Best Firewood Storage! 3 Reasons I Use IBC Totes

3 Main Reasons I Use IBC Totes for stacking and storing Firewood. #firewood #firewoodsales #splitfire #JohnDeere #purplecollarlife #ibctotes @Artillian, LLC @CurtisIndustriesLLC @Split-Fire Sales Inc. #outdoorgans
1 Mobility
2 Ease of stacking/organizing
3 Airflow to season wood faster
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Published December 7, 2021
Current subscriber count at the time of upload: 5609
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0:00 - intro
1:03 - Firewood storage
1:50 - Moving IBC totes
2:33 - Preparing for firewood
3:17 - I can't stack firewood
4:40 - Easy to stack nicely
4:56 - Splitting and stacking
7:56 - Nice stacking results
9:26 - Airflow for seasoning
9:56 - 2/3 of 1/3 cord
10:30 - Moisture level
11:30 - Mobility, stacking, seasoning
12:01 - Leave a comment

[@KNLFirewood]

Finally! Someone else using a reciprocating saw and not an angle grinder. Those angle grinder guys must have extra time on their hands 😂. Do what you want, but you can cut that top bar off. You’ll hit your head a time or two and wish it wasn’t there. I fill mine to the brim and no loss of support. Good show! Thanks for sharing!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks, KNL! I thought that too when I see so many others using angle grinders. I use my reciprocating saw for all kinds of projects. Thanks for watching.

[@livingrural7980]

Great system for organization of stored firewood.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

It really is. Even someone who can't stack wood, can look like a stacking pro with these totes. :)

[@BuildALotAcres]

I got twenty 330 gallon totes about 2 years ago. I love them. My Kioti will easily lift a full tote. I like that they fill up fast, so you can make yourself small daily goals on filling X amount of totes.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That is awesome! I like the idea of setting a daily goal using the totes to measure progress. Your Kioti is the NX series, right? I like the 330 gallon totes too. Even though I can't fill them fully and move them with the John Deere 2210, I may have a larger tractor in the future. AND - I still fill them to capacity when I know they're going to be staying in an area while I pull from them for fires. I've actually been thinking about putting one in the basement just as a firewood storage rack inside for easy access.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@PurpleCollarLife Yes sir. My tractor is an NX4510

[@utubestalker.dotcom]

Wow, that's amazing.

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

Good evening Sir, that is very good reasons and you can also had that it is easier to cover up them too 👌👍😉 Full watch and keep warm Sir Cheers 🍻

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thank you 👍

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

@@PurpleCollarLife 👌😉🍻

[@joelongrid7625]

Those totes make you into a master stacker. I was never a huge fan of neatly stacking my firewood, took too much time. However I do appreciate those folks that can stack a good looking row.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

I'm with you. I'm not a good stacker mostly because I don't take the time. My dad is great at stacking wood, and Mike Morgan is pretty amazing. But I can't ever get it to look like that.

[@PheasantLaneFarm]

Been using ibc totes for 2 years now and they work well for ehat we do. Our personal wood goes in them, but it's getting hard to get them around here. Amber doesn't want to see ours either haha. Great video

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks, Robert. I remember seeing you using them a few years ago. Back when you purchased the trailer to help haul them and potentially sell them as a side business. Can you imagine if you had 100 or so built up to sell today?! Did you see the comment below by Barely Stable where someone sold 24 of them for $100 bucks pretty easily? Inflation on IBC totes - who would have imagined?

[@PheasantLaneFarm]

@@PurpleCollarLife that's crazy. I was lucky to get 90 for a once used food grade complete tote.

[@Bigtoolrack]

Love the IBC totes! We have been using them for firewood for years!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

They’re certainly convenient! My wife isn’t always a fan of the “firewood totes sitting around”, so I have to strategically place them in locations where she can’t see them when she’s looking out the windows of the house enjoying our surroundings!

[@Bigtoolrack]

@@PurpleCollarLife I hear you I keep them behind my barn to season.

[@photocontrol]

The IBC totes look like they work awesome for firewood. Eventually I may get a couple totes, they would be great for me to store stacked black nursery pots.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

I think there's a video out there about 1000 uses for IBC totes. They certainly are versatile. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@MySliceOfHeavenoutdoors]

3 great reasons to use totes

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks! There's probably a dozen more reasons, but these are my 3 primary reasons.

[@petep7227]

When I had a Kubota BX, I cut the totes in half horizontally. Then put the top half on a pallet and screwed down using pipe straps. That way I could overfill both ends, store more wood than a single cage by itself, and still move around with a tiny tractor.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Great idea!

[@PaleHorseOutdoors]

You've got your system down, Chad. Good tips!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks!

[@samb4678]

Nice video

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks, Sam!

[@barelystablefarm7151]

I actually thought of you yesterday. Someone on FB marketplace was selling IBC (275 i believe) locally here for 100 bucks each! Apparently he sold 24 of them in the matter of hours... crazy!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Wow - that person just made 2400 bucks on IBC totes! Thanks for sharing.

