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Posted by Steve B on August 13, 2006, 3:56 pm
I own a mountain cabin at 7500' elevation. It rains and snows quite a bit
there.
We currently have our firewood stored under the deck. But, it is a pain,
and we want to move it to another location.
I had some roofing panels and metal left over from a reroof. I was
planning on making a lean to shaped structure kind of like a pole barn with
a steep roof pitch. I want to do this so that the wood would be accessible
on the high north side opening, and the south side opening would be lower,
protecting from the side that the snow and rain usually comes from. I will
make steel rails to keep the wood about a foot off the ground.
I need to store about a cord or two under this. I really don't have many
questions about the construction of the lean to, but in other areas, I do:
How long should you let wood sit before burning?
How big in cross section should you split down to?
If rain gets on sitting aged wood, how long does it take to dry out good
enough to burn?
Should I make my structure more weather tight? ( I don't want to make it an
invitation to critters and spiders)
If I spray insecticide on the wood, will it be given off in harmful vapors
when I burn?
Or should I just spray AROUND the wood, but not directly on it?
Any other suggestions?
Help appreciated by this newbie woodsman.
Steve
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Posted by Jim McLaughlin on August 13, 2006, 4:09 pm
Responses in line.
> I own a mountain cabin at 7500' elevation. It rains and snows quite a bit
> there.
>
> We currently have our firewood stored under the deck. But, it is a pain,
> and we want to move it to another location.
>
> I had some roofing panels and metal left over from a reroof. I was
> planning on making a lean to shaped structure kind of like a pole barn
with
> a steep roof pitch. I want to do this so that the wood would be
accessible
> on the high north side opening, and the south side opening would be lower,
> protecting from the side that the snow and rain usually comes from. I
will
> make steel rails to keep the wood about a foot off the ground.
>
> I need to store about a cord or two under this. I really don't have many
> questions about the construction of the lean to, but in other areas, I do:
>
> How long should you let wood sit before burning?
Depends upon the wood, but assuing you cut a green tree, not an alraeady
dead tree r deadfall, you want at least 6 mos., better a year.
> How big in cross section should you split down to?
Again, depends a lot on what you are going to burn it in. The big
fireplace in the "new lodge at Timberline on Mt. Hood takes wood both longer
and larger caliber than my wood stove. Rough rule of thub is 2 inches
shorter than the longest dimension ( crosswise dimension) in your burning
device. To me, nothing more than a 5 - 6 inch caliber piece after
splitting. Thats a triangle wedge shape, with to sides bare dried wood,
one side bark.
> If rain gets on sitting aged wood, how long does it take to dry out good
> enough to burn?
In a hot fire fueled by a lot a dry kindling, rainwater is gone in two -
three minutes. If you wood is sitting immersed in water and gets
waterlogged, 2 - 3 months.
> Should I make my structure more weather tight? ( I don't want to make it
an
> invitation to critters and spiders)
You will always have spiders. Always handle wood with gloves. Brown
reculse is found nationwide, loves woodpiles, and is very dangerous.
> If I spray insecticide on the wood, will it be given off in harmful vapors
> when I burn?
GOOD GOD NO!. Dont ever put insecticde on firewood.
> Or should I just spray AROUND the wood, but not directly on it?
No.
> Any other suggestions?
You need your wood about 6 inches off the ground for good air flow
underneath to dry it.
How / where are you going to obtain and store kindling?
>
> Help appreciated by this newbie woodsman.
>
> Steve
>
>
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Posted by Pavel314 on August 13, 2006, 7:27 pm
>I own a mountain cabin at 7500' elevation. It rains and snows quite a bit
>there.
>
> We currently have our firewood stored under the deck. But, it is a pain,
> and we want to move it to another location.
>
> I had some roofing panels and metal left over from a reroof. I was
> planning on making a lean to shaped structure kind of like a pole barn
> with a steep roof pitch. I want to do this so that the wood would be
> accessible on the high north side opening, and the south side opening
> would be lower, protecting from the side that the snow and rain usually
> comes from. I will make steel rails to keep the wood about a foot off the
> ground.
We stack our wood off the ground on rails made from the larger branches of
the trees we fell. When we get a stack finished, we cover it with a tarp to
keep the rain off.
Paul
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Posted by Lawrence on August 13, 2006, 7:29 pm
Steve B wrote:
> How long should you let wood sit before burning?
If split and stacked out of the weather, one year is considered good
enough. Two years even better, three years is quite enough.
> How big in cross section should you split down to?
I think this depend on species used, type of stove, including size of
firebox and opening. A big stove and poor firewood (pine, aspen, fir
and the like) means you can split your wood little if at all. A small
stove and good firewood (oak) would mean the opposite. Do you have
these details?
> If rain gets on sitting aged wood, how long does it take to dry out good
> enough to burn?
How long has it been uncovered? If it has been rained on only a bit
then it wil only be wet on the surface. It wil burn in an existing
fire or could be split if needed.
> Should I make my structure more weather tight? ( I don't want to make it an
> invitation to critters and spiders)
Most wood sheds have four open sides. Ventilation is the key to drying
your wood.
> If I spray insecticide on the wood, will it be given off in harmful vapors
> when I burn?
> Or should I just spray AROUND the wood, but not directly on it?
> Any other suggestions?
Why do yu think you need insecticide? Because of a few spiders??
Insecticides should only be used in a thougtful and careful manner, if
at all. It is certainly worth avoiding especially aroung your
dwelling where you are as likely to poison your self as you are the
bugs.
>
> Help appreciated by this newbie woodsman.
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Posted by Harry K on August 13, 2006, 10:25 pm
Steve B wrote:
> I own a mountain cabin at 7500' elevation. It rains and snows quite a bit
> there.
>
> We currently have our firewood stored under the deck. But, it is a pain,
> and we want to move it to another location.
>
> I had some roofing panels and metal left over from a reroof. I was
> planning on making a lean to shaped structure kind of like a pole barn with
> a steep roof pitch. I want to do this so that the wood would be accessible
> on the high north side opening, and the south side opening would be lower,
> protecting from the side that the snow and rain usually comes from. I will
> make steel rails to keep the wood about a foot off the ground.
Best is to have the weather side fully closed but with ventilation,
i.e., you don't want a fully open weather side but a wall going down
mostof the way with the bottom open is good.
>
> I need to store about a cord or two under this. I really don't have many
> questions about the construction of the lean to, but in other areas, I do:
>
> How long should you let wood sit before burning?
Best is to cut one year, burn the next. This does require double the
amount of storage space though. Minimum if cutting green is 6 months.
> How big in cross section should you split down to?
Split it down to whatever size your stove/fireplace or whatever takes.
> If rain gets on sitting aged wood, how long does it take to dry out good
> enough to burn?
Very quick unless it is totally immersed. Wood takes in and loses
water through the end, not the sides. If you carry in a small armfull
and put it by the stove, it will be dry by the time yo need to feed the
fire.
> Should I make my structure more weather tight? ( I don't want to make it an
> invitation to critters and spiders)
A wood pile is _going_ to have 'critters and spiders' . If you have
firewood, you learn to live with them. I heat my house almost solely
with wood and rarely have a bug problem other than an overwintering
moth or two.
> If I spray insecticide on the wood, will it be given off in harmful vapors
> when I burn?
Yes, and no matter how much you spray, there will still be bugs in the
pile.
> Or should I just spray AROUND the wood, but not directly on it?
NO!
> Any other suggestions?
Do some reading on burning/heating with wood. There are a lot of
sources out there and Google is your friend.
>
> Help appreciated by this newbie woodsman.
>
> Steve
Harry K
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