Do you guys do anything special to keep the bottom couple of rows from getting "splash" off the pallets? Does it impact overall drying time as long as the rows are top covered and the middle part of the pieces are staying dry?
I don't do anything special and I've noticed that it does make a difference. Sometimes I'll stack pallets on top of pallets if I've got enough. The extra elevation helps a little. I've seen some guys go a step further and put pallets on top of cinder blocks. I think the higher you can get them, the better you'll be in terms of both splash and air flow.
The bottom row is the sacrifice you make to the firewood Gods for allowing you to sacrifice his trees
I do have some currently drying for a couple years on double stacked pallets. My wood currently drying outside will be moved into the woodshed for a minimum of another year of drying time as I consume wood, so it's probably fine.
That sounds like a very solid system. Eons ahead of the guys that just toss their split wood onto the lawn, cover it with a ratty tarp, then haul the fungus farm splits into the house come Thanksgiving
Good source of pallets so I am a double stacker too. Does seem to work better/less rot, especially if due to space constraints your pile has shade for more than half a day. Over time the firewood gods get to have the bottom pallet row! I also once did old log rows/skids and one layer of pallets on top but that led to some stack shifting over time and that negated the elevation advantage.
I am currently looking at a bottom row wood fire in my insert as I write this. It's dirty with dead grass being blown into from mower, and discolored from being bottom row wet and dry cycle, but burning nicely! Like the others have said, just part of the deal.
I just leave most of the bottom pieces to be restacked come spring. Usually on the top of the next years stacks. More than ready for the following year.
Most of my racks are over 10" off the ground so not much splash factor. The lower splits do get more weathered from this. The top cover hangs over 2-3", Most of my stacks are top covered with Ondura roofing panels I bought from Lowes. Sometimes I'll lean a plywood scrap against the bottom to deflect water but not often. My latest bin/rack is 18" off the ground so a non issue.
Gave up on pallets and use totes now, but did/do use cinder blocks under them, other than a few that house wood for a neighbor and friend. Neighbor hasn't used hers for a couple of years so I see if she wants to sell it back to me.
I see where you were going with that! In this case no as it was a 4x4x8' rack for nuggets using the same footprint as the old one. Plus its saving my aging back and improving airflow.
