Storing lengths for firewood on the side

[MatIreland]

Hi guys, im quite new to this so bare with me on this one. I was just wondering if anyone could help me with a few questions.

 

I run a landscaping company with my old man and over this winter ive been asked time and again if i sold firewood. Thinking i could make a few bobb on the side ive asked someone i know a few miles away from me if he could supply me with some logs that i could season and then sell next winter as firewood. Hes got a decent truck load of hardwoods for me with more if needed.

 

Whats the best thing to do with these logs when i get them? Leave in lengths and season outside? with a cover of some kind but letting air at them? Cut and split them straight away and store inside? or what? im just looking for some general ideas that will work for me, keeping in mind i dont want to throw too much money at it and i have limited inside space.

 

Any help will be very appreciated. Cheers, mat

[Martyn Amos]

i always split ASAP and stack in a open front log shed[for the air]

they season quicker when split

[geoff]

Get them cut split & stored ready for next year.

[MatIreland]

thanks guys that was initial plan but i dont think i have a store that would let them air enough, i only have an old stone barn that i could put them in and its only got small windows. Planning is in for a new workshop and lean-too but they would not be up in time.......

[slack ma girdle]

Split and stack like this:

Maximum air flow = quick drying

[Martyn Amos]

Split and stack like this:

Maximum air flow = quick drying

 

nice stacking girdle,understand the max air flow bit

but is it not double the work?

youve split and stacked to dry,then when you want it to burn,you have to cut for size,so you have to handle twice.

hence- log,split,and stack[handled once]then when needed fill the log basket and burn.-BINGO:thumbup1:

[rowan lee]

nice stacking girdle,understand the max air flow bit

but is it not double the work?

youve split and stacked to dry,then when you want it to burn,you have to cut for size,so you have to handle twice.

hence- log,split,and stack[handled once]then when needed fill the log basket and burn.-BINGO:thumbup1:

 

True, but I think Girdle mentioned in an earlier thread, that the system he uses allows wood that is felled freshly during the early summer to be ready to burn in the autumn. So if there is a time issue it speeds things up in the long run. If you have a years supply already in the bags then perhaps there is no need?

 

Personally, i fell, haul, log, split, and heap a transport box at a time from our small woods at home in the one sequence. It adds variety to the task, and although at first it seems like the heap in only progressing slowly, after a few weekends of it, it soon starts to look well. All the split logs are just hand balled onto pallets and a tarp covered. Granted this system would not work well for a large outfit, but for personal use and about £2000 worth of private net bag sales a year, which pays for the fuel, maintenance of machinery, and a bit of beer money, etc, its well worth the time and effort, so long as a you have a years supply in advance.

[chilli]

If you leave the wood in lengths, the chances are that it will still be too wet in the middle to sell next winter. Cut into rings now & stack on pallets, bark against bark (with the cut sides vertical). no need to cover. When you start a new row, leave a gap so that cut faces do not touch. Wind flow is king as someone else said.

Come the autumn, you'll have dry rings to split.

[Martyn Amos]

True, but I think Girdle mentioned in an earlier thread, that the system he uses allows wood that is felled freshly during the early summer to be ready to burn in the autumn. So if there is a time issue it speeds things up in the long run. If you have a years supply already in the bags then perhaps there is no need?

 

Personally, i fell, haul, log, split, and heap a transport box at a time from our small woods at home in the one sequence. It adds variety to the task, and although at first it seems like the heap in only progressing slowly, after a few weekends of it, it soon starts to look well. All the split logs are just hand balled onto pallets and a tarp covered. Granted this system would not work well for a large outfit, but for personal use and about £2000 worth of private net bag sales a year, which pays for the fuel, maintenance of machinery, and a bit of beer money, etc, its well worth the time and effort, so long as a you have a years supply in advance.

 

i just think,fell,log,split JOB DONE

there cant be any quicker way to dry your logs when you split them[unless you kiln dry them]?

[Martyn Amos]

If you leave the wood in lengths, the chances are that it will still be too wet in the middle to sell next winter. Cut into rings now & stack on pallets, bark against bark (with the cut sides vertical). no need to cover. When you start a new row, leave a gap so that cut faces do not touch. Wind flow is king as someone else said.

Come the autumn, you'll have dry rings to split.

 

my point:thumbup1:

cheers chill