How I Stack My Firewood and Why I Do it This Way

[@bjg770]

I love splitting and stacking firewood. For some odd reason it is satisfying to me and the hard work is good for you too.

[@daddyrabbit835]

Same here... I find very few things as satisfying as doing wood.

[@kitasuhill9667]

Good video, short and to the point. I have been stacking firewood for 65 years and am still learning tricks! We get lots of rain here on Vancouver Island and it makes sense to tarp the piles in September. Best I've found are plastic lumber wraps that are free from most lumber supply outfits. Pull them tight, use a few shingle nails through the tarp and into the firewood (double the layers at these points) and then lay a few logs across, on top, to help resist the wind. Easy to remove by pulling out the nail or by bashing the tarp around the nails to rip it loose. Any holes made by doing this are small and are only on the sides of the wood pile. 14 cords cut and stacked. Cost of tarps..... about ........nothing 😁

[@wyattmaximus2684]

pro trick : you can watch movies at instaflixxer. I've been using it for watching a lot of movies recently.

[@romeodamari855]

@Wyatt Maximus yup, have been watching on instaflixxer for years myself =)

[@bloqk16]

Looking at all the various KZbin videos of firewood that's been surfacing on the YT _homepage,_ I have to marvel at the uniformity of the cut and split firewood which stacks very neatly from all the various YT posts I've seen. I never had it that good or easy. With all the scrounging I did for firewood in the eight years I heated my home with wood, it was all the jumble of various lengths, sizes, and thicknesses; which required significant bookends bracing to stack it all to a six-foot height; but all the pieces were small enough to fit into the fireplace insert. I was fortunate that the pipe bracing I used (as bookends), sunk into the ground with concrete, were lengths of scrap pipe that had been around for years. If the scrap pipes hadn't been used, they would have been tossed.

[@mikew9568]

I bought a house recently that has two wood stoves and your videos have taught me so much. Thank you for making them.

[@thistlefarmer9114]

Love the way your saw is hanging on the wall. Never thought of that.

[@karenmia7]

Thank you for adding this. My Husband died May 1st 2015 and now I have figured out how to use the outdoor wood furnace, but the young man who is bringing me wood, does NOT have a clue as how to rank it, especially with the end (beginning). thank you. Karen Lewis, Salem, Mo

[@mclute2963]

My father always used rolled roofing (half lap) to cover wood piles. A little stiffer to work with, but lasted many seasons.

[@irondoger]

I am envious of your stacks of wood and thank you for the tipp of putting the long pieces between the two piles for stability. Obviously a master firewood man 🙏 also credit to your dad and grandpa 🪵🪓

[@safetygroup240]

You are my new favorite Yankee! Howdy from the South!

[@albertkazemian603]

Good job boy. By watching you and other videos of log ox ,I decide to purchase one directly from Austin. Thanks for the helpful videos.

[@larsivarhordnes182]

greetings from Norway, land of firewood-burning. thanks for the advice. I found the log in between the piles for stabilizing very ingenious. I will try that.

[@LifeinFarmland]

Welcome! We still have family in Norway. I would love to make it our your way one day.

[@jeffreyrhine1956]

Like the book Norwegian book very good information.

[@jedmln]

Great video. We always stacked ours the way you do, on pallets and squared off ends. My dad was particular and we always kept the bark side up. Here in Nebraska we never had to tarp our wood either. The odd shaped stuff can be put on the top couple of rows.

[@grasscutter1963]

Simply just enjoy watching your videos. I'm learning so much from them.

[@hockeyslade]

Been burning wood for thirty years, ash and maple mostly. Build a leantoo off your garage with a tarp on the ground and keep the top and bottom open for air. Always have dry wood without shoveling snow and ice. I live in the Icebox of the Nation!

[@trwoody1]

I subscribed to you because you have great ideas & experience backing up those ideas, you are a nice guy, and you don't cuss on your videos. So hard these days to get good videos that I can show my mother & kids when I see something that they would benefit from. Keep up the good work!

[@MrRushSkies]

Ah the most peaceful part of KZbin. I love it.

