Log rack features?

[julianf]

We have a log pile outside currently, however, often, we just burn pallets.

Either way, the wood is damp, and needs some time inside before use.


Often it just gets piled up around the rayburn, but the dry stuff ends up on the bottom, etc.etc.


Im thinking of welding up a split hoop (use one side, whilst the other is drying, and then swap over) and i figured id look on the interweb to see if there were any "features" that i should integrate.

...and also ask here!


This is the sort of thing -

but thats tiny. Im thinking more like 3 foot wide, by, maybe 7 feet high or somthing? Split some way to "using" and "drying".


Again, we have "real" logs this year, but normally we burn pallets - but they still turn up wet, and need drying.


I saw one online with wheels -

I shall not be paying the £322 asking price for it though...

Im not sure wheels are a good idea if im going 7 feet high though.

Simple box is fine with me - im fine with it just being functional.


So, any "must have" features that im not aware of?


Thank you.

 

[Gareth J]

Is there any way you can do the bulk of the drying in an outdoors-ish space? Adding moisture for the house to deal with can't be helpful. And using the heat from the logs you're trying to heat the house with to dry themselves is a bit counter productive. Probably not as bad as burning them wet to achieve the same thing, but same principle.

We live in a really wet bit of the world, but a year of seasoning in a single pitch, open to the north, shed and they're good to burn straight off the stacks.

 

[Screwdriver]

Here's one I made for a mate:

Only one "feature, a little bracket for a companion set.



Turned out nice. Most difficult part was he didn't want paint, that's actually chemically blackened.

 

[hotponyshoes]

The problem with those log rack things is the damp wood goes on the top and the stuff that's been drying the longest is at the bottom where you can't get to it.

There must be a better way...

 

[MattF]

There must be a better way...

Shelved racks. My plan, eventually, is to replace those two log racks I have with one larger rack, including a shelf or two. Planning on making it from 15mm copper pipe & standard solder fittings.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Will you really get that much indoors before it ends up getting used before it's much dryer? I just fill this up every few days.

 

[Onoff]

I quite fancy making something like that in a Gothic style for the pub.

 

[Screwdriver]

The problem with those log rack things is the damp wood goes on the top and the stuff that's been drying the longest is at the bottom where you can't get to it.

There must be a better way...

Surely the wood is effectively "dry" and being brought in from a log store outside with only superficial dampness. Agree you wouldn't want green wetwood inside the house. There is an astonishing amount of water in freshly felled wood of course.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Surely the wood is effectively "dry" and being brought in from a log store outside with only superficial dampness. Agree you wouldn't want green wetwood inside the house. There is an astonishing amount of water in freshly felled wood of course.

Depends how dry the log store is I suppose.
I only have an open fire which is only used occasionally. I have kiln dried wood but no log store so the wood lives in a van.
By Xmas time it's pretty damp. Seems to either draw out moisture or condensate when I bring a load inside.
Takes about a week for the surface to dry out fully again.

 

[BoogerGrinder]

Could you make it slightly more enclosed, so that the stack has some stability, with an opening at the bottom so you always draw your wood from the base of the pile?

 

[Onoff]

I quite fancy making something like that in a Gothic style for the pub.

 

[Erie Fred]

That tall rack looks much like a hand truck, maybe put wheels on one end only.
Tip and roll to move.

 

[Kram]

Make two, to use alternately such that they are filled and emptied without adding any more damp wood. The stuff on top will be more exposed to air and should be the driest.


On a dry day, build a stack around an outside firepit for burning up some lower quality wood, that will greatly help the stacks to dry out, but being careful it does t get too hot and start to char or catch - done that a few times!
Then before it rains, use the dried stacks to fill the indoor rack.

 

[Erie Fred]

When the outside one is filled, put a cover over the top to keep the rain off.

 

[MattF]

I quite fancy making something like that in a Gothic style for the pub.

You're repeating yourself, you know.

 

[julianf]

If I made them to be on the limit of being carriable by two people, it would facilitate the bringing in chore also.

Could load one with damp wood outside, maybe leave it in an outbuilding, and then bring it further in.

Would probably need 3-off then. Two inside (in use, and awaiting / drying) and one in the outbuilding.

 

[gaz1]

what about changing your store outside so it drys the material properly before you bring it in

 

[voipio]

Will you really get that much indoors before it ends up getting used before it's much dryer? I just fill this up every few days.

View attachment 512792

Did you mean the glass, or the logpile? ;-)

 

[voipio]

How about a rotating rack? Put the damp(er) logs in one side, and take the drier stuff off the other side.

 

[Guineafowl]

Bringing damp wood indoors to dry isn’t ideal. Make a well-ventilated log store outside with at least two bays - fill one, use one.

Don’t stack the wood all neat and tight like in the pictures, unless it’s already dry. It defeats the point of splitting it.