Just introducing myself as a new member. Was doing some research about seasoning firewood and stumbled across you guys here and have decided to join up.
You found the right place. There are tons of great people and lots of information here at your disposal.
Yeah thats for sure. I was actually trying to find out info about drying my wood in a shipping container which I rigged up with a whirly bird. Does anyone know if this has merit or is it just another one of my stupid ideas?
I think that depends on how much energy will be expended on drying that wood. I would think you would need a fan. It shouldn't be getting much rain there. As long as the air flow carries the evap moisture away, it could work. Sunlight helps a ton though. I have some of my wood in a corn crib with wood slat walls. Not much sun, but the wind is second to none. It works pretty well.
Welcome Taz! Or should I say G'day! You've definitely found the right spot! I'm interested in your method of seasoning your wood, many different ways but as most will tell you, there air moving, the better.....
Been burning for a good month now but we don't get the temps you guys get. I live off-grid in a small house I just built so I use lpg gas for water and cooking and wood for heating (No fan).
I got these containers last year and tarted them up and even sprayed the inside but the heat in summer stripped the paint off on the inside and then I decided to put the whirly bird in. Theres no problem with heat just a question of air. You honestly couldn't stand inside for more than 3 minutes without passing out. The whirly bird when installed was spinning quite fast.
Man, I have fantasies about living off the grid. You guys are just getting into your winter right now, aren't you? I burned today too, we are still cool enough to play with fire before summer starts.
Almost like a solar kiln. That's interesting. As long as the moisture leaves, it could work great with that kind of heat.
I have about 30 tonne I just got in about 2 months ago but thats all green and at the m ive been only getting enough wood to last a season at a time due to not having the time (to cut my own) or funds to buy ahead due to building. Ive just bought 40 tonne and at the moment its sitting on flat gravel split cut and stacked uncovered. Im definitely going to cover from now on. I have 3 x shipping containers which I plan to use at least 2 as woodsheds/dryers.
Welcome! Heat is king when drying wood, as long as you can remove the moisture. With the turbine spinning as fast as you say, I'd think there would be adequate air exchange...
Ill try to get some pics up soon of the wood and the containers and maybe run an experiment with one full of wood and update it with proper scientific method such as weighing etc etc.
You can check moisture by weighing but a cheap moisture meter should be accurate enough, and they are easy to use...just re-split a piece, jam the pins in well (on the freshly-split face) and read the result.