[@MrDynamitd]

Most important - bark side down when piling , yeah everyone will say the water runs off better if bark side up , but tests in scandanavia proves wood dries better bark side down as the moisture leaves as water vapor , compare it to your wet hair , which will dry faster hat on or hat off, and I have long hair so I know from experience.Great video.

[@LifeinFarmland]

+MrDynamitd Dang it. :) Now I need to do another experiment. I think I mostly stack with bark up thinking the water will run off better. I never paid much attention. I am going to have to give this a try. Thank you for sharing!

[@lynnkhosla6277]

I find that tarps hold moisture in. I've only used them for short-term - to keep seasoned wood dry until I can stack and store it in a dry place.

[@trailbldr]

I built a small roof and put down some clean stone. I don't need pallets anymore. Holz hausen are cool. Good vid.

[@pilske20]

Super nice how you live!! Beautiful wood and good stacking!

[@markfrano]

I'm from the south side of Chicago and just started a firewood business out of my tree cutting business. This was helpful and I never thought of the pallets but that is ingenious. Makes it easy to lay out a cord of wood.

[@LifeinFarmland]

+Mark Francisco I really like them for that reason. Plus they are cheap. Thanks for watching!

[@AdamSeeleyActor]

Never thought to stack the end like that. Lol I have been doing firewood for a long time too. Learn something new every day. Thank you for your video.

[@nicoleyoung6374]

Do you have Fire wood

[@joeynighttrain1126]

A nicely stacked pile o wood is a beautiful thing! Kinda like a nicely laid stone wall. Thanks for some cool tips

[@LifeinFarmland]

+Joey Night Train That is so true. :) Thanks for watching!

[@inhocsigno9151]

Those tips are good and I have found them thru trial and error. Except pallets, I need to implement that.

[@baronratfish3865]

I like your idea's! I've been heating with wood for 8 yrs now. Learned much of what I'm seeing through experience. Glad to see ya sharing the logic.

[@cruzdiaz9381]

Nice page man I'm a big firewood cutter full time 6 montgs of the year I like watching your channel

[@stoolie10]

pallets are my preferred method of stacking wood. free is always best when it comes to pallets. I only stack 4' or close to it.

[@paulmoss7940]

In NC , I use long one row stacks with scrap limb runners underneath and cover with scrap tin roof.Stabilized by trees and posts in between. Located for convenience.Seasoned at least a year. I back a trailer load at a time into the basement to feed the furnace. Keeps it hand and off the ground,lasts a good while.Different areas of the country store wood in ways that works for them,seems to me. What might work here might not be the best for there. Happy heating!

[@BacktotheBasics101]

Thank you for the great video. If I find your videos to be very helpful. I would like to see that video of you putting up a new whole house firewood stack. Also it would be interesting to see a video of how you mark your wood to be the same size.

[@philipalatalo]

Lots of various tips and methods- well spoken clip...many thanks and warm winters to you!

[@LifeinFarmland]

+Philip Alatalo Thank you and same to you.

[@MrDanoconnor]

I guess, like everything in life, there's a "Right:" and "Wrong way to do anything... Well... Maybe.... Personally, I respect a man's wood pile because I look at it and I see a Working Man... So I never judge How a Man Decides to stack his wood because I feel that us 'Woodchucks" all have our reasons, although they might NOT makes sence to someone else. For example, I DO stack the wood I'm gonna use for a winter, as close to the front door as possible for several reasons... Mainly, I'm 60 years old and have NO HELP, so I like to save as many steps as possible and I absolutely Hate handling the same wood any more times than needed. I Light my Stove in Late October and (unless I'm away overnight) it does NOT go out until Mid April. I use between 6 to 8 Chords of Seasoned Wood a year. I Wave at the Oil Truck Drivers!!!

[@MrDanoconnor]

+David McCarron AMEN to That ... My Brother used to say.. "Talk is Cheap, it takes Money to Buy Whiskey,"

[@tommypetraglia4688]

MrDanoconnor You have a catalytic on your stove pipe? That's alot of smoke to fill the valley downwind. Good oil burner burns a 90%, natural gas much higher

[@trwoody1]

Here we go...there's a tree hugger in every crowd

[@wh8085]

Some good thoughts. A pole barn for your fire wood is ideal .