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

Chad, As I approach feeling the age that I am… I am warming up to the idea of using totes. Had I thought about it in my last job, I could have gotten all the IBC’s that I wanted. We had a cooking oil supplier that went out of business… we had almost a hundred old beat up totes that no one would exchange. A hog farmer bought all of them for $5 each to haul water and feed in. If only I knew then what I know now. PS: Cherry is heavy but, try filling one with green white oak! Thanks buddy.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

If you had all those totes now - it would be some good money! I do like using them for the convenience. You're right about the oak. I don't think we have much white oak in our woods, but plenty of red oak. Red Oak burns even better than Cherry. Does the white oak burn a long time?

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

@@PurpleCollarLife Hotter, longer snd cleaner than red oak… it isn’t quite as hot as black locust. Osage Orange is the hottest… it will melt your stove. I split it into small pieces and save them for really cold mornings when I want to get quick heat from a bed of overnight embers!

[@pkope6849]

Nice Job , I have 21 of the totes. Kubota L3540 w/forks. New subscriber today. One year minimum on seasoning Cherry for me.👍

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching, subbing, and commenting. Wow - I wish I had 21. I need to go pick up more, soon. I don't want to miss out on the deal they're willing to give me. I agree with 1 year minimum seasoning time with Cherry (and oak too).

[@rockybrown7713]

I cut the top rung on the totes also. Doesn't hurt the tote and makes it much easier for loading and unloading.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

I've thought about doing that - but I was just worried about the sharp edges. So far, I've not whacked my head on it. I'm sure one of these days I'll regret it.

[@glxxyz]

Keep the top rung if you want to stack them, otherwise can cut it. Flap disc on the grinder cleans up sharp edges.

[@MannistoCay]

Hey Chad, I just picked up 8, I'll post something soon. Stay warm👍🏝🍻🔥🌴Mark

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Nice job! You'll be glad to have them.

[@YouTuber-mc2el]

I have no problem stacking but don't like doing it (waste of time). The IBC is the way to go. If you loosely stack the IBC more air will get to the splits allowing them to dry quicker. That would probably be a full IBC for you which you could pick up possibly.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Great point! If I just loosely toss the firewood in the tote, the John Deere might be able to lift it. But I wonder how much it holds vs fully stacked. I always figure it’s 1/3 cord (face cord) when stacked to the top.

[@davida.p.9911]

They also make transporting them easier. You don't have to worry about walking a mile* in cold weather or snow to get more wood. *A mile is an exaggeration of course, but some people may have yards that big. 😊

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Very true!

[@Bayou_Russ]

For sure, I can tote the cage full of wood to the back porch and only have 1-2 there for immediate needs. The rest are tucked along a fence where they’re out of sight.

[@michaelclinton7134]

Nice clean wood will dry out quickly in that

[@PurpleCollarLife]

For sure. Thanks for watching!

[@frankcouper9377]

I just throw the logs into my IBC cages, dry way faster than stacking. The key is finding an open windy and sunny spot for the IBCs.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

I've been considering trying that (tossing them in instead of stacking them inside). You're right - but all the open spots around here are places Jennifer can see them, and she doesn't want to see them.

[@iffykidmn8170]

@@PurpleCollarLife Window blinds.

[@mikeshobbyhomestead8917]

I find with my tractor I can’t lift a full ibc tote of stacked wood. So I just toss the wood in the tote loosely and it speeds up filling them and they have a lot of airflow. The load is lighter and when it’s full I know when to stop do I don’t overload the tractor

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That's a good point, Mike. I think I'll try just tossing it in loose the next time. Though - that eliminates one of my benefits (that it makes me a hafl-decent stacker!). Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@mikeshobbyhomestead8917]

@@PurpleCollarLife stacking is overrated. To much time wasted. just toss in basket and put away for a year in a nice sunny dry area. In fall/ winter dump the containers out on the ground near my garage storage rack and store it on the 1/3 cord rack for the winter. It finishes the drying and we always have 1/3 cord ready to burn if we get a snow storm and don’t want to go outside to get the wood. I’m not sure there is a perfect solution to moving and storing wood. I guess the saying is correct firewood heats you twice, once when you cut it once when you light it! I don’t think that saying included moving and stacking!

[@treksevestro]

Why don't you locate first IBC unit where you want to store the wood when it is 3/4 full and then top up from the second IBC then 3/4 fill the second one and relocate it with the first one. Means you have stored more wood this season. Interesting show

[@PurpleCollarLife]

I have done that filling method pretty often. Fill it up as much as I can lift, then move it and fill it the rest of the way up later. Because I usually pick from the IBC totes into our UTV to get firewood into the house - so it is fine to be over the tractor lift capacity at that point. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment.

