Stacking versus Piling

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Good evening everyone...

For my first post, I thought I would throw out a question...it seems most everyone around me, and on this site takes great pride in stacking their wood into nice uniform stacks and/or rows, even guys that sell it.

However, I have been selling between 25-50 cords of wood on the side for the past 10 years and I always just piled it up, thinking I wanted to touch it as little as possible, and load it into my dump trailer with my Bobcat grapple bucket. Am I wrong in doing that? I find it so much easier, especially since I bought my Timberwolf TW-5 a few years ago...
 
Welcome to the site!

I can see 2 reasons for stacking if your selling wood..

1. trying to dry the wood as much as possible before you sell it .

2. making 100% sure your selling the amount of wood you say you are, a cord is a cord. some people know some don't and some are crazy..
 
I guess it would season better stacked, but I usually stop splitting in December and don't start deliveries until August. I always stack my loads in the trailer. I dump a few buckets then stack, then repeat.

I have found many surprised new customers when I show up with two cords and they say, "I only wanted two cords." I'm assuming my 256 cubic feet is larger than other's 256 cubic feet. I also try to keep my deliveries to a two cord minimum, saves me fuel and makes it a little more worthwhile money wise.
 
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I just throw mine in a pile on top of some pallets. I know it would dry quicker in a stack, but I leave it for two years so it's plenty dry when I need it.

I would never find time to stack, and I always figured there are better things to get anal about than the woodpile. I don't cover either, let mother nature at it...the wind is your friend, and it's very windy where I live.

:cheers:
 
Kinda both

I stack it in the tractor bucket coming off the splitter and then pile it in one cord piles so I know how much I have. The tractor bucket holds 12 cu ft stacked so I figure 11 buckets to the cord.

The wood seasons very well as the piles aren't huge and air circulates through pretty well. When somebody orders 2 cord it's easy just load two piles.

Take Care
 
I'm all for minimizing handling, especially when selling

Especially when dumped on pallets and given just a lil more time; plenty dry

I even hate 'handling' the ashes from my own stove
 
When stacking in full sun is it better to run the stack N-S or E-W?

E-W will maximize solar heat,
but as Flew notes, prevailing winds are also an important part of speedy drying

If you want to get really technical about solar

Go out at high noon and lay a 2X4 directly toward sun

A stack perpendicular to 2X4 would be getting maximum from 'Solar South' exposure.

Or sometimes easier, note the old farmhouses in your area.
Assuming proximity to road for deep snow access is not a consideration, the Farmhouses usually have most windows on Solar South side
 
Here's a perfect example of what piling can accomplish. I cut this oak late spring and piled it on pallets instead of taking the time to stack it on them. I finally got around to getting started on moving it to the wood shed and found the beginnings of rot. This wasn't standing dead, it was a live (but lightning struck) tree when I dropped it. --Ian

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I noticed the same with my maple pile haywood. I split about 3 cords in early spring and didnt have time to stack it with all the other stuff going on in summer, so I just pushed it up in a pile. The other day I was out digging through it and noticed that the middle was rotted pretty good. Some of it so bad that it probably wont burn..... so if your gonna pile, beware the softer woods wont last as long as haywoods oak did.
 
Just an opinion

Unusual to see fungus in that short time

Are your pallets really serving purpose of keeping wood away from ground, and allowing airflow between wood and ground.

From pics, it appears little if any airflow, and possible ground contact especially near center of pile ??

Anyway, good to catch when you did, and I suspect little if any significant loss of BTU
 
Yea, I was surprised myself. Oddly though, the suspect pieces came from the middle of the pile, not at the bottom. There's no ground contact, although the pallets did sink into the soft dirt some.

Ian
 
Not where I live. :(

+1
Had split red oak in a pile for around a month in early spring of this year. Out of curiosity I started digging into the middle and fungus had already started in the cambium of the splits (i guess not as dense as the heartwood). Needless to say it is stacked now and no signs of fungus left. Stacked eliminates the excess moisture for the fungus to grow. No piling for me, even though it would be easier.
 
For me, I just throw it in a pile. Since I was laid off nearly 2 years ago as an Engineer and can't get a job to save my life, I sell firewood for a living. :angry2: Everything I cut is standing dead, so it only makes sense for me to just toss it into either the trailer for delivery or on the ground. I see no reason to be fancy considering my personal circumstances. Not to mention I don't even have a wood stove in the house.....how ironic I know. :help:
 
I've been piling for years. My respectful recommendations to anyone contemplating this labor saving maneuver are these few thoughts.

Situate the pile on gravel or pallets so it gets morning sun...that's important. Freshly cut splits keep longest if they winter over without covering.

Only when you're satisfied the wood is seasoned can cover it tent like so air will drift threw it.
 
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