[@lightingrodtodd]

I believe it dries faster out side with the sun and wind. I was told the wood when stacked right dosnt soak up much rain water

[@Colin56ish]

Impressive video quality. Yeah I love Pallets, they are free, it's kind of like you are recycling, you can pick the whole darn lot up if you want to move it, and they are so versatile!

[@timcross9870]

Are u going to make any more videos I've watched pretty much all of ur videos I've learned alot from ur videos

[@keshatton2334]

I have what you may think is a dumb question? Are those stacks your own supply for home heating or is this for selling on? I am in the UK and kinda got addicted to the wood stacks videos you guys are making, it seems every one who has wood burners in the states has enormous stacks of wood, how many cords do you burn in a season? I mean FULL cords not face. Respect for your videos, great to watch.

[@BourneAccident]

Old plywood, sheet metal, roofing panels, etc. make great rain covers for open stacking. Where I live, you've got to keep the rain off. I've tried Holzhauzens, a woodshed, open stacking, etc. The best result here in the Northeast is open stacking with a rain cover. I used to have a woodshed, and I really liked it, but honestly it didn't season the wood nearly as quickly or completely as being in a wide open field with a rain cover. The bottom rows and sides were always damp in my woodshed even with both ends wide open. If you open stack, you must keep your wood off the ground too and the pallet method he shows here is awesome. Just make sure your pallets are sturdy and have small spacing in between the boards so the wood doesn't fall through.

[@jackiegammon2065]

I too, live in the Northeast and do use a shed to store the wood. The shed is more of an open type building, so the winds can blow right through it....and in a good season green wood can dry quite well out there in a couple of months. Regardless of what direction the wind is blowing, it can go through the shed and dry the wood,,, so I'm lucky in that respect. But I do know that each situation is different and you have to find what works for you.

[@jD-ip2zh]

great video, thank you! i love burning wood as primary heat source and using pallets for seasoning my wood. i like this simple method and it looks great.

[@vincentpearson9958]

Just arrived from Road to the Farm. because of your collaboration on the pumpkin challenge looking forward to more

[@LifeinFarmland]

+Vincent Pearson Welcome! Thanks for taking the time to check things out!

[@domainbe]

Really awesome tips for piling firewood. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@LifeinFarmland]

+Drew “Dobeedoo” Delaney appreciate the kind words. Thanks for watching!

[@paulatwood998]

I found that if I put the ends of the pallet towards the front and back of the stack,it gives me better air circulation to the bottom of said wood. If you are getting tarps from Harbor Freight,the grey ones last longer than the other colors. I used to get old waterbed mattresses and split them down the seams. They were last 3 to 5 years depending on the color. Again the silver ones lasted longer.

[@coburnlowman]

Personally I like the plastic pallets. They don't rot and I've used the same ones for many years now. A great way to load one time and not handle any more is to nail a wire fence around the pallet and use the tractor with front or rear forks to load on a truck or trailer , then as you need wood at the house simply move it where you can get it. I stack like you do but for small batches this works quickly to load and haul. Or like when I'm at a job where I need the tractor anyway I'll load up a few of these fenced pallets on the trailer. Also if someone needs a load they're quick and easy to get for them. We have alot of elderly and cripples at church and this is an easy way for me to get wood to there door.

[@LifeinFarmland]

+Phil Lowman great tips! I wish plastic pallets were easier to come by.we plan to do a similar setup when we finally get a tractor. Thank you for share the great advice!

