Storing logs in a BIG pile to season??

[mattplace]

I have an opportunity to use an open 'dutch' barn to store my logs in so i was thinking of cladding it with wood leaving 40mm between each 100mm board to allow the air through and to keep the undesirables out!

 

To save time and expense, i am hoping i can process the logs in to one almighty pile and leave them for a year. In total there will be about 100m3 in the barn.

 

Does anyone else do this with good results?

 

My concern will be mould in the centre of the pile and the logs not seasoning.

 

I could process into m3 bags and stack them with gaps for the air but then i limit myself to how much i can get in.

 

 

Any advice much appreciated!!

[gensetsteve]

I have a large mesh sided poly tunnel. I tend to process into 4 smaller piles and leave in the summer for a few weeks then pile on top. One big pile the ones in the middle will go mouldy. The more wind blows through the better.

[Alycidon]

I have used a barn with 3 closed sides and one open long side, no problems with mould to date. Had about 110 cube of soft in one heap and about 40 of hard in another seperated by a wall of arb bags. Putting in at about 27%-30%. Bulk heap does not seem to dry as fast as arb bags, took some out last night at about 19%, far damper than I would like but being soft it burns well.

 

A

[renewablejohn]

I use IBC cages so 100m3 would only be 5x5 x 4 high so what would you do with the rest of the barn.

[treedave]

John,

What you handling the cages with? Creating more storage at mine at the moment, using bags at the moment but can only stack 3 high so might consider a change if it's worth the investment.

[felixthelogchopper]

Get them up off the deck and onto pallets to get the air going underneath the pile and this should help stop them going mouldy

[renewablejohn]

Treedave

 

More or less standard 2 tonne diesel forklift truck. Only difference to normal was a full cab so that when I tip out (rotator) woodchip I am protected from dust (health & safety). The mast has 6 foot of float before it starts raising the main mast so I can get in the polytunnels and stack 2 high. (Failed to work once and punched hole in polytunnel roof) Did look at all terrain forklifts but cabs where to high to fit in the polytunnels plus they get a bit wobbly when at full stretch unlike solid tyres.

[StephF]

I have an opportunity to use an open 'dutch' barn to store my logs in so i was thinking of cladding it with wood leaving 40mm between each 100mm board to allow the air through and to keep the undesirables out!

 

To save time and expense, i am hoping i can process the logs in to one almighty pile and leave them for a year. In total there will be about 100m3 in the barn.

 

Does anyone else do this with good results?

 

My concern will be mould in the centre of the pile and the logs not seasoning.

 

I could process into m3 bags and stack them with gaps for the air but then i limit myself to how much i can get in.

 

 

Any advice much appreciated!!

Never put the logs in a pile if they are damp, they will go mouldy.

[mattplace]

Thanks for all the replies! I still don't know what to do!!

 

I use IBC cages so 100m3 would only be 5x5 x 4 high so what would you do with the rest of the barn.

 

Hi John, the barn is only 7mX4.5mX4m high (upto the eaves)= 126m3 so that's why I said 100m3 to store in there.

It's about 15 miles from my yard where I currently store my wood but i only have space for 100m3 there. Because i wont be the new barn often, that's why I'm thinking of cladding it, filling it, and forgetting about it for 10-12 months.

Best of all... It's free!

Out of interest, what do you pay for your ibc cages?? I have been pricing up m3 bags today and at £5.60+vat, I think they're a bit steep! especially as they may only last a couple of years where as an ibc cage will outlast me!!

[Stereo]

How about stacking in split billets in big rows? Then saw up later into logs. The billets will naturally create air gaps in one direction.