In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

An oak vault

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by Midwinter, Sep 2, 2017.

  1. Midwinter

    Midwinter

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    I've started a new stack, for oak that I can leave in the vault for three years.
    First I weeded out a garden bed, and laid down two layers of water-permeable pool safety cover. I secured the edges with old patio blocks. Then pallets on top of that. On each long side, I set up metal 2x4 brackets with stringers 12 feet long. IMG_20170902_42744.jpg
    I was worried about the pallets collapsing under the weight of the stacks, so I laid down some long splits of green oak to absorb some of the load. IMG_20170902_5892.jpg
    Then the fun part, stacking! The side facing my neighbor is birch, to look pretty. Then inside all the oak chunks. This is where I knocked off, and tarped up before the rain. IMG_20170902_17727.jpg
     
  2. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    A little extra work there but it should turn our really nice.
     
  3. Mwalsh9152

    Mwalsh9152

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    Looks good! I gave up on stacking on pallets after my first two stacks. I was looking for pallets one day and came across a trash pile at Verizon in Dracut. It's a big pile of the T sections of wood that they attach to the top of the utility poles and the power wires are attached to them. My stacks are much more stable now.

    Id burn them too, but I imagine they are treated with something.
     
  4. Midwinter

    Midwinter

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    Sounds like a great find! I've had to experiment with bigger stacks this summer. The 2x4 brackets are great, but don't hold much wood.
     
  5. Mwalsh9152

    Mwalsh9152

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    absolutely! I run two of them parallel to each other about 12" apart. Its at the end of Diana Ln in Dracut if you want to give it a try
     
  6. Paul bunion

    Paul bunion

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    Looks nice. Propping up the stringers/pallets is a great idea, you do want to allow air to be able to flow under the stacks. You'll get that much more if you remove half or more of the pavers or just turn them 1/4 turn so they support more of the stringers around the perimeter. And they won't act like a dam if water does manage to run under. Once you tack down the four corners of that cover its not moving anyways. If you keep your eye out for some heavier pallets you can dispense with the reinforcing cross pieces all together
     
  7. Midwinter

    Midwinter

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    I will swing by there. I have a place along the fence line to stash them, and later build a stack without moving them. My lot is a third of an acre, but I still have some wood hoarding space. Luckily I'm my own wife, so no one complains!
     
  8. Midwinter

    Midwinter

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    Thanks for the suggestions, you must have really studied my pics! My thinking about all the patio blocks along the perimeter was to keep weeds from spouting from under the covering. You are right that the blocks would be better used as support underneath. The whole thing is in a slightly raised bed in a PT box, so I think it will drain OK. In any case, I'll go with what I have and see how it turns out. Mainly I just want the stack to stay put!
     
  9. Mwalsh9152

    Mwalsh9152

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    I just grabbed a half truck load the other day, there is still plenty left though!
     
  10. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Don't forget that the wood piles will block the sunlight so not much will grow under there.

    Check out what is under these wood stacks. Just some saplings we cut in the woods. Cost = $0.00 All we had to do yet with these stacks was to top cover and pick up what was left.

    Wood-2009c.JPG
     
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  11. Midwinter

    Midwinter

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    Someday, with lots of practice!
     
  12. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Actually very little practice is needed. Very easy to do. Else, I may not be able to do it. :whistle:
     
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  13. Midwinter

    Midwinter

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    I'm slowly filling up the vault... IMG_20170912_22532.jpg
    It's a big jigsaw puzzle...but I can make the pieces I need.
     
  14. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Nice Midwinter but just a little hint. We've found the short pieces are best stacked toward the middle of the stack rather than on the ends. It just makes the pile a little bit stronger.

    I see you have some tools that are handy!
     
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  15. HDRock

    HDRock

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    Nice progress :thumbs:
    Go get some more :woodsign: and fill er up :D
    :saw::tree::axe::stacke:
     
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  16. Midwinter

    Midwinter

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    They are all short pieces! This is what I have to work with: IMG_20170912_526.jpg
     
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  17. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Nasty...
     
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  18. fishingpol

    fishingpol

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    Oh, a shorts and uglies crib may be what's needed for that.
     
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  19. Midwinter

    Midwinter

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    They are all short, but they mostly split into ingot-shaped rectangles, which are not too bad to fit together. That's why I wanted to build a big crib that I can just leave for a few years. The moisture content is in the 30's. On Friday, if it's not raining too hard, I'm going to tackle three big cookies, still attached along one edge, that are standing up like a stack of coins. I think I'll have to bring a step stool to get tall enough to bang my wedge. But it's oak, and it's free, and it's pretty close to home.
     
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  20. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    It sounds as if you plan on placing the wedge into the bark! Why? Lay those cookies down flat so you can get the wedge into the meat and not the bark and they will split much, much easier.
     
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