The secret to managing your firewood!

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  • Опубліковано 28 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 88

  • @GR8Tmate
    @GR8Tmate 2 роки тому +1

    As someone who’s still in the planning stage this has really helped me. If I can, I will allow the space so I can get at both sides of my timber stack, that way, rather than shuffle I can just access my timber the the backside of the stack. Great advice in the episode John, Thankyou

  • @dpower02
    @dpower02 7 років тому +11

    Good video and firewood is a worthy venture. But it is a lot of work especially all the handling of the wood. I fixed the handling of the firewood problem using pallets and forks on the tractor. I have a metal screen frame attached to plastic pallets, I can take the pallet out to the wood splitter and load the wood in the pallet, I use the tractor to take it to dry in another spot and can easily move the pallets with the tractor. When the wood on the pallet is dry I can se the tractor to take the pallet and set it inside on the basement floor through the double doors in the front of my place, I can set it on a dolly and wheel the pallet over to the wall by the wood stove, so I handle the wood to put it on the pallet and the next time I handle the wood it is going in the stove. Works well.

  • @AlmostHomestead
    @AlmostHomestead 6 років тому

    Great idea. I just finished transferring wet wood from front to back in my woodshed. The bay system looks like a winner.

  • @lordrichard8184
    @lordrichard8184 7 років тому +1

    I like that bay system. I’ll be adding that to my fire wood shed. Great idea!

  • @carlpenney901
    @carlpenney901 6 років тому +3

    If you are handy with a welder you could build three sets of vertical cages on steel wheels that fit in your spaces and then you move them around any where you want.

    • @truthfilter
      @truthfilter 2 місяці тому

      Good idea! I suppose you mean like those airport cages on wheels

  • @chrisandshazza01
    @chrisandshazza01 6 років тому

    Great advice HD - only cut what you can split. Fresh hardwood will split like butter - after a week it’s twice as hard. My father had a lot of spotted gum cut down a few weeks back by a team of 5 gents over 2 days........what’s left is painful to split but rewarding. Each to their own, I find splitting wood therapeutic, just love it. We’ll leave that to dry for a couple of years. Great video HD

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  6 років тому

      I have never split spotted gum. But what I have seen of the timber it looks like it would be hard work! Thank you.

  • @loriscook5231
    @loriscook5231 4 роки тому

    Swiss people have the neatest stacks of fire wood I’ve ever seen. All cut to the same length, stacked against the sides of their houses and sheds or in rows in the fields nearby. Often with corrugated iron or a tarpaulin along the top. Looks lovely when your driving through the countryside. You couldn’t have it that close in bushfire areas. It does save the cost of a wood shed.

  • @kuladeeluxe
    @kuladeeluxe 6 років тому

    Good honest work keeping you young and fit.

  • @offgridinthepacificnorthwe3210
    @offgridinthepacificnorthwe3210 6 років тому +3

    I have been burning wood for heat since 1970. It's getting harder every year. We live off grid in the Pacific North West of the US. We have to burn wood 8 to 9 months a year. We live on a 40 acre timber lot with plenty of wood. The problem is I'm not getting any younger. Cutting and splitting is easy with tractors big saws and a log splitter. It's pcking the wood up off the ground is so hard with a bad back. I put up 8 (128 cubic foot) cords a year. I sometimes dream of moving south but there are to many folks down there for me. Seclusion has its price lol. I used to burn eucalyptus. I remember it being real hard to split and was very stringy. It burns hot and long though. Anyway cheers from the top side.

    • @chrisandshazza01
      @chrisandshazza01 6 років тому

      Steven Davis thanks for sharing, great read

    • @mrdrongo24
      @mrdrongo24 6 років тому

      You're not off the grid if you're on the internet hahaha wtf

    • @offgridinthepacificnorthwe3210
      @offgridinthepacificnorthwe3210 6 років тому +1

      Jordan Tripptree sorry, I don't understand your statement. My homestead is not connected to utilities of any kind. I have wireless Internet. No power grid, water, gas or sewage utilities. I suppose you could say my Internet bill is a utility. If that's the case then so is a cell phone lol.

    • @chrisandshazza01
      @chrisandshazza01 6 років тому +1

      Jordan Tripptree
      You can have internet and be off grid Jordan

    • @offgridinthepacificnorthwe3210
      @offgridinthepacificnorthwe3210 6 років тому

      chrisandshazza01 lol ok. Have a great day!

