My First Holz Hausen

[begreen]

Excellent.

 

[kennyp2339]

About 5 cords maybe on average. Have about 15 cords total split so about 2-3 years ahead at this point.

If the beginning of your name starts with Ken, it is required to have a minimum of 15 cords stacked and ready!

 

[KenLockett]

Holz Hausen complete finally!

 

[KenLockett]

My wife told me that I need to increase the number of top pieces to create more of an overlap to the ends. do you guys agree?

 

[kennyp2339]

Yes, I would do another layer of wood split shingles, try to get them almost to the edge and layer them like shingles or close to end to end as possible, trying to create a path for water to drip off the pile. But all in all that looks really good, I'm thinking that that's how I'm going to stack wood from now on by me, I can stack the same amount of wood just with a smaller foot print using this method.

 

[volunbeer]

Looks great! I am going to try one of these for next years wood this fall/winter.

 

[beatlefan]

That looks great and has me wanting to try it too. I know you didn't do it all at once, but how long did it take overall? I assume it would take a lot longer than a traditional stack.

 

[KenLockett]

That looks great and has me wanting to try it too. I know you didn't do it all at once, but how long did it take overall? I assume it would take a lot longer than a traditional stack.

I think it did probably take a bit longer than traditional. Takes time walking around it to place sticks. More so than traditional where you simply pull from trailer as you move down. Just my opinion though.

 

[KenLockett]

Honestly not sure of the exact time it took from a continuous point of reference.

 

[Lake Girl]

My Great Uncle did a variation of the holzhausen that allowed for drying and shed water. He had at least 3 piles approximately 10' across and 7' high. They looked like the dome shaped bee skep. Splits were on end bark side out with interior ones leaning on each other and progressively moved out and up. Not sure exactly how he did the very interior. Pulled wood off those piles for over 10 years after he passed away without issue. Mind you he built them on flat rock outcrops ... good Canadian shield near Apsley, Ontario at Jack Lake. They brought hydro lines in at the back of his property and he cut, hauled by wheelbarrow to lakeside cabin, split and stacked. Tough old guy who passed away at 83. He wore the lumberman look with ease and could back it up. He built the cabin w/o power tools ... no electrical hook-up until after he passed away.

Edit: Found something closer but still different. His splits were shorter ... never did make it to the very inside of any of those stacks so not sure how he did the interiors. Small cribbed center to provide support?
http://www.myheimat.de/wunstorf/freizeit/eine-kleine-holzmiete-fuer-besucher-m636042,116058.html

 

[KenLockett]

My Great Uncle did a variation of the holzhausen that allowed for drying and shed water. He had at least 3 piles approximately 10' across and 7' high. They looked like the dome shaped bee skep. Splits were on end bark side out with interior ones leaning on each other and progressively moved out and up. Not sure exactly how he did the very interior. Pulled wood off those piles for over 10 years after he passed away without issue. Mind you he built them on flat rock outcrops ... good Canadian shield near Apsley, Ontario at Jack Lake. They brought hydro lines in at the back of his property and he cut, hauled by wheelbarrow to lakeside cabin, split and stacked. Tough old guy who passed away at 83. He wore the lumberman look with ease and could back it up. He built the cabin w/o power tools ... no electrical hook-up until after he passed away.

Edit: Found something closer but still different. His splits were shorter ... never did make it to the very inside of any of those stacks so not sure how he did the interiors. Small cribbed center to provide support?
http://www.myheimat.de/wunstorf/freizeit/eine-kleine-holzmiete-fuer-besucher-m636042,116058.html

Thanks for sharing.

 

[KenLockett]

Holz Hausen with Black Birch and Hop Hornbeam shingles applied as close to edges as possible. Now...finally done. Couldn't get anymore wood on their even if I wanted to.

 

[fbelec]

hi ken
on your bottom row the splits are making the circle. are they like that thru to the center or just the edge so the splits pitch down towards the center?

 

[kennyp2339]

That looks great, now the waiting game, give it a minimum 2 years.
I was thinking of making a cheap wood frame using 1x3's kind of like an umbrella frame and cover the top for the winter. I'm just trying to figure out how to proportionally make the frame and allow it to sit 6-8" above the wood to allow air circulation so I don't have condensation issues with the tarp directly on the wood. Already figured how to anchor it, just tie rope from the frame to splits on the bottom.
I'll post pics when I get to that project, others might build off of that idea and make it better

 

[KenLockett]

hi ken
on your bottom row the splits are making the circle. are they like that thru to the center or just the edge so the splits pitch down towards the center?