[@joes2514]

Great video! Very informative and relaxing to watch. Almost made me forget about how much work is involved. So far I've had excellent results using Holz Hausen stacking. My first tries were 8' in diameter but 10' is MUCH easier to build. If you try to make too tight of a circle it's difficult to keep the sides pitched in. Logs added sideways to the edge to recover lost pitch just tend to squeeze out during seasoning.But the best reasons I found to stack Holz Hausens is that storms don't blow over my wood piles. I forget how many times I had to restack my traditional straight piles (Not as good at stacking as you yet). Another added bonus is they look pleasant to the eye so my neighbors give me a pass next to their professionally manicured lots. And now that I finally purchased a small tractor I can build them even farther out of sight like you do.Thanks again for the vid, can't wait to watch more.

[@dusseau13]

I cut the sides of used animal feed bags to use as a top tarp. I leave the bottom seams together. Held down by odd shaped wood.

[@ladyofthemasque]

That trick with the occasional long log that's the width of the pallet, tying or anchoring all the rows together for stability, is a trick straight out of drystane (dry stone) wall construction, which is a skill that has been practiced in Europe for thousands of years. It really does help to anchor and stabilize a pile of stones, wood, whatever, particularly if you space them every 3 feet...which sounds like a lot, but it's really only 2 per cord (4x4x8), presuming you square-stack your ends. These tie-through logs anchoring each stack can be set aside and rebuilt into the next cord, too, and can last a few years this way, especially since they'll be partially protected by the layers of wood above as well as below and to either end. To further protect them from wet/dry cycles that lead to faster rotting, you can put bark sheets over the tops of the cord along the grooves in the spots where the tying logs sit, to shed rain around to either side. (Then again, sheets of bark on top of the whole stack, layered & angled slightly so that it drains like a roof, also helps the whole pile, not just the tie-through logs.)

[@S0anonymous]

Thanks! I really like the idea of using branches to cross piles and add stability. I'm thinking of prying boards off a pallet and stapling together a 4' long 2' wide "roof" segment. Just enough to lay (layer) across the top to shed water, while remaining easy to handle at the same time. No paint or sealer, when it ages and breaks apart it will be kindling. Do you think that is a good idea or more trouble than it would be worth?

[@tjinnes]

Thats a pretty good looking firewood stack. Nice job.

[@LifeinFarmland]

+Tom Innes Thanks! :)

[@kenbalderston]

I've had good luck covering my piles with tin. It's more money up front, if you cant get scrap, but will last longer than tarp and prevents all the problems mentioned in your well put together video. Just hold the tin down with those ugly odd shaped pieces of wood, or a couple of cinder blocks if available.

[@LifeinFarmland]

+kenbalderston That sounds like a great idea. I tried using some roofing tar paper I had laying around one year and that did not go so hot. I might have to keep my eye out. Thanks for sharing!

[@DGBuckwitz]

Excellent advice on stacking firewood, thanks for the tips. David, Hazel Park, Michigan,USA.

[@LifeinFarmland]

+David Buckwitz Thanks for watching!

[@northerniltree]

The wood pallets are a valuable resource for this. Try setting them on some evenly spaced treated 2x4's. This way, the pallets themselves do not contact the ground, and will not decay as quickly, or at all.

[@caseyd6602]

Holy cow, that’s a shit ton of wood!! Something us Floridians can’t possibly imagine.

[@theshadowpeople1493]

thanks brother I appreciate it ! stay warm this winter I woke up to 31 here in Florida damn sure thought I was back in New York lol !!!

[@yianaki53]

Informative vid, thanks John. I'm just starting out to cut firewood, late starter in my early sixties but enjoying the process. From Duluth originally but transplanted in southern Maine. Much like back home. Pallets make a lot of sense, thanks for the advise.

[@Sandra-yx6yp]

yes i'd love to see you build a holtz hausen!

[@thomasbranard6382]

Yes very interesting

[@DannyRossa]

Very good video on how to stack firewood! Thanks

[@matthewrooney8123]

very awesome and YES on the beehive stacking

[@forestflower7670]

Greetings from Canada 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@arkman8109]

Great video by the way.

[@5485Ron]

Great channel! I am so glad i found you.

[@Fallen2Dope]

Good video thanks for the tips I'm going into the firewood operation to sell wood this year

[@counting_stars-cq6pw]

another thank you from nz

[@markcatzoutdoors]

That’s a ton of wood. Great work

[@harmab2]

liked your video, liked the pallets idea, put that in effect

[@jcanivan]

nice stacking

[@LifeinFarmland]

+John Canivan Thanks John!