  • @PurpleCollarLife
    @PurpleCollarLife Рік тому

    Thanks for making this informative video!

  • @funnyfarm5555
    @funnyfarm5555 6 років тому +1

    I would convert your system to 4 bays. That's what I had at my last house and worked great. Building a woodshed soon here.

  • @tractorman4461
    @tractorman4461 6 років тому

    Great idea. I too face the issue most every year. My shed is also separated into three sections, the one we burn out of, another for next season and the third for yet the following season. I usually just don't relocate any of the left overs and go ahead and cover it up where sometimes it may be locked in the back for an extra cycle. lol. It is really, really dry by that time.... If I could just access the shed from a rear door (non-existant) it may solve my problem.
    Feel free to swing by and check out your American compatriots videos in processing wood. Of course, we have no Eucalyptus on this side of the world. (Please excuse my self indulgent and shameful plug)..... I do enjoy your videos sir and just subscribed.

  • @richo1177
    @richo1177 6 років тому +1

    Grew up in nsw and dad always had long stacks of last years wood air stacked and covered in Coro iron, we worked on 8t a year air stacked made about 4 rows chest high, and wide enough to load an uncovered stak into the wheel barrow. Once a couple of stacks were gone and summer was over we would start cutting iron barks again on Sunday's and the kids jobs were to debarked, split and air stack, we didn't have play stations and gameboys, we had block splitters and axes. Cleaning the creasoat from the chimney was only once a year as the worst blocks of grainy wood were always for the big heater, the combustion stove was only fed the good dry timber which gave us hot water, a real perk in summer at 38c outside if you wanted to do the dishes 😂😂😂😂😂

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  6 років тому +1

      Those were the days!

    • @BoobooSnafu
      @BoobooSnafu Рік тому

      Man, I can relate to this 😂 Lived up Lachlan in an old shearers hut. Only a wood fire stove.
      Winter was awesome....summer it was a right cow to have to light the fire to shower 😭

  • @johncasey1020
    @johncasey1020 7 років тому

    Got to manage it with the space that you have. Looks like a solid method.

  • @davidzajicek7980
    @davidzajicek7980 7 років тому +20

    You could make doors on the backside so you would not have to move so much so many times

    • @bwillan
      @bwillan 6 років тому +2

      You would still have to be able to slide the firewood forward in any given bay so the dry stuff was at the front. A different idea would be to stack the firewood on pallets and use a pallet jack to move the whole pallet around when it needs to move.

    • @roytoal9947
      @roytoal9947 6 років тому +3

      No because if there was a door on the other side you could just use it from the rear

    • @cheaphomesteading
      @cheaphomesteading 6 років тому +1

      David Zajicek agree

  • @WatchRichRebuildsChannel
    @WatchRichRebuildsChannel 4 роки тому +1

    Thank you for the video

  • @leereadman9940
    @leereadman9940 5 років тому

    l lived in Tassy for a short time l miss it alot. but l must admit what l miss the most was the open fires. TFS

  • @australianmatttty
    @australianmatttty 23 дні тому

    Will wood dry in a closed machinery shed?

  • @robertcaffrey6097
    @robertcaffrey6097 6 років тому

    Might be an idea to put those storage bays on castors for easy moving.

  • @lindanwfirefighter4973
    @lindanwfirefighter4973 6 років тому

    I will use your idea to split the wood shed into bays! I have a wood shed that holds 3 years of kitchen firewood! It has always been a problem with getting access each year to the driest wood. I will use front to back and when it clears the back I will put a divider up to denote 1 years worth...aka 1 Bay! Thanks.

  • @EssentialMountainHomesteading
    @EssentialMountainHomesteading 7 років тому

    Fantastic video, thank you for sharing some great information.

  • @21simper
    @21simper 3 роки тому

    I have mine on a long lean-to... No bays... A 3 year supply and just work right to left like a type writer filling in behind.... No double handling

  • @dstevenpaisley
    @dstevenpaisley 7 років тому +8

    Eastern canada I burn 3 full cords in house and 1.5 Cords in my garage and 1 for my camp ! Aprox 28 trees Hardwood Ash,Maple ,mostly Cut in the spring (March) leave full length Leaves sucks it dry I am usually 1 YEAR A head .

