Should I Cover The Cube?

[Defiant]

Personally, I would spread the stacks out to let air between, and move out from under the trees.

Another volunteer

 

[red oak]

I've stacked pretty much like that - rows close together, 10 deep, right on the ground, uncovered. Never had any problem with rot at all. Wood that was in the middle burned pretty good but not as good as wood on the top and edges. I have only left it sit two years though.

 

[Defiant]

I've stacked pretty much like that - rows close together, 10 deep, right on the ground, uncovered. Never had any problem with rot at all. Wood that was in the middle burned pretty good but not as good as wood on the top and edges. I have only left it sit two years though.

As you start picking wood, the middle starts to get smaller

 

[Pallet Pete]

I got some plastic to top cover. I know it will take longer to dry, with the dimensions and that doesn't matter, but am I helping or hurting with top covering. It's going to rain later, and I was going to go out there now, in the heat.

There is an older gentleman out here who stacks that way and uses PVC drilled full of holes in his pile. He puts in about 15 in a stack like that and claims it dries out really well like that. He's been at it for 62 years. The PVC used to be steel pipes a long time ago he says.

Pete

 

[ScotO]

I have given thought to stand up skids in the stacks.....every two rows, stand skids and make two more rows, stand skids and make two more rows.....
That would also help in the air movement. But I honestly don't have a problem getting it seasoned.....I'd be willing to say most of the wood that I C/S/S'd last year (which is stacked 8 rows deep) would be ready to burn right now.....it's been top covered since last August. The air movement under the stack and the top covering aid greatly in seasoning, especially when you have a 'cube' of wood. Unfortunately, I HAVE to cube my stacks....I simply don't have the room to stack all my wood any other way, due to lack of space here. Not to mention, I kinda like the look of the locomotive-sized woodstack in my backyard!

 

[velvetfoot]

Well, I covered it this afternoon. Man, it was hot today. I went down about 6" on the front and back and maybe a couple feet on the ends because of the slopes.
Put a bunch of splits on top and tried stapling as well on the edges.
(Note to self: be a little more careful with pointy pieces of wood.)

When I started stacking, I had no idea how many rows it would take, which is which I initially started sloping the left end, vs. cross stacking. It just worked out that I didn't have to add any on the ends.
I have other stacks, 3 and 4 deep, some not covered), that on days like today, look nice and gray and shrunken (Note to self: tune up the stacks with a tamper so they don't fall like one of their bretheren (the real tall one) did.)

Next time, I might try splitting a bunch of skinny pieces and using them to lay down on the ground. I just can't take messing with all those pallets, and the local hardware store where I used to get them burns them in an OWB now.

I trimmed off all the low overhanging branches today as well. It was kinda fun standing on the pile, sans cover of course. It should get more sun now.

 

[Paulywalnut]

It definitely would, you gonna volunteer to help?

Ha, maybe next time. I think velvetfoot can remove every fourth row no problem.

 

[Paulywalnut]

It definitely would, you gonna volunteer to help?

Ha Ha, Maybe next time.. I think velvetfoot should be able to take out every fourth row.. No problem

 

[oldspark]

When you got that much wood who cares it will dry

There have been people who have had their wood rot, not sure how 10 rows of wood packed tight is not going to have moisture in the middle for quite some time wihich can lead to rot. People on here sing the praises of air flow and then promply block it.

 

[oldspark]

When you got that much wood who cares it will dry

Well I have that much wood and I still stack in single rows all this talk of top cover(single rows really dont need it),and taking 3 years to dry some woods is skewed due to the stacking procedures, its not the best advice for people who are new to woodburning or the ones who dont have the space for 3 years of wood.

 

[Mikel Ward]

Get some pallets
carefully remove the 2 center stacks and place on pallets
Be careful the remaining inside stacks might be unstable
then top cover

 

[Mitch Newton]

With splits that small you should be ok in 2 yr.