Just the edge so that the first row circle pitches down.

 

[KenLockett]

That looks great, now the waiting game, give it a minimum 2 years.
I was thinking of making a cheap wood frame using 1x3's kind of like an umbrella frame and cover the top for the winter. I'm just trying to figure out how to proportionally make the frame and allow it to sit 6-8" above the wood to allow air circulation so I don't have condensation issues with the tarp directly on the wood. Already figured how to anchor it, just tie rope from the frame to splits on the bottom.
I'll post pics when I get to that project, others might build off of that idea and make it better

For the winter I was planning on simply putting a tarp over top although now that I think about it putting actual shingles over top section could actually work. Not too worried about condensation with it being winter and all.

 

[fbelec]

Just the edge so that the first row circle pitches down.

is there a reason for tipping the splits in? for keeping it together? what about water running to the middle?

 

[KenLockett]

is there a reason for tipping the splits in? for keeping it together? what about water running to the middle?

That is the typical way a Holz Hausen is constructed I believe. The idea is for the outside splits to slightly tilt in to start then as you build up there is a slight pitch of the entire HH inward (basically like a very gradual cone). In this manner as you add your splits to the middle, the external splits 'per se' lean inward and are supported against the internal splits for support. If you think about it if you didn't do this as the HH got taller and it leaned out it would have much more of a tendency to collapse with the internal splits applying forces outward. Seems to be very stable when constructed in the manner suggested. If you go to you tube there are a number of time lapse videos showing others constructing these and this seems to be the preferred and most practical manner as I suggested above. With regard to water dripping inward I assume this happens to some degree but if shingle pieces are done correctly then most of the water should shed off sides and of course some will drip back in but I would think this would be minimal. No expert here but seems to be doing well for me. Rained all day Sunday and when I went out Monday the stack was dry in no time with the sun back out. Like I said in earlier post, I would cover in the winter so snow and snow melt doesn't accumulate across the top but while seasoning during the summer I think a good amount of the water will shed. Good luck.

 

[fbelec]

thanks. i think i have to make one. i've got lots of room but not where there is a lot of sunshine.

 

[DUMF]

Holz Hauzen ist ein Mythos begann, indem Menschen mit zu viel Zeit auf ihren Händen. Nie in Deutschland !
Neben, Wie zum Teufel man die dummen Holz aus dem nutzlosen Haufen tatsächlich zu brennen ?
Hey, Sie wollen etwas damit zu tun ? Aussteigen und Schnitt, dann Stapel in einer praktischen Art und Weise, Sinn macht. Das ist ein Auftrag bunkie.
....and no more comments from that southern guy named Bart.

 

[tw40x81]

http://www.holzmiete.de/

Never?

My first American round wood pile bulged and collapsed about 2 months after I finished it., I took the time to rebuild.

 

[St. Coemgen]

Very nice Holz Hausen. Very traditionally constructed. Very attractive.

I build only round wood piles now, and have done so for years. My philosophy is, if you build on a pallet to increase air flow, why restrict air flow in the center with more wood?

I leave the middle empty of wood myself. Don't need the nicely build roof of a traditional Holz Hausen to keep off surface water. Today we have plastic sheets. In the winter, I just put a tarp over the pile (poke a hole in the middle for water drainage). The wood drys fine in the summer, and stays dry in the winter.

https://stcoemgen.com/2015/06/19/how-i-build-round-wood-piles/

 

[FarmerDan]

I may have to cross-post to other similar threads once I build more, but I'll hang tight here since this is indeed my very first holz hausen / holzhausen / round stack / Norwegian beehive. I considered it "done" as it's a little taller than 6 feet at this point. A tad rustic, but I bet #2 will be snazzier.

Overall verdict: sure was fun to build. I'm sure I'll get a better hang of it once I make a few more, and adapt a more refined look. I'll give you all a holler if anything exciting happens and/or when #2 is done.

@St. Coemgen - I checked out your blog post a few months back, really liked your idea about using horizontal cross poles running through the middle of the stack. We have a bunch of old tobacco hanging poles in our barn, so we have quite a stash! Perfect use.