    • @Denispat
      @Denispat 7 років тому +1

      this said, here, it's easier to split wood once it frozen (in a tire or with a chain & bongee). Google it if your in the 'frozen' belt :)

    • @jacobibanez7554
      @jacobibanez7554 7 років тому

      the leaves suck it dry? leaving the fallen tree as it is with the leaves?

    • @johncasey1020
      @johncasey1020 7 років тому +2

      You live in Eastern Canada and you camp ? You're a glutton for punishment aren't ya ? Greetings from way south here in New Hampshire. :)

    • @jamesshanks2614
      @jamesshanks2614 6 років тому +1

      Glutton for punishment? I think not. When your an outdoorsman that means you enjoy the outdoors so it's not a punishment. The camp is probably a better location to go hunting to stock the larder in addition a great get away from the home. Simply being able to sit on a homemade chair and relax with a beautiful morning or sunset occurring is many times worth it.
      I visit a campground my buddy lets me use 2 or 3 times a year and while he drops the trees and hauls them in I spend a few hours a day splitting up his firewood and stacking it in one of four drying sheds he's built. Each one holds 2 cords each. Nice during July and August watching the steam and sap come out the vents on the sides ( 4 inch openings top and bottom ) get em filled by May and its full of dried firewood ready to burn by the time the heating season rolls around. His stove is wood and coal so last year I left a surprise for him, 3 tons of rice coal in a coal bunker I built the last week I was there along with a video of how to burn coal and I found an email from him last November, he tried it and loves it as in his stove it holds right around 60 pounds of coal in the firebox and his wife loves it as the house is warm and toasty all day and night. He now has a second coal bunker giving him a total capacity of 10 tons. His reaction is I should've done this years ago so much easier. He gets his coal from a dealer in Quincy, Massachusetts. Initially they were a little reluctant to deliver until he stated he wanted 9 tons then it was no problem 3 hour drive each way.
      Nice setup you got there sir however a hand hydraulic jack and some home made pallets to hold the firewood sounds a lot easier to move the firewood around.
      May the gods of the Norsemen be kind to you from New Hampshire USA
      Cheers!

  • @mitchmcbride6053
    @mitchmcbride6053 7 років тому

    Top video mate good work love the stack system u have

  • @harveysami1073
    @harveysami1073 7 років тому

    great video nice way of storing your firewood

  • @outdoorswithlarryrobin
    @outdoorswithlarryrobin 2 роки тому

    Hello from Northern Virginia, just subscribed 🚜👍🏼🪵🇺🇸

  • @TaralgaBushAdventure
    @TaralgaBushAdventure 6 років тому

    nice work John!

  • @pjwlk
    @pjwlk 7 років тому

    I was thinking (forgive me) ... if moving wood around like that is a regular occurrence why not either have access to the seasoned wood from the back of the shed via some doors or have a walkway inside from one side around the back of your pile? Also, you've done a lovely job splitting the wood, but I've got to ask, does it need to be split so thinly? That's a lot of work. My friends in northern Canada burn mainly maple, beech and ash, but their pieces are twice as thick (half the work) and burn for a long time. Is it the type of wood that makes the difference or am I missing something?

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  7 років тому

      No, moving wood like that isn't regular, it happened because we had been away and had not burn't as much wood as usual. But having double access is good idea - I have a "long term" plan to build a specific wood shed with doors both ends - then it would accessed from alternate ends each year. In regard to the wood size, I have found that splitting it smaller has several benefits: firstly it drys faster, secondly it burns better and produces more heat, so the end result I believe is less wood burnt overall. But it may be different with other timber types.

  • @mitchmcbride6053
    @mitchmcbride6053 7 років тому +1

    We use to have a big old second hand shed and we use to have it stacked on each wall and cause it was wet we use to start a small fire in the sheet and this would give of pretty good heat and would speed up the drying process by a bit

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  7 років тому +2

      I assume that fire was in some form of heater...not an open fire...otherwise you could end up with a much bigger fire than expected:-). My shed is colourbond steel (as is common here in Oz) and the roof is black (something I would only recommend in a cool climate), so it can get quite warm on sunny day! Naturally this helps dry the wood - almost like being kiln dried!

    • @mitchmcbride6053
      @mitchmcbride6053 7 років тому

      Yea it was in an old free standing wood fire u know the ones with the stove on top and the chimney out the rear of it ow was in orange and due to the fault of our own we didn't prepare enough the year before and like u said wet wood is not the best to burn

  • @juliehenderson1672
    @juliehenderson1672 6 років тому

    Would it be easier to cut when dried? Store logs and cut when needed?

