Wood Shed “Speedy” Seasoning Idea

Thank you very much for the tips, I definitely appreciate it. I’ve never tried splitting them in boards before but I like it! I realize the wood will dry over the winter months too, I said summer mainly because the sun is overhead at that time and the roof on my lean-to’s would block the direct sunlight. Also, the piles do receive plenty of air where they’re at, so I haven’t forgot how important that is as well. Thanks again!

 

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is keeping it off the ground. Not as important as the big 4 I listed but helps.

Another thing that is contentious is to cover or not. I feel green wood seasons faster uncovered because more air is over it along with exposure. Rain only affects the outside and is gone quickly.

A case could be made for covering wood that is pretty much dry.

 

Thank you all for being so welcoming and helpful with ideas!
So the majority of trees timbered were oak, walnut, poplar, maple and some locust. I’m currently just setting up at the landings where they left piles they deemed as “unusable” to get through the most amount of wood in the shortest amount of time. I believe this also helps since the majority of these piles have been exposed to sun, wind and kept off the ground. We do have some standing ash on the property that I’ve been saving since I have more than enough on the ground to keep me busy for awhile.
I do realize how important air is to the seasoning process and have not forgotten about that. Being stacked in open fields they should be receiving plenty of air. I didn’t bring that part up in my original post since it’s not something I can manipulate to speed up the process, like what I’m planning to attempt with the reflective tarps.
Thank you all again for the tips, advice and all around camaraderie. I will definitely keep everyone posted with progress/pictures when I get things setup. Please keep the good ideas coming in the meantime!

 

That’s interesting. I’ve heard of people not covering their piles before but I personally don’t know anyone who does that. I’m assuming if you go that route it would make sense to stack the top row on an angle to shed water, use wood that still has bark and keep the bark side up?

 

Reading your initial post reminded me of this. Welcome aboard and good luck!!

 

Welcome to FHC. Most folks take the bark off as it has a tendency to hold moisture in.

 

Welcome CoalCountryConvert. Good to see another hoarder from PA. I was kind of in a similar spot as you when I first started to burn. I had plenty of wood available, but it wasn't dry. So I bit the bullet and bought 2 cords to get me through. (It was legit dry splits.)

My experience living in my area of PA is the walnut and poplar might/will be good to go for next year if you get it split and stacked by spring and gets good wind and sun. Not great BTUs but mix in with purchased wood to help with consumption. If the locust is standing dead, then that should be gtg too. If you get some black cherry that seems to dry in 6-8 months around these parts.

Maybe this spring or summer look for wood to buy. Prices may be lower. Until then split and stack what you have

Before you know it family and friends will be making comments about how much wood you have and think you're . While the FHC will be saying, keep stacking it baby!!

 

Welcome CoalCountryConvert ! My .02 worth. Split as Firewood Bandit demonstrates, makes a big difference. I don't top cover till it goes in the shed. As to your idea, heat evaporates moisture, sun equals heat, reflecting sunlight into the storage has to help. It's an interesting/innovative idea that I'm very curious to see the results of.

 

BTW, as far as opinions go, we all have one. My opinion is that your plan with the reflective tarps won't work. "Work" meaning I don't think it will appreciably improve drying. Seasoning firewood is not a new thing, people have been burning for hundreds of years. AND, for the past several decades, science and experimentation has been brought into the mix many times and I have not seen anyone do what you say. Maybe they have but I don't recall reading it. If you find such info, pass it along. I *have* read many instances of solar kilns working. And it's cheap. That is what I would do. That is, that is what I would do if I could not find some ash, cherry or red maple. That is your simplest solution after buying seasoned wood. But finding seasoned wood can be a challenge.

 

Welcome aboard CoalCountryConvert


I don't know if you plan on cutting/collecting your own firewood (post was too long and didn't have pics in it ) but in order to maintain your "man card" plan on doin that in the future if not right away! The reason I mention it is to be a bit selective and grab standing dead and down trees. This will help dramatically in the drying/seasoning time of the firewood.

Now then, about your membership fees.....

 

You’re welcome . Btw you should self publish that. It would make a fine booklet.

 

Very true. If you have ever skied (or snowboarded) by the end of the day if you don’t have chap stick or a scarf over your mouth, even on days with no sun, your lips will be dry as a bone by the end of the day!

 

CCC, Welcome,
Go to the search feature and search “solar kiln”, with your location that would be the most reliable way to dry wood quickly..
Read everything “woodsplitter 67” writes, then read it again..
I’m gonna try to attach a picture to show what I’ve been doing..
Just moved these inside a few days ago..

 

I was thinking hesco baskets the other day…

 

How's about letting the splits get up to temp and them taking a moisture reading on a few freshly re-split?

 

They are gonna get wrapped/covered, then spend 9-12 days with a dehumidifier..
Did that with the last 2, got about 18 gal. of water out of the pair/cord..
I/we don’t have direct sun for more than a few hours a day, so I kinda knew I would’nt get the full benefeit of solar kilning..
I live in the woods, so I got what I got !!

 

Hey CoalCountryConvert , Welcome to the forum! Looking forward to some pictures. Your tarp idea is very interesting. If it didn't inhibit the air flow, I'm sure it would add some heat to the stack. After all, the reflective coated emergency Space Blankets work, right? The question is, will the extra heating be an effective enough factor to make the expense/effort worthwhile? Certainly worthy of experimentation! I will keep an eye on this thread. Hope it works for you and, again, Welcome!

 

The “fastest” way to make “burnable” wood.


Get a steel shed, put a small wood stove in it and make a small kiln out of it.

cook that stuff at 200*F for 24 hours….

You’ll have wood to burn like never before.

someone has a thread on here where they did that.

 

Ughhhh. If I never see another one of those again…. It’s too soon!!!

 

Gotta admit though.

drop it on a pallet, make a great split wood storage