what to do with logs

[timb]

Hello

 

I have 70 vented bags 800x800 stacked 3 high, they have been rained on heavily since mid november. I have a an area in a barn to store them, as you look at the barn i have a wall on one side, roof and open front, so reasonable air flow. If i stack them in there now at 4-5 high will they dry out or go mouldy? I have another 70 bags to be split, which will be put in front off them, so these wetter ones will be at the back (due to space in the yard). I dont fancy having to stack every bag on a individual pallet as its a pain to get them level and find 140 pallets, there will be a base of pallets to aid air flow. Any advice from people that uses these vented bags would be appreciated, thanks

[Johny Walker]

theyd be better on pallets ,get some air thru

[Alycidon]

I use a similar system, dutch barn, roof and one almost closed long side only.

 

You will need strong pallets to take the weight, if necessary shove some logs under the slats to take the weight. Stack them in the barn and by next autumn you should have saleable logs all be it probably a bit black. They should be dry ( unless Oak) but they should not be mouldy.

 

Personally I dont stack higher than 3 as the bags can move as the timber dries and shrinks.

 

A

[timb]

Thanks for the reply s, vented bags or not if i stack them in a big pile there isnt going to be much air flow. I could see a large percentage of customers complaining about the mould. may leave them outside with a tarp over untill some sunny windy wether comes along then stack them in the barn, thanks

[muldonach]

If you do not use pallets then you will effectively make a solid block which will restrict air circulation quite a bit although having 3 open sides will help.

 

We avoid trying to stack neatly and deliberately leave gaps between rows to promote air circulation (We do not stack vertically but put one on two if you follow), with pallets between levels.

 

I think you may be surprised how dry the logs are under the outer / top layers, I'd be tempted to move them into the barn and build the present outer bags across the windward end, leave spaces between rows etc. I would also look at moving them in in stages i.e. take some into the barn and let them get dried off before building them into a stack and fetching some more in. Bit of a faff maybe but think it might help

 

Cheers

mac

[delabodge]

agree with mac, last yr I left 2ft air gap between rows and it made a huge difference!mine are on pallets one on floor,one between bags and one on top,then old fencing pannels/corrugated sheets/ on top. which I remove in july to let the sun fry the top logs.

[timb]

Thanks for the advice, moving the logs into the barn in stages will probably link in with finding that quantity of pallets, letting the logs dry out for a bit in stages, as suggested. My restrictions with stacking is that i need to get 140 Bags in the barn to make it financial worth while doing firewood, It really needs to be 35 bags per layer, which is crammed in. Bags on pallets it is then, Thanks all

[lmtrees]

i could help out with a pallets if needed

[timb]

£45 a pallet LM Trees, ill take 140, shall pm with details, thanks

[lmtrees]

plus vat!!!