Does anyone know what multiplier/factor you would use to estimate how much a given volume would stack out to? For instance, say, you have 1 cord of wood, volume-wise. Then you stack it. You would have over a cord of stacked wood... how much? (Stacked, not tossed.) For instance, if you have 1 round cut to length of 16 inches, and it's 13.2 inches diameter (no taper... which wouldn't happen in a tree, but it's close enough for this), I think it is 1.27 cu ft, volume-wise. So, if you had 100 rounds like that (not real world, it's just for this exercise), you would have 127 cu ft, volume-wise, which is almost exactly 1 cord -- 0.9921 cords (volume-wise). How much stacked? I actually have a need to know this, lol. Yes... everyone stacks differently, we're after a round about figure.
I was told that 180cu.ft. Tossed into a truck should equal a cord? I’d think jrider could have some input?
Ive used this formula for standing and blow over full trees and it pretty accurate. Harvested down to 4" Here's the link Bill. Estimating Firewood from Standing Trees - UNH Extension
I figure 85% is wood in a stack. The balance air of course. Im a tight stacker and figure 750+/- BRAD sized splits per cord. I have counted splits from one of my measured half cord racks and its around 375. 16" length splits.
Brad's number of about 85% of the stack is wood and 15% is air, is pretty close to what I would think it would be. It could be that I will have to just, literally, do this on an experimental basis to determine what is 'my' factor. For instance, let's say I assemble a group of rounds that equate to 85% x 128 x 1/3... that is to arrive at one face cord (1/3 of a cord), stacked. If 85% isn't the right number, I can adjust up or down until I arrive at a consistent, reasonable percentage. If 85% *IS* the correct percentage, I would need 36.266 cu ft of rounds, volume-wise. That should give one face cord, stacked, 1/3 of a cord, if my math is correct. The reason for all of this is because I have had a revelation about how to save even more time. I already decided that other than 'show' stacks to attract customers, I am NOT going to stack, in general, for sales. I am, this year, selling from piles of split wood. I use an app called Timberlog and it gives me the volume of wood in any round, or any log. I can also tally groups of rounds or logs. It dawned on me that if I could figure out this 'air' factor within a stack, I could figure out exactly how much wood, volume-wise, I would need to equate to a stacked quantity, say, a face cord, or 1/2 cord, or 1 cord. Since I have plenty of space for piles, this can save a lot of time. I will know exactly how much stacked wood should be in any given pile if I have used this app to tally the total cubic feet of the group of rounds I have split. Or... I can tailor each pile to be almost exactly that given quantity I seek. Such as, I could have all of my piles be equal to what will be (for the customer) 1/2 cord of stacked wood. If someone wants 1 cord, sell them 2 piles. I could even forego ever selling a face cord. Just make it 1/2 cord, minimum. Most of my customers buy either 1/2 cord or 1 or 2 cords. I cut to 16 inches, so, all I need to measure on any given round is the diameter. I use a yardstick and it is very quick. I enter 1.333 for the Length (16" = 1.333 ft) and then enter the diameter. It gives me the cubic feet. It also provides a running tally. I have used this a lot to determine how much volume of rounds I can carry on my trailer. I could, of course, just calculate how many cubic feet, volume-wise, is in any given pile and sell it without arriving at a nice round number. Each sale being different. But it might not be hard to just add or take away a round or two (or splits) to make it equate to 1/2 cord, stacked by the customer at his place. This might not be as important in the future as it is right now due to me continuing to harvest a huge (for me) scrounge of dozens of huge oaks. It looks like I can 'only' haul about .57 cords of rounds on my trailer. I'd rather have a larger trailer, sure, but one way to look at it is I don't do this for a living, it's just a hobby, and after I buck a log for .57 cords and we load it, I'm tired enough that a break to haul and unload it is good anyway. Especially at my age and now with long covid symptoms.
This is a legal measure I learned as well. 128 cubic feet tightly stacked and 180 loosely thrown. I know the cubic footage of each trailer and load accordingly, normally dumped in with a conveyor. I've gotten pretty good at estimating the size of piles by mentally fitting them into my trailer.
