In my travels today I seen a farm house that was using a couple of 6' diameter 4' long steel culverts to store fire wood. With 3 rows of 16" splits you could fit just shy of a cord in each. 18" splits with a little overhang on each end and you're at a cord! Looks like they could be easily moved with tractor bucket forks or a fork lift too. I didn't take any photos as it was snowing pretty hard but I did find this link. http://www.farmshow.com/a_article.php?aid=20237 Pretty good idea to keep your wood off the ground and top covered...as long as your property isn't to hilly and they don't roll away on you.
I'm wondering about the drying rate as well, especially the middle row. I'd be more apt to cut them at 34" (my personal max wood size is 17") and then rotate them a couple times a year. I do like the idea though, if a guy had access to cheap culvert cut-offs!
I think those may be cannibalized grain storage bins or feed bins, and not culvert pipes. Great idea though.
Funny you post this, my father just met with a guy this week about building him a shop, the guy farms and has a does dirt work and tiling. The gentle man had some old fuel tanks with the ends cut out and stacked full of wood just like this. ~Nathan
I know it's not split, but assuming it is out in the sun avoiding shade, would the heat that the metal generates aid in pushing out the moisture?
Doubtful IMO because it's not enclosed at all and the heat will just dissipate as quickly as it is generated. If the sides were closed to contain the heat (actually heated air after I think about it a bit) then it could have a positive impact on the drying.
I have heard of old underground fuel tanks being used as storage sheds. The culvert thing is a Neat idea. Interior may not dry well.
IMHO regarding splitting, "It's not firewood till it's split". Then it's just a matter of time, relative to the amount of Sun, Wind and Time. The only thing that will speed it up is smaller splits or a kiln.
Some of those big rounds I would definitely question but with 3-5 years of dry time I have tons of 8"rounds that are as dry as can be. Not even hiss in the stove and if you do split them they are at around 12% MC.
I have some oak that has been under a shed and only gets blowing rain for like 4 years. Put a small like 14" long 2x2.5" MAX size tiny sliver of a split. Put it in the stove to fill a small gap. The end of the point was wet with moisture. On the thinnest part of the split!! Interesting though the larger pieces didnt weep water??? I mean I dont know how I can get it any drier than that.
I obviously don't know how dry your wood was but remember that at 20% a split is 1/6 water. That equates to a 'somewhat average' sized 6# split holding a pint (pound) of water. Give it the right conditions and that water is going to be noticeable.
