Poly tunnels for drying wood

[zeroluke]

ow then its decision time and I could do with your help here. I have just accuired enough timber and pallets to make a shelter for my wood/logs. The question is, would I be better off buying one of 6 x 3m Polytunnel Greenhouse Poly Tunnel Pollytunnel | eBay them poly tunnels and dry it that way with the door flaps tied open 24/7 to allow air flow? Its probably the biggest I have room for and the most I could afford at the moment. The one thing that would worry me is how to keep the high humidity at bay. Maybe have a solar powered fan in there or something?

 

Sorry if this post seems a little oddly worded. I type most of mine in the night, where I might not quite type what I mean do to insomia . Thanks

[Daniël Bos]

If you want it just for drying logs, a poly-t is ideal. For imprved airflow, you could attach the bottom of the coverto a board about 50 to 75cm off the ground. This will leave the sides and (if opened like you said) the ends open to airflow. The heating up of the air inside will cause enough convection to create adequate airflow even on days without any wind at all (wich are very rare).

 

The main disadvantage to a poly-t especially one that small is that they're quite delicate, no chucking logs in from the end..... You'll have to either stack it very carefully or use crates or yorkshire-board up the sides (wich would defeat the advantage of said poly-t) so it'll mean a bit more work.

[coppiceer]

I use a polytunnel for storing logs for our domestic woodburner. We have never had any problems with robustness of either the frame or the polythene cover. There migtht be a problem with condensation over the winter. We get ice forming on the inside and when the temperature rises it gets quite damp and drippy. I would definitely keep your doors open at all times.

[davidjm55]

I've been thinking about doing the same as well using 1m3 vented log bags on pallets to put the logs in, I figure that way you should minimise the chances of damaging the polytunnel .

 

Does anyone have an idea just roughly how long it would take to get fresh logs down from say 35% MC to about 25% during summer/autumn?? I thought that it might be an idea to put the fresh logs in a polytunnel for a while to get the drying process started quickly and then finish them off in the open air.

[DN22 Gardening]

we store our logs in these crates.

 

i was thinking of stacking them 2 or 3 high, making a tent frame out of 3x2 and getting some clear plastic sheeting from the builders mechant. over the top, and down the sides, it wouldn't last long, but it'd only cost pennies to build.

[dave fox]

hi dn22 i store mine in pallet boxes i just screw an old ply board to the top box and stack them 3 high does the trick.

[windfall]

DN22, A polytunnel is just a frame and visqueen sheet, i recon your plan is a good one. I just put up a tunnel and i think the only thing missing from your plan is foam tape to go anywhere that the cover will touch the frame.