Yes, and I do use that formula/factor from time to time and it is... stacked versus tossed wood. But I don't think that is what I am asking at all. The Timberlog app is for pure wood. There is no 'air' in pure wood. It simply calculates the volume of a right cylinder. I am looking for a factor to determine how much 'extra' space (air gaps) a stack of wood has versus a given quantity of wood, volume-wise... which is equal to the volume of a right cylinder... or a series of right cylinders. The latter being a group of rounds, where are all (more or less) right cylinders. A tree has a natural taper in the stem but most any round of wood cut 16 inches has very little taper. Not enough to matter. Correct me if I am wrong on this, I am getting old and get dumber every year!
This is what I have went by for years ,it might be off a little but it gives you a good idea. One cord = 180 to 190 cubic feet loose thrown 128 cubic feet stacked 80 cubic feet solid wood , like still in the log not split
Ok, Walt, that is exactly what I am talking about. If your 'factor' is correct, it's much more air gaps in stacked wood versus solid wood than I thought. If correct, stacked wood is 60% more volume... 128 versus 80. The 'overage' is 48 cu ft. 48/80 = 60% Now I am even more curious. It will be a few days before I can get some more rounds to test this.
My 15% air was a conservative guess based on my stacking. It depends on the "quality"of the wood being stacked and how well its stacked too. I forget what the normal percentage is for this. I have heard it on here, but like you Bill, my memory isnt what it used to be.
Brad, yep, I, generally, sell pretty 'good-looking' splits, they are pretty darn uniform. I separate the uglier ones and burn them myself or sell them to someone who does not care. Some people actually think uglier pieces burn hotter. Probably not, unless it's a knot, scuze the pun. If one stacks 'uglier' splits in his stack, this stack will have more air gaps. Prettier wood stacks tighter.
In a perfect hoarding world id love to have all pretty splits, but being at the mercy of "the next score" i take what i can get. Take my last score for example. Lots of nuggets and shorts. 60% of the load was more on the knotty and gnarly side and went to the general cordage" stack. The primo straight splits will go to bundle quality wood. Being farther than i normally would go for a score i wanted to have a heaping load too, so i took stuff id normally leave behind.
Yes, 180 cu ft tossed is the standard number for tossed split 16" ish length wood to equal a cord when stacked. There is some variation when the length significantly changes and when splits or rounds are large.
To be honest I’m not sure what you’re asking. Totally your fault, you used math LOL There’s a log to cord calculator, perhaps that will help. Firewood & Cord Calcuations
Another way to say it... For a given quantity of solid wood... say, one cord... which is a piece of 'lumber' that is 4'x4'x8' (128 cu ft of solid wood)... how many cords would that be when stacked? (This question has nothing whatsoever to do with stacking versus tossing... it's about solid wood versus stacked.) Again, it depends on variables... how big your splits are, how tightly you stack them. Since people DO use a 'factor' or 'multiplier' or 'formula' for tossed versus stacked wood, I just thought there might be some rule of thumb for this. In this thread, above, Walt mentioned his... he said 80 cu ft of solid wood equals about 1 cord stacked. In his case, 80 cu ft of solid wood turns into 128 cu ft, stacked. That means that 48 cu ft in his stack is air.
Gotchya. You seem good at math. Use that log to cord calculator I linked and run the math. See if they accounted for air space or just did a quick conversion of volume for volume. Would be interesting to know. And if they did account for air you’d have at least their base opinion. For an example they calculate a 36” log would be 19’ long to equal 1.05 cord. Doh!! I just checked. No math needed, they calculate cubic feet too. Seems they do not account for air. So Walts 12’ is decidedly more accurate.
Yes, the Log To Cord calculator does NOT account for air in a stack. I never found it to be useful (except to measure solid wood volume) due to the fact that it showcases the very reason for this thread. It simply does what the app does that I wrote about in the OP... it provides the volume of a right cylinder... the amount of SOLID WOOD in a log. Once you stack that wood, the cordage in the stack is appreciably more. Plus, there is the aforementioned problem of log taper. Even to arrive at the correct amount of solid wood in a log, due to the taper of most any log, you have to guesstimate an AVERAGE diameter to plug into the calculator. The calculator is useful for rounds. In, say, a 16" round, there isn't much taper. Over the course of, say, a 12 foot log, taper is appreciable. The mentioned app is useful due to its running tally feature, calculating the solid wood volume of a group of rounds.
