Burning season is here for some, and closing in fast for me. It's time for me to get ready with the usual chimney cleaning and general once-over tasks. One issue from years past that I'd like to address is my indoor wood storage and the mess it creates. I only leave about 1-2 days worth of wood in the house at any given time, which gets piled on the hearth far enough away from the stove. As I bring in more and more wood, the crumbs on the floor also pile up. What I want to do is build a simple rack out of 2 x 4s with a plastic tray underneath it to catch (at least some) of the mess. I figure it'll be easier to vacuum out the tray than to keep sucking wood chips from the carpet. This is the tray I had in mind: Structural Plastics CT300124 $25.79 Containment Tray, 30x24, Black | Zoro.com I'm curious to know what others here do for their indoor wood storage needs.
I use a round tote that's a bit bigger than a bushel basket. I carry it to the garage, fill it and then carry it back to the stove. Most of the bark and drop off mess is contained in the basket. Sent from my SM-G930VL using Tapatalk
This is how we have been doing it. I put one of those cheap rugs from the dollar store under the cart. When you reload the cart , take the rug outside and give it a good shake.
Can you have a weeks worth of wood stacked on the deck and use a plastic tote to bring splits in as needed? I did it that way for yeasr only wood was in basement. Very little mess. A fire resistant rug./throw rug etc. with splits on it that you can shake outside on occasion like stated above?
Although that’s practical, I’m looking to utilize either a wooden rack or one of those round metal hoops. The wife is hoping for something aesthetically appealing I fear my kids would put all sorts of garbage in a tote too. I do leave a week’s worth on top of the deck outside the back door. Under the deck is another 3/4 cord stored as well. As the stacks near the house get depleted, I bring in more from the backyard.
At the cabin I have a wood box it’s pretty utilitarian looking. what if you made a some sort of “pan” to go under the rack? Something like this?
That’s exactly what I was thinking. I liked this one because the corners are notched for the legs of the rack.
A sheet metal shop could make up something that would completely fit under the rack and wood as well.
I use 4 waxed canvas bags. Lasts about 2 days. Contains all the junk shake em out each time I fill them up.
I have a wood box in the basement that can hold about a week’s worth. It’s close to the stove and all on a concrete floor. Wood gets brought in the basement door. Still get some chips and mess there so I sweep out every week or two during the burning season. What gets swept up goes right in the stove.
I would use totes. Anything of value left in them could be birthday and christmas presents. Or thrown out. (I've done both. No drama, no stress) With one warning of course. Kids learn pretty quick, at least the ones that know what hot is.. But I get that totes aren't exactly pretty. I always have a dustpan and brush nearby but that doesn't work so well on most carpet. Which means a canvas or carpet like carpenters/painters use or a hard pan like a boot pan to contain and clean out every now and then.
These are the two wood boxes we have by the stove. Old picture, we have a new stove and the cat has passed on.
I put in an outdoor boiler to solve that problem. Wait, that's not really helpful is it. I'll leave this convo now with the statement that those wood boxes of Mag Craft & Erik B are very nice looking!
2 Canvas firewood carriers here. I load them from a rack on the porch and set one on each side of the stove. Carry out one for a reload when empty and shake out mess. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07GL6YPXN/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_inactive_ship_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nice design on the box. I assume you built it, eh? I like how those thin pieces wrap around the box to support the vertical planks and also provides a handle in both directions.
Splits from outside go into our woodbox (8'L x 2'W x 3'H), then I put those splits in an antique metal pot that's on the hearth for the days burn. If I hear bad weather is on the way or need to dry splits, I stack some on other side of hearth. Do get a mess at times, but figure it's all part of the dance.
LordOfTheFlies Thanks for your kind words.If you took a close look at it you would probably change your mind.I built that box years ago with whatever scraps I had. I just started throwing things together without any real plan. The box I use for kindling is made from paneling I took off in one of our bedrooms. Again, that was designed as I built it. Function over form works for me.