I definitely feel fortunate to have this problem, especially 50 yards from my house. I'm clearing a wooded part of our lot for a vegetable garden. Counted 3 22" ish oaks, one 34" oak and another 6 or 7 16-18" oaks. It is a really nice area to work in-basically no underbrush.
I was considering using a few of those tote cages in the same way. I check craigslist once in a while for ones that are either missing the tote or have leaks that I can score cheap. No luck yet.
It doesn't hurt to talk to people.. I've gotten 3 or four of them from different business places because the tote gets a crack or they want rid of them. they used to be all free or almost free years ago. 3-4 years ago I bought some from swags's buddy for 30 bucks a piece and thought that was a lot. Last time I checked CL, they were 50.. I think they have a core charge on them now so not as many places throw them out. Ive gotten lucky and picked up 3 at the scrap yard for weight, right about 16-17 bucks a piece. I have 10 and would like 20.... Haha, someone did notice... thought it might blend in too much with the orange tractor... haha.
Every time I see some on craigslist they are over a hundred, usually $125. I just want a few to use while splitting.
I'm making a couple out of stuff I've scrounged from the scrap yard. I'll post pics when I get done with them, just for moving from pile to pile, or truck to backyard or whatever. I ran across a couple metal pallets at work, and some shelf grates...
When you are ready to use the wood, do you dump those cages? I can't see how you can reach in to get most of the wood out....
Nope, just reach over and grab them like you would any other stack, only the last couple are a pain to get out and I usually just pull them through the openings. or, now that I have a picaroon, that will make life easier. Another member made a doggie door here, and when I get caught up I might make one or two like that. Basically for me, I can lift them right up to the house door with the tractor and unload them without a ton of loading, unloading, moving, cart/wagon/dolley into the house. and you don't have to constantly stack end stacks, and allows different kinds of woods to be staged for different burning. Like this time of year, It hasn't been cold. I've been burning all cherry, cottonwood, some ash, a little pine mixed in. Saving all the good stuff for cold weather.
yeah, I could see where that would be a problem. I'm not short but not tall. 5 9"... there is one in the picture that I cut off the top layer. that is normal the bin I use for transporting the wood around the property so there is less pain in the zzz factor unloading it. also the little tractor won't pick up a full tote of wet oak, so one layer down is the perfect mark.
They are not cheap around here. I stopped to look once this summer as the guy had 3 for sale. Only the cage, not the bladder and he wanted $50. I think he sold one.
