Taking the wood my 7 year old has split to sell in his firewood stand out front and building our first holz hausen. I’m looking for tips from those who’ve built them. What size circle did you start with? How high? Take it to a point at the top and if so how exactly?
Haven’t built one but I’ve thought about it. Close enough? Most folks go with 8 foot base. You can use any number you want. Half the idea is to make it aesthetically pleasing so it’s all your opinion. Height is another matter. That’s a mix of aesthetics and practicality with a little will power thrown in. I’ve seen folks work from the inside while someone else tosses splits up to them. I imagine you need to finish the roof from a ladder or back of truck. Some people use a 4” pipe up the middle. The concept is as the exposed top heats it draws air into and out of the stack. True or not a plumbed pipe of some sort helps to keep it precise and round if that’s important to you. A string or wire that can slide around the pipe is a perfect measuring device. Could change the measurements to create interesting geometry shapes. Pics or it didn’t happen.
I build mine to abou six feet. When I split wood I make a point to to make some splits flat, to make an occasional ring so the splits that are stacked will be slanted inward. My stacks are covered with “ shingles” the are from splitting bark off. You can alwits just use a small tarp for the top, but you will lose the chimney effect that is what makes the holshausen appealing. If you know many days of no rain is coming, remove the tarp. My houses are not pretty at all, if you are OCD that you will spend a lot more time on one, which is stupid- it’s wood for Pete’s sake. But then my signature statement sums up my philosophy on firewood. It is a good mental exercise to do one. The time you and your boy spend on it will be great. Tell folks you were getting in touch with you German roots.
Here you go. This'll help! But instead of a straight base, pile it in a circle. Clear as mud now, right?
They are a wonderful way to dry wood quick and well Ill see if I can find a pic of the last one I built. Suggestions: Well I found a 10' base to be the best but mine were about 2 1/2 cord stacked in each one. If you have ever built a retaining wall use the same principals when building it, each row step it in a couple of inches each row and shape it to your liking. Start off outlining your 10' diameter with splits that might have a little more mass facing the outside of the stack. Fill the center of it with loose wood as it will make it extremely stable, you don't have to stack it but the more you get in there without affecting the wicking effect of it the more wood you get. It works splendid and a great way to stack a lot of wood in a space, let me see if I can find the picture. Found it and check out the way I stacked the perimeter the splits are perpendicular and outline the diameter of the stack you want. I did use a ladder to finish it of but was actually standing on it as well as it becomes a solid structure once complete. When you get to the top if your wood has bark stack it so the bark is up top to shed the water off like a roof. Cheers
Good for you man looks good and you are ready to fill the inside of the stack, do that as you build it up it will give it stability.
For me, it is where I put the uglies, but if I ever accumulated enough nice splits to build one that way, they would be placed on end inside.
