been scroungin around

[Backwoods Savage]

......but it has to have some sort of cover, surley it can't be left out in the rain?

It sure can. Stacked off of the ground in a sun lit, windy spot, firewood can/will last for several years without any covering. There are a couple of varieties of the softer stuff (like paper birch, etc.) that you won't want to leave for multiple years, but a year or two ain't gonna hurt it at all. (this assumes, cut - split- stacked).

To add to what Jags wrote, there are several folks on this forum who never cover their wood as it is drying but then most of them will move the wood they are to burn either to a shed or porch to be ready to burn. I have left wood uncovered but not for a long time. I do have some now though that I cut last winter and I normally would cover that in November or early December (before heavy snow) but this time I am leaving that wood uncovered, just for kicks and to once more see the results.

If memory serves me the wood seemed to burn better after being covered after that first summer. Naturally, if left too long it will go bad but that would take many years as long as the wood is off the ground. This is only an experiment for me but I expect most wood I will continue to cover.


Here is some wood that was split and stacked in April 2009. Notice the poles that the wood is stacked on to keep it off the ground and to allow air to circulate under the stacks.
(broken image removed)

Here is the same stack covered. This was covered in November of 2009. There is still enough wood in that stack for us to burn next winter.
(broken image removed)

Note that the wood is not stacked in single rows. Had this wood been needed earlier, then it would have been stacked in single rows. Also, the wood was stacked about 4 1/2' high and that shrunk down to just under 4' high.

 

[Fifi]

Wow I'm seriously impressed with your wood stacks Backwoods Savage!

I erm just have a teensy weensy small pile lol.

I'm beginning to get the idea though. Will make a very mini version of yours.

Woodchip said I could maybe put a tarp over the top but not over the sides.

I have a plastic garden bench I could put it under there, which would keep most rain off the top but allow plenty of air circulation and some old bricks so I could put them under to raise it off the ground level, with gaps to allow air through. The bench is in a reasonably sunny spot.

Fifi

 

[Fifi]

OK here is my log pile.........not quite up to Backwoods Savage standard!

The crates are on bricks to keep off the ground and the crates have lots holes to let air circulate and space between them and bench. Bench has some old slates on top to keep direct rain off wood.

One of logs given to me and one of sticks I gathered myself ...my first ever stick gathering season.

Fifi

 

[mecreature]

still been scroungin around. Hackberry in the front... I think and some cottonwood in the back.
I didn't really want the cottonwood but I had to work my way back to 6 more cherry trees.
I am starting to see why some leave them in the round. just tryin to find time.
should get a couple more truck loads this weekend.

 

[clemsonfor]

OK here is my log pile.........not quite up to Backwoods Savage standard!

The crates are on bricks to keep off the ground and the crates have lots holes to let air circulate and space between them and bench. Bench has some old slates on top to keep direct rain off wood.

One of logs given to me and one of sticks I gathered myself ...my first ever stick gathering season.

Fifi

Not poking fun, but do you plan on burning for the asthetics or for heat? Just asking as you may have 2 days max in a small stove there?

 

[ScotO]

still been scroungin around. Hackberry in the front... I think and some cottonwood in the back.
I didn't really want the cottonwood but I had to work my way back to 6 more cherry trees.
I am starting to see why some leave them in the round. just tryin to find time.
should get a couple more truck loads this weekend.

Mecreature, looks like yer pile is starting to get a lot bigger! Keep up the good scrounging, that cottonwood will be good for gettin the stove primed up in the evening or for a morning startup. I got all kinds of softer hardwoods in my stack for those very reasons.....

 

[Fifi]

Hi clemsonfor ......yeah I know it's a bit feeble looking lol. I just have an open fireplace, I'm in UK in a Victorian semi which still has original chimney in lounge and old fireplace, just getting into using it so really it's a supliment to the central heating but I'm very happy to have opened it up to use because my lounge faces north and gets quite cold. So it is for heat but in a small way. I'll need lots more than that I know even for small but that's just the start of my getting ready for next year. This year I'm using smokeless coal and lots of wood scrounged from a building project my freind is giving me.

I recently had some big bushes taken out as they blew over in the wind and I want to plant something else so I had them chopped up so here is pile number 2.....I've put a tarp over it now.

While the guys were here I had my first try with an axe to split.......erm I wasn't that good but it was my first attempt lol

Fifi

 

[Fifi]

PS it doesn't get cold enough here to really need to light it every day in winter anyway, unless if the heating broke which thankfully it hasn't yet

Fifi

 

[mecreature]

still been scroungin around. Hackberry in the front... I think and some cottonwood in the back.
I didn't really want the cottonwood but I had to work my way back to 6 more cherry trees.
I am starting to see why some leave them in the round. just tryin to find time.
should get a couple more truck loads this weekend.