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  6 років тому +1

      A log dries at the rate of about an inch a year if horizontal. Standing timber dries faster. So large size logs are better cut green - also makes then softer! But small logs are OK to cut dry...you just have to sharpen the saw more often!

  • @JHarding888
    @JHarding888 7 років тому

    Very good information - wish I had an open fire again.

  • @UTubeGlennAR
    @UTubeGlennAR 6 років тому

    I designred a 16 foor by 24 foot - 4.88m by 7.32m wood shed that has 7 bays and isle between bays for both me to walk and air to flow.
    a. Six bays are for wood storage (I call them cribs) and one bay is for my bi directional hydrolic wood splitter.
    b. Each crib is 8 foot/2.44m long and 4 foot /1.22m wide. I stack the wood as high as I can reach which is between 6 to 6.5 feet since each crib has a scrap shipping pallet as a floor about 4 inches high. This means each crib holds about 1.5 cords of wood. I burn about two cribs a heating season in N. E. Pennsylvania, USA. Thus I have a three year supply of wood heating fuel. This also means a 3+ year drying cycle. Thus, my Pensy red and silver oak is nice and dry when it finally gets in my soap stone catalitic air tight wood stove which has a 14 foot/4.27m straight chimney with only one 90 degree bend out the bottom/back of the fire box.
    c. The big thing I want ot mention to you is that I made little shelf on the side of each bin/crib to hold a black bold tip marking pen. Every couple hunderd splits or so I write the date on the end just after I placed in on the stack. I just have one bold marker in my wood shed since I just move the marker to the crib I am currently filling. I find doing this is both useful and interesting to see in three years the date I processed this split as I am removing it from the pile on it's way into the fire. You may want to cinsider doing the same in oyur shed since is coasts near nothing to implement......
    Best Wishes, Glennnnnnn

  • @Achilliez
    @Achilliez 6 років тому

    Great video mate! I’m splitting my firewood over here in the south west of WA!

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  6 років тому +1

      Thanks. I've never been to your corner of the country...something for the future!

    • @Achilliez
      @Achilliez 6 років тому

      Homesteading DownUnder not as cold as your side that’s for sure. But we like it.

  • @armyguy9735
    @armyguy9735 5 років тому

    I burn wood also in Canada, my question is WHERE IS YOUR PICKAROON? Much easier on your back. Just an idea. Great video I love them, keep up the good work.

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  5 років тому

      Never tried a pickaroon - they aren't common in here. Thanks for the encouragement!

    • @armyguy9735
      @armyguy9735 5 років тому

      @@homesteading all that you have created on your farm, you can make one. Your back will love you. Peace

  • @kwhatten
    @kwhatten 7 років тому

    I imagine you could also cut a couple of long, shallow "windows" in the wall on the outside like one might have in a chicken coop to access eggs! That way you could access the wood from both sides.

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  7 років тому

      Yes, you could do that. One day I would like to build a specific wood shed with doors both ends - that way wood could be loaded and removed from alternate ends in rotation.

  • @ericsloane1844
    @ericsloane1844 7 років тому

    Thanks for the tips...

  • @davidwest9113
    @davidwest9113 5 років тому

    Firewood dries much much quicker if it's out in the weather. Only dry store once it's dried enough ready to burn.

  • @Stevie671
    @Stevie671 7 років тому

    Hi John,You say you are burning wood for 5 months.Is that 24/7?.Trying to guess how much wood you are using .Did you mention six trailer loads?.It's just that for the same period I'm going through about 12 6x4' trailers of Gum, continuous burning.I'm in NZ.I connected with your video.Cheers, Steve.

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  7 років тому

      Hi Steve. No, it's not 24/7. What you are using sounds fine for 24/7 burning. We use approx 8 cubic metres, and feed the fire an average of 8 hours a day. Our house is insulated and double glazed so holds warmth well...besides we don't like it too hot!

    • @Stevie671
      @Stevie671 7 років тому +1

      Thanks for the reply.I can see the answer for me isn't more wood,it's better insulation.My 100 yr old villa is pretty draughty.Heating is about much more than just the wood!

