks uncovered until they are dry or until I get close to burning season. After that, I cover the top of the stack. Keeps me from having to dig through the snow, or knock ice and snow off the wood.

[Piston]

I cut my wood to 16" lengths, and have a 12 foot long row of pallets. If I stack 4 ft high, I end up with 1/2 cord per row

This seems to be a good compromise between space, speed of drying, and handling as little as possible. 

[fuzzybear]

  It was said not to cover the top of the wood stacks. I always cover mine with old roofing tin. I first lay down stickers from the mill and lay the tin on top of those. It keeps the rain/snow off and still allows air flow. The tin heats up the area a little bit more and I  see a difference in drying time.
FB

[Piston]

  It was said not to cover the top of the wood stacks. I always cover mine with old roofing tin. I first lay down stickers from the mill and lay the tin on top of those. It keeps the rain/snow off and still allows air flow. The tin heats up the area a little bit more and I  see a difference in drying time.
FB

How do you secure the tin to the wood?  I would imagine a decent gust of wind would blow it right off? 

[fuzzybear]

I throw a couple of pieces of scrap 6x6 on top of the tin. If the wind does catch it, it only goes a little ways. The tin is all 12'x3' off an old building. it's got some holes in it but it still keeps 90% of the rain and snow off. Here in the north it will rain in the late fall and then freeze overnight never to thaw again until spring. The tin makes sure your wood is not covered in ice and frozen together.
FB

[trailmaker]

  I just built a couple of "Holz Hausens" recently.  I think they will dry more slowly than single stacks but I'm years ahead on wood.  I really like the way they look so I'll keep building them as long as I stay ahead on wood. 

[Ernie]

Don't know how it will dry but it sure is purdy

[Piston]

Don't know how it will dry but it sure is purdy

Isn't that amazing!  I have seen that pic so many times and it still seems incredible to me.....

Here is my stack so far....

[beenthere]

Piston
Is that stack hollow or filled with wood? If filled, might be cooking inside. ;)

[thecfarm]

That looks good piston. Looks like every stick is just about the same size.

[Holmes]

Piston: I can see that you are obviously challenged when it comes to stacking wood. ;D ;D

[Piston]

Did I say that was MY stack??? Oh shoot, it must have been a type  :D

It's actually a stack of wood at the Plimouth Plantation in MA.  I couldn't resist claiming it all as my own!   ;D

I'm not sure if it's hollow inside, it seemed absolutely chuck full, it was stacked pretty tight.  I also saw a demonstration of some guys pitsawing while there, THAT seems like hard work!

[beenthere]

 :D :D

I used to stack wood 10' high in a 24 x 24 pole shed. But to get it that high, I had to use the skidsteer and bucket, or a ladder. Had right at 25 cord stacked in there and a 16 x 16 space left for tractor. Dried nice because it was protected from direct rain and snow. But had to stand on a ladder to remove it and the worst part, the racoons used it for a toilet. Couldn't believe it, but they must have hiked a long ways to leave their deposit, as thick as it was.
I liked the dry wood, but decided the coon crap just wasn't worth it (what with the threat of the disease from coon crap always on my mind). So, made the move to turn the pole shed into an enclosed shed and move the split wood onto pallets. For me, is the ideal solution.

[Dave Shepard]

If you have to move the wood to the stove, then I'd palletize it somehow. I've made similar stacks to the Holz Hausen, but I start by making a teepee of three sticks on end and keep everything vertically oriented.

I've done a little pit sawing. A lot like ice sawing, just easier on the pitman. ;)

[clww]

I'm not sure if it's hollow inside, it seemed absolutely chuck full, it was stacked pretty tight.  I also saw a demonstration of some guys pitsawing while there, THAT seems like hard work!
[/quote]
I've got a book laying around here somewhere dealing, in part, with alternate stacking methods. That style IS filled with wood on the inside. As I recall, someplace in Europe is where this particular stack method originated. I've been thinking about trying it on the next tree I split up and haul into my backyard. The more wood I fill it with, the less grass I need to mow!

[sparky1]

You guys look like you have the stacking mastered!! you could bring your talents to south west wisconsin and help me out!!! ;D  I pay well (well if you like beer)!! 8)

[clww]

I don't drink.

[Piston]

I'll take his share  :D