Wood Shed “Speedy” Seasoning Idea

Hey all, I’m so wet behind the ears here this is actually my first post, so hopefully it’s not the dumbest idea you’ve ever heard and I’m not immediately banned. I also apologize for the long windedness of this post but it comes with a little backstory, for those who are interested. If you’re not interested and want to get to the question, then just skip over this next part. With the said, let’s jump in…

I’m from central PA where anthracite mines are no more than 15 minutes from every town and has always been a fairly inexpensive way to heat your house for the people here. Well, 2 years ago this spring we finished timbering out parts of our farm and as the firewood hit the ground, I was watching coal prices go up. Now I’m not sharpest chain in the shed but I saw the writing on the wall and began cutting and stacking wood. My goal then being to ultimately use wood as the sole heat for our house. This year I purchased zero coal (prices are ridiculous even here) so I’m burning everything I originally cut and split, anywhere from spring 2021 through last winter. I should be able to make it through this winter with no issues using what I have but my potential issue is, not having enough that’s properly seasoned to use next year. Hindsight is 20/20 and I should have definitely been more proactive with cutting and stacking last year but this is my first winter strictly burning wood and frankly, I underestimated my consumption needs. (It’s been a fun learning curve) So instead of crying over spilt milk, ya just do what ya gotta do and get a little creative. I tried looking through all the storage shed topics before starting this one, to make sure it wasn’t already discussed and I could not find anything similar. So if it has been previously discussed I do apologize (I’m not very proficient with the tech stuff).

So here’s the potentially “bad idea” everyone has been eagerly waiting on…
Has anybody ever used reflective tarps to redirect the sun into your wood shed?
I’m currently using simple lean-to shelters on the farm to protect the wood. (Nothing fancy, open on all sides with basic framing and old corrugated metal for roofing.) We sit on the south side of a mountain and have quite a bit of ag fields that receive abundant sunshine. My thoughts being, stack wood with cut ends running N to S and pile going W to E. Then add reflective tarps in front of and behind the lean-to’s, to provide “direct” sunlight/heat to the pile from both ends. My hope here is that this essentially speeds up the seasoning process and provides me with usable wood for next winter. I see this mainly being a benefit over the summer when the sun is overhead and the heat more intense, but I’m sure with some creative rigging it could be done year round as well. I’ve attached a crude, but effective, rendering of what this would look like. If anyone has tried this before I’d love to know if/how it worked for you. Thank you in advance for any insights and advice on the idea or any other ideas to help “speed up” the seasoning process.

Also, if I’m just SOL and need to buy/barter for usable wood next year, don’t be afraid to tell me that either.

Cheers!

 

Sounds like an unusual, but interesting idea. Go for it, post pics and let us know if it works.
Welcome to the FHC CoalCountryConvert Great to have you join us.

 

4 things season wood:
1. size & shape of the splits
2. exposure to sun
3. exposure to wind
4. Time, you can't beat this one


Splitting your wood smaller and in pieces that resemble boards rather than pie shaped will dry faster due to being thinner and more surface area.

I split from Jan-March and will have oak at 20% by November. BTW, it dries although slower when it is freezing out too.

 

Welcome to FHC! Yes that’s too many words for me. There are species that dry quicker if you’re in a hurry. Dead standing trees are a good place to start, but maples and poplar are a few common trees that dry faster than oak. Your idea may work too. Only one way to find out. Good luck!

 

The board-shaped splits above are a great tip. As is the mention of other species and dead standing. Other species... red maple, cherry, ash. If you could find some of any of those three, you are in luck. I have no idea if your idea would work but there are many people who swear by solar kilns. I tried it last year but it was not a good test because I had 3 mil plastic sheeting for the top (on hand) and used it because I had it instead of 6mil, and that was a mistake. The plastic split down the middle and killed the kiln. I might have gotten two months out of it. I haven't measured MC but once and that was in early fall and it was not impressive; I need to measure it again, I still have some of that wood. I can compare to a stack I had next to it that was not in the kiln. Claims are that a solar kiln can season it in one summer. Even oak. It's not too expensive... plastic wrap for the bottom of the sides and then the 6mil above that and the top. And you have to cut vents in there. If you do it, read up on it because you need to do what supposedly works instead of trying it with no plan. I have some knowledge on the subject, have read a lot about it over a few years time.

 

Welcome to FHC. Very interesting idea and I'd love to know how it works out. Seems like the reflective tarps would help on the sun exposure but it makes me wonder if they'd hurt the wind exposure. Let us know how you make out.

 

I left a load of split red oak in a truck bed with a topper on it one summer. I didn’t measure the moisture but it burned fine. I didn’t have much creosote to speak of.

 

Maybe I missed it, what species are you burning?

 

Hey CCC, welcome to FHC.

I would suggest getting as much wood collected and split right now as you possibly can, every day that you wait is a day of drying that you miss out on. Some of the best drying days are in the spring when the humidity is low, no leaves on the trees and the sun is out.

Finding some red maple will help you get some dry wood fast.

 

Hi…

I’m jon.

I’m a hoarder

welcome to our sickness.

 

first, welcome here. We like pics of the wood piles and stacks, tools, dogs, the like. Spelling and grammatical errors will be exploited with humor and fun...

Beyond that, yeah splitting smaller will speed drying. There comes a point where a lot of running around makes only a teeny difference (not that you're there yet). Would it be out of the picture to buy a years' supply of "seasoned" wood now, and finish drying it for next winter, giving your stuff an additional year (especially if your stuff is slower drying like oak)?

I had a lot of things in my favor last year when we burned our first full year, and our wood was NOT at 20%. particularly when the summer of '21 was sooo wet here. Our chimney is 27 feet indoors and 3 feet exposed, lined, insulated. We burned as our primary source, and burned HOT. The chimney was lined with dry fluffy ash that came off with minimal scrubbing. Perhaps see what this season brings as far as stove/chimney performance. Check the chimney from time to time to gauge your use.

Sirchopsalot

 

perfect. Best post here yet.
Our 12 step program (of enablement) will motivate you to:
stack bigger, longer and taller (don't ask me how I know this)
find and appropriate tree jobs, roadkill wood, and any other places wood can be found
buy/attain bigger and better equipment
go out in all weather, skip other activities to go hoarding (i mean "on a tree job")
and post pics of your finds, scores and victories.




.

 

Welcome aboard. Lots of good ideas floating around this site. If you haven’t read this yet, it’s a must read: Primer on Woodburning by Backwoods Savage

 

Welcome CCC sun is important but as others have mentioned air is almost more important if you have available in your area Ash is a good quick wood to season . I f you can single stacks covered out in the open would dry the fastest when your moisture drops then move into your shed for final drying . You have a interesting Idea let us know how it works out

 

Welcome to FHC!

Another option would to get a pallet or two of the compressed wood bricks and work them in with what you have. That works do long as you having an area to keep the wood bricks out of the weather.

 

Welcome to the FHC
Try your idea and find ash should be plenty dying; red maple and fast drying woods and get collecting.