  • @Terryblount
    @Terryblount 6 років тому +1

    I cut and sell paper wood and cut up the hardwood tree tops -- under 7 inches down to about 2 inches and I've accumulated about 80 tons. Wish I could sell it but I'm too far from any city.

    • @jamesshanks2614
      @jamesshanks2614 6 років тому +2

      Terryblount
      Simply build a webpage to sell your firewood but state in large letters customer pickup only. There are a lot of truckers out there that will be more than happy to drive out there and buy and pickup your firewood for sale.
      If they want it bad enough they'll come get it.
      I hope you have a way to load the wood mechanically.
      Cheers

  • @carmichaelmoritz8662
    @carmichaelmoritz8662 7 років тому

    + homesteading downunder , you seem knowledgeable about wood for a heat source , i burn mostly popular and find that they produce a better heat with a longer burn when fresh cut . those trees you are talking about must kinda be like maple trees , in order for me to burn maple trees i have to split them and let then season for one summer before they will burn . why do popular trees burn even when freshly cut ?

    • @carmichaelmoritz8662
      @carmichaelmoritz8662 7 років тому

      i always just let the build up in the chimney burn itself out , " slowly " . the chimney is double bricked with concrete on the inside and it has not cracked yet . and yes there is a clean out port on the bottom of the chimney .

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  7 років тому

      Sorry, but I can't answer your question as I don't have any experience with northern hemisphere timbers as firewood. The only reason I can think of that a timber would burn better unseasoned would be if it contained oils in the sap.

    • @carmichaelmoritz8662
      @carmichaelmoritz8662 7 років тому

      thats exactly what i thought , oils in the tree , . i think the main reason why maple trees dont burn good when fresh is due to the fact that they are a tree with lots of water stored within . would make sense for two reasons , first , when its cold out and you clip a maple it will basically flow what is mostly water with a small amount of syrup , second it takes hrs of boiling maple water in order to get maple syrup . popular and pine have mostly sap with only a small amount of water . thank you for the response :)

  • @jeeppayton
    @jeeppayton 7 років тому

    Eucalyptus and oak will split easier when fresh cut. The opposite is true with pine, it's hard to split when wet. Let it season and its a lot easier

  • @isJudgingYou
    @isJudgingYou 7 років тому

    I think you need some kinda pallet or cage bin with wheels!

  • @theloosemoose8200
    @theloosemoose8200 7 років тому

    Use that space to make 4 wood racks on rollers and you will never have to move wood again... make them so you can just pull one of those whole stacks out from the wall like a giant spice rack, use whichever rack you want, at anytime.....

  • @modhusudon7904
    @modhusudon7904 7 років тому

    very nice

  • @dstevenpaisley
    @dstevenpaisley 7 років тому +1

    I built a big beast of a wood splitter 15 hp Subaru enj 20 ton ram and 2 speed pump . No prob with any thing yet

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  7 років тому +2

      So far I have put off a mechanical splitter for the day I can no longer swing a block buster. Given that I am usually splitting large round (18inch +) it is easier to just tip them over and split by hand. That way I get in a HIIT session...if you will pardon the pun!

  • @CrepitusRex
    @CrepitusRex 6 років тому

    Can you smell the eucalyptus when burning this wood?

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  6 років тому +2

      No. The eucalyptus oil is in the leaves.

  • @rhys5567
    @rhys5567 4 роки тому

    I'd always understood cross cut fresh and split dry. You don't agree?

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  4 роки тому

      I find cut dry and split immediately better.

  • @robertfernald7517
    @robertfernald7517 6 років тому

    12 years?

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  6 років тому

      Yes, that's correct. The log I had cut had been on the ground for at least 12 years.

  • @charliebrown4007
    @charliebrown4007 7 років тому

    looks like you burn small thin wood i was all ways told to burn large logs and large split oak or any free wood but not pine wood

    • @homesteading
      @homesteading  7 років тому +2

      There is considerable variation on what to burn, depending on where you are in the world. Pine is also avoided here in Australia, as it is regarded as too acidic, but in some places it is the only option. In general I always look for larger logs to cut as older trees give better heat and burn for longer...but I cut them small as I need to do this to fit them into our heater and I find they burn more efficiently this way. Sometimes I burn smaller, younger trees, as they have been either fallen for some other reason, or blown down by wind. Ultimately everything burns! It's wasteful to be too elitist about firewood :-)!

  • @juliehenderson1672
    @juliehenderson1672 6 років тому

    Copy that! David Z !