[@jimmccullough1051]

Just got my first totes. I have been using pallets, when I move them around the yard I tend to drop pieces. Concerning the weight, I need to find a fill point like you did. Have you considered cutting off the top ring and uprights to be sure you don't overfill?

[@bobpurs]

I considered cutting of top so not to overfill but makes them stronger not doing that plus I’m glad I didn’t cause I got a new, bigger tractor this year and can me fill them as full as I want now. Been using them for years now and love them. I cut the tanks and use them for roofs. Run a ratchet strap over them to hold roofs down.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Hi Jim - you'll love the totes. I don't mind them being a bit to large for my tractor capacity. I may have a larger tractor some day. And sometimes, if I know I won't need to move them, I fill them up to the top. I didn't show it in this video, but I also cut the top of the bladders off and use them as "rain cap" coverage for the tote. It keeps the rain and snow out. Thanks for watching!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks, Bob. I like leaving the entire height on my totes too. I figure I may have a larger tractor someday. Plus - I fill them ALL the way up when they're sitting somewhere that I'll be pulling from and I don't need to move them. I like cutting the bladder tops off too and using them for rain coverage. Works great!

[@bobpurs]

@@PurpleCollarLife I cut mine on a diangle making a triangle which make a peaked roof. They fit over the sides and ends to keep,rain and snow. Two tops out of one tank. Then bought cheap ratchet straps and run over the top.

[@melissasmess2773]

@Purple Collar Life, about how heavy are those totes when filled to your tractors lifting capacity? Thanks!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That's a great question. I'm not exactly sure. Based on our testing in this video - I'd guess about 1100 lbs or so. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ql67d2uEfbeFjac

[@rayban5737]

Move the ibc close to where it needs to be and trailer the split wood site? Then you can fill em up👍

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks!

[@mattbroct]

I’m def not a safety sally, and cut about 4-6 chords a year...and on about year 14..Makes me so nervous way your resting your 🤚 hand. I nudge rounds over w my hip since it’s almost physically impossible to lean that far that it gets pinched, but have seen several crush injuries from that movement you do because some distraction happens causing you to look up or away for the shortest moment and the limb or finger gets the crush… One hand on the lever and the other up in the air like don’t shoot :-) Enjoyed the content, thanks for sharing!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for the tip! I've pinched my fingers a few times in the fresh split, when the wood "retracts" back toward it's original shape after I've split it. But I will make a point of keeping my free hand away from the piece while splitting. It's always a good reminder to have someone mention something they saw in a video that is a potential hazard. Thanks!

[@mattbroct]

@@PurpleCollarLife very welcome. Love the content.

[@greeniedrone2937]

What would be the moisture percentage of seasoned wood after it's stored in your IBC totes?

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Our Oak, Maple, and Cherry are typically down to below 18% if they've stored for 18 months in the totes after being split. Good question. Thanks for asking.

[@arizona5253]

What moisture meter is that?

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Hello - thanks for watching. I did a video about that moisture meter - it's this one: amzn.to/3xfy6a2 Here's the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2XEp4SNp8iVhKs

[@MRoy-rt3nu]

I’m going to get 12 totes tomorrow, seriously. Save yourself a few steps, move the tote closer so you can just turn and put the wood in the tote.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

12 totes is a lot to pick up! Are you hauling them on a big trailer, or making multiple trips? Did you get a good price? You’re right about saving steps. I actually did another video about that (efficiency) and moving things closer to me.

[@thenewyorker0042]

These are expensive. Just put a free pallet down and put a trap on the top of it only. Faster and works better lol

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks, Kyle. I actually really prefer the ability to move the wood around without handling it so many times. I found that when I staked the wood on a pallet, I was handling it an extra time moving it from there to a rack for burning in the house.

[@thenewyorker0042]

@@PurpleCollarLife ridiculous. It will take you more time to stack it in them small confined cages.

[@amandadavis9726]

⁠@@thenewyorker0042Adam of Hometown Acres proved that you touch your wood less times after you split it with IBC Totes compared to just stacking them on free pallets.

[@stephend3961]

No Way, them IBC Totes are at least $350.00 each --

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Maybe brand new. We buy ours used. We used to pay $10 each and now pay $20-40 each. Here's a video about where we get ours. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2rRnKWInMuSpLs

[@Run4urlife13]

@@PurpleCollarLife come on man. Im just south of Buffalo and clean totes are $100 or more a pop! Ill make the drive, where are you in PA for $40 totes!?

[@PurpleCollarLife]

@@Run4urlife13 I have a place I can get them for $20 each now. I'm not allowed to say where that is, but I did make a video about it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2rRnKWInMuSpLs

[@PurpleCollarLife]

These are the ones that I used to get for $10 each. The price went up.

[@PB-mp4rt]

I just bought 10 for $5.00 each and $70.00 delivery for 10, down here in the Antipodes! Complete with bladder. So looking for ideas to use them for!