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Drying and storing firewood tenplay 07-17-2006
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Posted by tenplay on July 17, 2006, 11:14 pm
What is the best way to dry and store firewood? I have some freshly cut
firewood in my yard. I was going to dry and store them in large boxes
in my garage. But I just read in a book that it is best to leave them
separate from the house because of possible insect infestation. Also it
recommended stacking the cut firewood off the ground and with nothing
covering the top of the stack. I don't see how the wood is going to
remain dry uncovered in the rainy NW. The author claims that the rain
will not penetrate the wood once it is properly dried. What's your
opinion and experience with firewood? thanks.

Posted by Jim McLaughlin on July 18, 2006, 12:12 am

> What is the best way to dry and store firewood? I have some freshly cut
> firewood in my yard. I was going to dry and store them in large boxes
> in my garage. But I just read in a book that it is best to leave them
> separate from the house because of possible insect infestation. Also it
> recommended stacking the cut firewood off the ground and with nothing
> covering the top of the stack. I don't see how the wood is going to
> remain dry uncovered in the rainy NW. The author claims that the rain
> will not penetrate the wood once it is properly dried. What's your
> opinion and experience with firewood? thanks.

I'm in the NW, too.

Willamette Valley, OR.

Been seriously using wood for supplemental heat in a wood stove for about
20 years, played with it for about 10 years before that.

When I got serious about it, I built 4 homemade wood racks, after buying two
commercial versions that I didn't like.

Mine have two 4" x 4" x 4' high end posts on each end. Those are joined by
a 2" x 4" x 18" cross piece about 4 " above ground level. (Damn, I can
build one of these faster than I can describe it.) (And I know I'm not
describing it in a way taht anybody could follow.( : { )Another cross piece
(2" x 4") goes at the top, and one more mid way between. These form kind of
"tower units" that go on the ends. I used 3" deck screws for all fasteners.

A pair of 2"x4" x 5' rails connects the two
tower units. I also put on a top rear rail and a mid rear rail.

Works like a charm with my wood, which I cut to 15" lengths to fit the wood
stove with some clearance.

That space below the rails is real important for air circulation to dry the
wood. In summer (Julky 17 through 21 each year wether we are ready or
not -- this is the NW after all) I leave the newly cut wood uncovered. But
when the fall (late September/ October) rains start, I cover the wood with
a plastic tarp.

If I can decipher an E mail address for you, I'll try to take some
pictures that might better illustrate what I am trying to describe.

--
Jim McLaughlin

Reply address is deliberately munged.
If you really need to reply directly, try:
jimdotmclaughlinatcomcastdotcom

And you know it is a dotnet not a dotcom
address.



Posted by Stubby on July 18, 2006, 7:17 am

"Wet" or "dry" has to do with the water trapped in the wood fiber itself
rather than a little bit of rain water on the outside.

The problem with green wood is that it takes heat to boil the water off.
That's heat that you would prefer to keep for heating your room.

If wood gets too dry, it burns too quickly, like crumpled newspaper.
Keep an eye on it and keep the air vent almost shut lest it roar and
start a chimney fire.



tenplay wrote:
> What is the best way to dry and store firewood? I have some freshly cut
> firewood in my yard. I was going to dry and store them in large boxes
> in my garage. But I just read in a book that it is best to leave them
> separate from the house because of possible insect infestation. Also it
> recommended stacking the cut firewood off the ground and with nothing
> covering the top of the stack. I don't see how the wood is going to
> remain dry uncovered in the rainy NW. The author claims that the rain
> will not penetrate the wood once it is properly dried. What's your
> opinion and experience with firewood? thanks.

Posted by Robert Gammon on July 18, 2006, 7:22 am

> tenplay wrote:
>> What is the best way to dry and store firewood? I have some freshly
>> cut firewood in my yard. I was going to dry and store them in large
>> boxes in my garage. But I just read in a book that it is best to
>> leave them separate from the house because of possible insect
>> infestation. Also it recommended stacking the cut firewood off the
>> ground and with nothing covering the top of the stack. I don't see
>> how the wood is going to remain dry uncovered in the rainy NW. The
>> author claims that the rain will not penetrate the wood once it is
>> properly dried. What's your opinion and experience with firewood?
>> thanks.


Dead wood attracts TERMITES. not simply insects. Keep the wood pile as
far away from you house as you can.


Posted by on July 18, 2006, 9:35 am

tenplay wrote:
> What is the best way to dry and store firewood? I have some freshly cut
> firewood in my yard. I was going to dry and store them in large boxes
> in my garage. But I just read in a book that it is best to leave them
> separate from the house because of possible insect infestation. Also it
> recommended stacking the cut firewood off the ground and with nothing
> covering the top of the stack. I don't see how the wood is going to
> remain dry uncovered in the rainy NW. The author claims that the rain
> will not penetrate the wood once it is properly dried. What's your
> opinion and experience with firewood? thanks.

What works well in CT (with only about 55" annual precip):
1. Season wood well (couple years if possible) so "bound water" leaves
cells. Partial splitting/buzzing speeds process.
2. Split, buzz, stack by early summer in relatively open enclosures,
protected above from rain. On S side of house. Exposed to breezes.

Drying takes time, depending on species and dimensions, and you can NOT
get the wood too dry. Not for a modern stove. IMHO

Except for powder-post beetles, insects infest moist wood, especially
under bark. Another excellent reason to get it dry. And keep it covered
above- rain will certainly wet the wood. If the first part of a stick
you're trying to light is a soggy sponge, you've a problem right there.
Not to mention generating steam to throw away.

J


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