[@Jones572]

This was very cool...how do you keep the bugs away?

[@Herbert04]

I watched your video to see if you do anything different than my self. Not really. Just the pallets. Thank you for that info on circle stacks. I thought that my self. But never go a meter to prove it. Plus I would think it takes more work to do those stacks. I usually pick a different spot every year some what close to the house. About 80 -100 feet. Than once I start a row I just keep going until I'm done. Plus I stack about 20 cord in the basement. Most people don't believe that until they see it. My out side wood is for just in case. Or to start my next winter wood. I do about 8 cord out side.

[@cellgrrl]

Very helpful! Thank you very much.

[@robbed.2014]

Thanks for the infomation. It is very helpful! You look like a cool dude, dude! If you're ever in Belgium we can stack some piles together!

[@jimmieburleigh9549]

Can't find that hut style wood stack you do.

[@manbearpig8691]

I sure wish that you would start making videos again.

[@anthonydomanico8274]

To tarp or not to tarp? That is the question. I only burn a little bit to heat my 18’x18’ welding shop so it’s only intermittent. Thus I have to get really dry wood in order to get a hot fire going quick when I have a job to do. I built a small lean to (16’x4’) with steel roofing. Was it in vain or will it help? I’m in Central New York so weather is all over the place.

[@Longboarder86]

Great video bud, well put on different ways to stack

[@LifeinFarmland]

+Cam Med Thanks! Thanks for taking the time to check it out.

[@DJAZAlwayz]

whenever I feel like I've learned something I'll subscribe . hope to see more great videos . show us more !!

[@keithelliott8757]

Thanks ,very helpful.God Bless

[@TealHouseFarm]

This video is money! Thank you!!

[@TitusLivy777]

Just found your channel. You've got a bunch of really interesting/useful videos. Thanks for taking the time to make them!

[@wyattsworld]

Hi, I love your firewood videos, they have been a big help to my family in our first winter with a wood burning stove. I was wondering if you thought it would be alright to stack my firewood near my farm pond? The ridge around the pond is one of the highest and sunniest spots on the property, and seems to be quite dry because the pond drains out in a ditch in a lower corner. Do you think there will be moisture getting in from the air? We will be stacking it on pallets of course, so none should be coming up from the ground. Thanks!

[@dundiddooer]

good common sense . Keep up the good work.

[@niallkennedy23]

great video dude. 10/10

[@timidater4803]

I have dogs and guns!!! good luck if you want my firewood!!!!!! Like your videos!!!

[@eddiewilliam1193]

Does filling the space between the two rows with more wood impede seasoning?

[@kennaoconnor4633]

Great video! I don't need much would but I loved your video!

[@dstevenpaisley]

Built a shed on back of my garage pole style with crush rock floor.Used a little better than half for storage IE seasonal junk.and the other part fire wood sitting on pallets .Her we use all hard wood for fire wood ash,mape,Oak.I cut it a year a head and leave the limbs on it Right in the woods.If I brought it to my wood yard some one would steal it.I haul it out and chunk it up and split it as I bring it home about 4 mths proir .Burns well and usually nice and dry .Built my shed with ruff lumber so the air can blow through it and dry my wood

[@LifeinFarmland]

+D Steven Paisley Nice! I have been wanting to build a wood shed just have not pulled the trigger. I can't believe I never thought about using rough cut lumber. Awesome. Thank you for sharing!

[@deanlevang6031]

Your firewood stacking reminded me of the upcoming firewood stacking contest by Mike at OUTDOORS WITH THE MORGANS channel. You should enter it. You just might win.

[@deanguando1335]

Nice job.

[@brianbekkala8864]

hey one important part I didn't see is the wood should b stacked w butts to prevailing wind. If u don't do that here in the UP of Michigan it won't dry at all.

[@WestForkWoodsman]

Thanks for the great video. I like the way you tie your stacks together using longer pieces. Can you dry the wood completely in one summer?

