Trying a new way to split and stack firewood. Previous idea was crating, which works, but takes time and resources to build the crates. So I thought about strapping the wood to pallets. I made a crib that would hold a 32x48" pallet, 36" high. Equals 32 cu ft (1/4 cord). While its first time doing it this way, and trying to figure out the strap tensioner tool, it took some fussing. Eventually we got it strapped and I moved it off the crib with the skidsteer and into the back of the truck. It kind of went sideways from that point. It fell apart a bit. So I reverted back to our first idea of a full wood crate. Not one to give up on an idea right away, we'll try again with the strapping in the new year. We're racing sunset at this point. In the meantime, the customer came along and picked up what we just split.
Its work no matter how you look at it. For us, we want to make sure the wood we sell is dry first. The quickest way to do that is to split and stack it first. Just so happens that these logs were cut 8 months ago. A split piece of 6" maple measured 10% moisture content. Which is great, means its ready to sell as soon as we can split it.
Not sure how much strapping you are looking to do but these things can put the funk down on stuff. ORT-200 Electric PP/PET Strapping Machine Battery-powered Hand Packing Tool | eBay We use these at work on pallets of paper that are 29"×41" and 43"high weighing in at 1300 to 1800 pounds most of the time on setting 4 of 9 as not to break stuff.
I have no idea what they weigh loaded. When the wood is green I don’t fill them completely, maybe 3/4. I’ve made all sizes. The ones On the pallets are much more stable on the ground and to move. Smaller is usually better Because my tractor is on the small size. I have a breeze way between my garage and barn and I can bring down several racks in a half an hour. It sure is a quick way to move wood around. Put boards under your racks or they will freeze to the ground and you won’t be able to move them in the winter.
Maybe 1000 pallets a year. I've certainly not going to pay $2,000 for a battery operated tool. I get that they may be handy, but nope.
On those racks with boards across the top does it make them difficult to unload without hitting your head?
Oh I’m sure they do. I built some similar for my outdoor wood stove but I kept bonking my head in em as I unloaded them. Just wondered if you experienced the same thing or not.
Here's what were were doing (still are) for our own house supply. 8 bins. Each holds 128 cu ft. Hand stacked in, hand stacked out. Covers go on in the fall before the snow comes.
They make a hand operated version too...much cheaper. Ever got a shipment in that was strapped down with wood "stringers" (dunno what they're actually called) across the top for the strapping to lay in/on (they have a groove milled in them to keep the strap from sliding off) I think that would work for your setup. Have to experiment with if it works better to have the "stringers" on top, or the sides. Nice setup BTW!