 

[red oak]

Well I have that much wood and I still stack in single rows all this talk of top cover(single rows really dont need it),and taking 3 years to dry some woods is skewed due to the stacking procedures, its not the best advice for people who are new to woodburning or the ones who dont have the space for 3 years of wood.

Yes if you only have the space for one year's worth of wood single rows are the way to go. I'm sure it dries significantly faster that way, and getting it off the ground helps a lot too. If you stack like myself or the OP you just need to be prepared for the wood to take several years to dry.

 

[oldspark]

My point was I DO have that much wood and still stack in single rows red oak, your post reads like I dont have the room, I have read numerous articles about drying wood for fire wood and and lumber and air flow is key.

 

[red oak]

My point was I DO have that much wood and still stack in single rows red oak, your post reads like I dont have the room, I have read numerous articles about drying wood for fire wood and and lumber and air flow is key.

No argument here about the air flow. I wasn't trying to comment on the wood that you have. I was simply saying that if you have to season it quick single rows are the way to go. If you have time you can afford to put the rows closer together. It will season that way but slower of course.

 

[oldspark]

Like I said in some cases I would be worried about rot, do not have the details on what they did but I know it happens, plus I have been told I was full of crap for saying I did not have bugs in my wood, well I dont, cant help but think part of it is due to the single rows and air flow.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Strange that at times I've stacked over 20 rows together and have never experienced rot in the wood stacks.

 

[ScotO]

Well I have that much wood and I still stack in single rows all this talk of top cover(single rows really dont need it),and taking 3 years to dry some woods is skewed due to the stacking procedures, its not the best advice for people who are new to woodburning or the ones who dont have the space for 3 years of wood.

Top covering is relative to your climate....I can tell you if I hadn't top-covered my wood (single rows, double rows, or 10 rows deep) I'd have been screwed the past couple of seasons...

Top covering it also keeps the constant dampness from the rain getting into the bark and that dampness in the bark is a hotbed for bugs......very few bugs in my stacks, because it stays dry.

Ever look into how a lumber kiln works? They keep it very high humidity, but add lots of heat to the kiln, to help "dry" the wood. What they are essentially doing is only "cooking" the moisture out of the wood, but the outside of the wood stays moist (to keep it from splitting). The black rubber roofing covering on my stacks must help drive the temperature up in there, because I don't even have mice or chippies living in the woodstack.......So again, air movement is good, but so is heat and top covering......

 

[rdust]

Goes against any logic about moisture whether its firewood, lumber or laundry, but I now truly understand why you guys want to dry wood for 3 years, makes sense of the fact that BWS can tell the difference between 2 and 3 year old dead ash.

I agree, every time I see stacks like this I wonder how the center can be dry even after three years. I once stacked 5 rows deep and after 3 years the wood in the center rows was no drier than the day I stacked it. Most of my rows now are singles, I have some in doubles but I try to give them extra time.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

I got some plastic to top cover. I know it will take longer to dry, with the dimensions and that doesn't matter, but am I helping or hurting with top covering. It's going to rain later, and I was going to go out there now, in the heat.

As a rookie, viewing this photo made me cringe, it is the complete opposite of what all you great guys are trying to teach me...I seem to be moving wood all the time, I would suggest moving some rows out, at least

 

[bogydave]

Not gonna dry real fast the way you have it stacked
But it sure looks good!

If you don't need it for a few years & can keep the rain off with a top cover you
should be fine.
Stuff on the bottom is gonna rot & have insects, but just the bottom layer or 2.

Real nice uniform size splits on the ends.

 

[chvymn99]

View attachment 106663

Beautiful Picture there. How much wood is there?

 

[splions]

I stack all my wood on two pallets and leave plenty of room around it for air to ciculate

 

[ScotO]

Beautiful Picture there. How much wood is there?

around 27 FULL cord.....give or take! I'm around 4 years ahead.

 

[oldspark]

Strange that at times I've stacked over 20 rows together and have never experienced rot in the wood stacks.

Very!