Mecreature, looks like yer pile is starting to get a lot bigger! Keep up the good scrounging, that cottonwood will be good for gettin the stove primed up in the evening or for a morning startup. I got all kinds of softer hardwoods in my stack for those very reasons.....

I'm in better shape then last year. I have a couple stacks else where I need to get moved too.
The cottonwood being a manageable size helps. Those big ones are for the birds.

 

[mecreature]

PS it doesn't get cold enough here to really need to light it every day in winter anyway, unless if the heating broke which thankfully it hasn't yet

Fifi

If you are going to burn it, good job keeping it dry.
We have some fires at warmer times just for fun.

 

[clemsonfor]

Hi clemsonfor ......yeah I know it's a bit feeble looking lol. I just have an open fireplace, I'm in UK in a Victorian semi which still has original chimney in lounge and old fireplace, just getting into using it so really it's a supliment to the central heating but I'm very happy to have opened it up to use because my lounge faces north and gets quite cold. So it is for heat but in a small way. I'll need lots more than that I know even for small but that's just the start of my getting ready for next year. This year I'm using smokeless coal and lots of wood scrounged from a building project my freind is giving me.

I recently had some big bushes taken out as they blew over in the wind and I want to plant something else so I had them chopped up so here is pile number 2.....I've put a tarp over it now.

While the guys were here I had my first try with an axe to split.......erm I wasn't that good but it was my first attempt lol

Fifi

I would atleast stack that second pile to help dry and not rot. The bottom of the pile dosent get air very well.

Also now time for a wood stove!! A fireplace does almost nothing for heat. I use to have one till i convinced the wife to let me gut a stove. The fireplace would use tons of wood and barely keep the room in the 70s!

 

[Fifi]

Ok thanks I shall pay more attention to my second wood pile and try to stack it better, there are some bricks underneath to raise it a bit but I can see it could be better, I have a tarp over the top now.

I wanted a wood stove and looked into it but it was too expensive for me and would have involved a lot of knocking out of the existing fireplace, so this will do me for now, it provides a bit of heat and make the lounge more cosy.

Fifi

 

[clemsonfor]

Ok thanks I shall pay more attention to my second wood pile and try to stack it better, there are some bricks underneath to raise it a bit but I can see it could be better, I have a tarp over the top now.

I wanted a wood stove and looked into it but it was too expensive for me and would have involved a lot of knocking out of the existing fireplace, so this will do me for now, it provides a bit of heat and make the lounge more cosy.

Fifi

Get a small free standing one and put it on the hearth infront of the fireplace and then run the stove pipe up the chimney.

 

[Fifi]

Here is my new log store!!

Fifi

 

[Fifi]

Getting there, this is the new log store, with slats to allow air flow, slats in floor and raised slightly. The wood stove is still out of my budget and even if I put it in front there isn't really enough room, but I have found that the fireplace has been great to suppliment the central heating when it's been cold and makes the lounge nice and cosy instead of chilly. Thanks to everyone for their advice. I went on one of those day bushcraft courses in our local woods which helped me learn how to split and chop logs, use a firesteel and that sort of thing. None of us managed to get the bowdrill method to light but we had a go. We had a nice camp fire, made tea and steamed some trout covered in moss to make it steam, made some bread, it was fun and I was pleased to learn how to chop safely.

Fifi

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Why, of course Fifi. What would a good English do without tea!

I really like the way you are collecting the rainwater. All the shed needs now is a good coat of paint to make it last for many moons.

 

[Fifi]

It's supposed to have been "pressure treated" to make it last at lest 15 years.

We currently have a "hose pipe ban" in much of UK ...... a drought.....because it didn't rain much for a while....and then we had the wettest April in recent history......but I think they will still fine us if we use hoses to water the garden this summer, hence the butt.

 

[clemsonfor]

It's supposed to have been "pressure treated" to make it last at lest 15 years.

We currently have a "hose pipe ban" in much of UK ...... a drought.....because it didn't rain much for a while....and then we had the wettest April in recent history......but I think they will still fine us if we use hoses to water the garden this summer, hence the butt.

Run a split piece of PVC pipe like a ditch and move the water to your garden, no hose pipe but you can move the water through pipe.

 

[Woody Stover]

this is the new log store

What is in the door on the right side? Small branches and twigs for starting fires? I would think that you have to start a lot of fires from scratch; Once it gets cold here, my fire may not go out for months, so not many restarts of a cold stove.