4 to 5 years on hand, wondering where stop

I was out walking around my wood stacks and I know I have over 4 years worth, maybe even 5. And enough trees dropped already, along with standing dead Red Oaks, to probably get another 3 or 4 years. I have a little of everything, Red Oak, Cherry, Pin Oak, Post Oak, Sassafras, Osage Orange, Hickory, and a lot of Black Locust, also Hackberry, Persimmon, and even some Red Cedar.

I am starting to question just how much, I should process and stack up. I guess the standing dead Reds could just keep standing for a year or two more, but the stuff I already have on the ground probably should be cut up and split and stacked, I guess. Thinking about making another 3 to 4-cord Holzhausen or maybe two and calling calf rope for a couple of years.

 

Don’t ever stop, sounds like you can afford to slow ‘er down for few years. I’m going to continue to get further and further ahead, while I can. The holzhausen(s) sounds like a good idea

 

If I had the opportunity like that, I'd keep going. Probably because, well, it's [almost] fun. If you have room, why not? Especially red oaks. They are like fine wine and get better with age.

 

Never say stop!

 

More is better!

 

You fellows are probably right, maybe just slowing down some. I was just wondering about too much decay, eventually.

 

Always better to be well ahead. Heaven forbid you were ever to get laid up for awhile and are not able to process for an extended period of time. Get it while you can.

And you could always sell a little and put a little $$ in your pocket. Truly seasoned wood brings a premium price

 

I wonder that myself as for the first time I have wood on hand that won’t be touched for 4+ years. I think as long as it’s top covered and off the ground it should be fine.

 

Agreed with above. Keep hounding as you have time and space. If you start running out of space start selling some. It’s a win win for me. I enjoy CSS and I can make a little spending money!

 

You have wood that seasons at different rates. The Oaks will be 3 year, Cherry 12-18 months, Hackberry 12-18 months, the Osage & Black Locust can sit around for years with no decay. I don’t know much about Persimmon, Sassafras or Pecan. This is the first year of Hickory for me but most folks say it gets buggy after a couple of years.

Just be mindful of what is where & when it was cut & you should have minimal decay & rot as long as you keep the shorter lived stuff rotated out.
The Hackberry & Cherry will start to chit the bed around the 3-4 year mark so keep them rotated out.

Hoard on!

 

When your that far ahead it’s time to go after the Locusts as JimBear mentioned. Scavenger hunts are another level of fun

 

As the owner of a Hardy OWB, the premise of this thread does not compute.

 

I'm somewhere in the 4-5 years ahead range myself...have decided that's enough for me, but I can't seem to get the spigot to totally shut off...wood keeps dribbling in anyways...have a bunch stacked in the woods at work now too...I've started selling a bit this last year.

 

Top covered oak, off the ground, won't rot. The sapwood will get punky if left out in the rain. Look at the 100+ year old barns in your area, oak boards on the exterior walls so hard you can't drive a nail through them.

 

If you figure out when and more importantly HOW to stop....pass it on. I like going out on cold winter days to cut though, so I don't think I'll be stopping anytime soon.

I have 65 full cords on hand (~14+ years worth) and seem to keep making more than I burn every year. I did sell 5 cord last spring though.

What I'll be burning the next two+ heating seasons was split/stacked in the spring of '15.

 

Start selling some. From the looks of things you enjoy making firewood and have plenty on hand. Youve got some nice saws to play with too. Keep it off the ground and separate out the oak from the others as it takes the longest to dry.
Remember we're not a support group, we are ENABLERS here!
Hoard on, cut safe and post lots of pics.

 

I too am way over my planned stash and fighting the concern about decay. Shed is full of 2-3 years of softwood plus two bonus stacks (at least half a season) outside. It’s fun to process the logs. Selling is risky but can be lucrative.

 

Where to stop? Well.... you can stop at the top of my driveway with as much wood as you care to bother with!

 

If your stash of firewood towers over your house and the local airport/FAA has deemed it a flight hazard, it might be time to stop.



-and look for someplace new to make a pile.