Vertically stacked rings

[Dawsie]

Apologies if this has been asked before (I couldn’t find it).

so I’ve got limited space to store split logs and wondered if anyone has experimented with stacking rings vertically (in my case they will be 25cm in length), and then split as and when required.

Would I be slowing the drying out process markedly?

[Woodworks]

2 hours ago, Dawsie said:

Apologies if this has been asked before (I couldn’t find it).

so I’ve got limited space to store split logs and wondered if anyone has experimented with stacking rings vertically (in my case they will be 25cm in length), and then split as and when required.

Would I be slowing the drying out process markedly?

Logs dry fastest from the end-grain (previous test bellow) . If you stack them end on end then yes you dramatically slow the drying process. 

 

 

[peds]

Presumably stacking the rings them between stickers and ensuring decent airflow would be better than just having them all on top of other, but it's definitely not ideal.

A well-stacked wall of splits can get quite high, and arguably can use less space than the equivalent of stacked rings...

[Haironyourchest]

Split them now, if you can. Easier to split green, seasons faster, finished product takes up less space than rings.

[GarethM]

Stacking and splitting them as you need them is never a good idea, leaving them as rings won't allow them to season quickly enough and you'll just end up trying to burn wet wood.

 

Splitting them and stacking would be better, but don't just build an impenetrable tower.

[Ashes_Firewood]

I tried this with birch and it was only for a few weeks until I had time to split them. The ends were sweaty and going mouldy already in that time and starting to stick together. So wouldn't recommend it.

[Stubby]

Also if you stack rings one on top of the other they will stick together after getting wet . 

[openspaceman]

8 minutes ago, Haironyourchest said:

Split them now, if you can. Easier to split green, seasons faster, finished product takes up less space than rings.

I agree and that last bit is interesting; normally when you break down a log all the pieces take up more space.

 

In the case of a uniformly round ring on its side  and "square" stacked side by side and one vertically over another then there is about 25% air space, if they are stacked diagonally with the top layer resting on the space between two logs it drops to <10%. It would be close but a well built stack of wedges of split logs could be between the two.

[Steven P]

Space: If you split them all now you might be able to use them next winter (depending on species, location, and 100 other things). If you stack them and split them later in the year, maybe after using this seasons fuel they maybe won't be ready till the winter after... you will still need a stack of logs for next winter... or 2 stacks instead of 1.

 

Processing your own firewood is a balancing act between cost (cheapest to do your own) against the time it takes, drying space, equipment needed, and so on

[neiln]

A neat and tight stack of splits will definitely take up less space than the unsplit rings. No doubt at all in my mind.