[@lightingrodtodd]

I get mine dried in one summer also . Single rows facing the south full sun and next to a field so air circulation

[@izzyd30]

make tons of wood videos very helpful

[@connerwilson2357]

I love your videos please keep making more

[@LifeinFarmland]

Conner Wilson Thank you!

[@connerwilson2357]

Life in Farmland how often are you going to be making videos

[@LifeinFarmland]

Conner Wilson I have been trying to do one once a week.

[@DGBuckwitz]

+Conner Wilson I love them too, good job!

[@NearlyNativeNursery]

Great info. Thanks for sharing! please do vid the hole house stacking.

[@Gladtobeleaving]

Just found this video, so I'm 4 years behind you. If you cut your logs to 16 inches instead of 18, you'll get three rows to each 4 foot pallet. A 16" row is also considered a "face cord" I believe, defined by state law in some places, while the full cord is still 4x4x8. You won't have the "corridor" in between rows for air, but I think the resulting stack will be more stable. Just a thought.

[@Grizzydan]

Nice vid. I have had no luck at all with tarps, even new ones still condensate and drip moisture down into the pile. It always seems that I have to remove the top foot or so before I get to the dry stuff. Also it's no fun at all fighting snow covered piles. I move my dry wood into sheds closer to the house after a year of drying. Usually I'll leave them in large piles in the sun until rainy season hits. I have found no difference between stacked wood and piles when it comes to soft wood like fir, pine, or cedar. Our 115+ summers. (100 days over 100 degrees) likely have everything to do with that. Oak and other hardwoods I prefer to stack right away, or after a month or two of summer sun when it's a bit easier to handle. However I prefer to do most of my handling in the colder weather where there's less chance of playing with rattlesnakes. I've also found that even piling wood fresh from your splitter onto stacked pallets is immensely better than leaving it in piles on the ground. I often get my pallets from the local auto parts and lumber stores who leave them out and easily accessible to the public (ask first of course!) Good luck!

[@LifeinFarmland]

+Big Dan Wow, I am so grateful I don't have rattlesnakes. I am not to found coming across a harmless garter snake. Thanks for sharing! I really enjoyed hearing what works well for you!

[@nicoleyoung6374]

Do you have Fire wood

[@RobertViani]

That's a lot of wood ! Good video .

[@StinkyPete69]

depending on what your piles consist of 1-2 years years is overkill. you're ash, maple, walnut, and tulips usually only need from spring to end of summer to have the best moisture content. I've averaged around 13-15%. I only use tarps when there's heavy rain on the way.

[@LifeinFarmland]

+BLEEDTHOUBLOOD yeah. Oak for me just seems to take forever to dry. I check some 2 year split that was still really wet. I think in the high 30% if I remember right. Seems like our piles usually are oak, ash, and poplar. Some birch and slippery elm from time to time.really appreciate sharing your experience specially mentioning the numbers from the moister meter.

[@christopherort2889]

Cool video

[@jalleman61]

Would love to see the old way of stacking

[@gregjohnson589]

I collect so much firewood and wanted to know how many years it will still put out BTU's I have mostly Oak hickory and ash.I have some now that is 4 years old

[@LifeinFarmland]

+Greg Johnson Keeping it dry is the key. You see several 100 year old barns made of nothing but wood. Often the part that goes bad is areas where the wood is damp like where it connects to the ground. I noticed that harder woods like you mentioned seem to last much longer then softer woods.

[@codeyhanna767]

Great video. Thank you

[@joewoodchuck3824]

Nice job. How much loose wood volume does it take to get a stacked cord?

[@cayesh1234]

Hey, I recently moved to a cabin right outside my city, and have been having trouble with the firewood getting damp and wet. Next season I thought I would put a whole lot of rocks on the ground and put the firewood on top of that, so that the bottom doesn't soak, and then cover it up. Don't have a wood shed. What are your thoughts? Greetings from Norway!

[@gamerfan81]

do you use tarps at all?

[@scottmcdougle2749]

Great vid. Thanks