Holz Hausen-Dry Wood In Three Months?

[dave1949]

I never saw any where I lived in Germany, the Rhineland-Pfalz State. Grill houses were very popular, small shed-type outbuildings designed around a wood-fired grill of some sort. Everyone had their own idea of what they wanted for a grill house from very rustic to finished interiors, mini-fridges, cabinets, etc.

My German friends made firewood by cutting 8"-12" dbh mixed hardwoods in 1-2 meter lengths and hauled those home on a two-wheel trailer with racks at each end. The larger diameter logs were split lengthwise with wedges. Everything was stacked outside for a couple years covered with galvanized tin roofing pieces. The seasoned logs were bucked up into ~1' long rounds with a 3-phase electric cord wood saw and then tossed into an enclosed shed.

The rounds were split as needed when they were burned in the house heating stove or the GrillHaus for cooking meats. Beech was the favored grilling wood. I enjoyed helping my friend with firewood. Besides the friendship, it felt good to get out and do something while living in a rented house.

I have many good memories of evenings in grill houses. The home-cooked food was awesome. There may have been some bier, wein und schnapps involved too.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I lived in Germany for over 3 years, but being in a large city, I never saw one.

But living in SE Ma, near Plymouth and the Pilgrims, I have seen many piles of wood done that way in the historic sites in the area.

 

[Garandman]

So yesterday I started a Holzmiete.

Decided on 6' diameter. Scraped the snow away with the bucket. Put down some plastic contractor's tras bags as a liner, and made the first circle. After this picture I added a few more pieces so that on the first course the inside ends were touching. Some people add spacers right away but because the ground was uneven I elected to add them where needed.

We had some large pieces of Oak bucked and that's most of what I split to start. My thinking was that will be there the longest, and it will need more time to dry. I mixed in maple and birch, and a little ash as well, as the spirit moved me and the pieces came to hand.

Used the DR Power kinetic splitter so I was able to fill somewhere between 6-10 bucket loads, then bring them over to the pile. Had interruptions to ferry kids back and forth to skiing, but this was just as it got dark and I used the worklight to stack the last load.

 

[Garandman]

Only been a couple of weeks but I checked a regular [single] stack versus the Holzmiete with a moisture meter, and they were the same.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Only been a couple of weeks but I checked a regular [single] stack versus the Holzmiete with a moisture meter, and they were the same.

it's winter. Wait til warmer weather and then check.

 

[MossRoad]

Its not going to dry it faster. Been doing it for 5-6 years. I like the round stack. It looks nicer. It uses less tarp to cover it. It takes up less room in the yard. But it doesn't dry it any faster.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Its not going to dry it faster. Been doing it for 5-6 years. I like the round stack. It looks nicer. It uses less tarp to cover it. It takes up less room in the yard. But it doesn't dry it any faster.

I'm going to have to disagree with you. I can't cut and stack it in traditional piles in the spring and use it the next winter. I have cut and stacked it in the round stacks in the spring and used it the next winter.

It's better to wait another year before using it but it is much dryer than in conventional square piles.

Perhaps we're using different type of wood, you and I. I use mostly red oak.

I like the round stack. It looks nicer. It uses less tarp to cover it. It takes up less room in the yard.

totally agree with this part. Also it's easier to stack.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm going to have to disagree with you. I can't cut and stack it in traditional piles in the spring and use it the next winter. I have cut and stacked it in the round stacks in the spring and used it the next winter.

It's better to wait another year before using it but it is much dryer than in conventional square piles.

Perhaps we're using different type of wood, you and I. I use mostly red oak.




totally agree with this part. Also it's easier to stack.

Its simply a matter of exposed surface area. There's less exposed surface are in a 10' diameter X 10' high round stack that I use.

A round stack 10' in diameter X 10' high only has 314 square feet of exposed ends.
That's about 6.1 cords of green wood.

A 16" wide by 4' high x 144' long "standard" stack has 1152 square feet of exposed ends. That's exactly 6 cords of wood.

So, the standard technique has 3.7 times the exposed end area as the round stack. More air and more sunshine gets to the standard stack, drying it faster.

But who wants a 4' high fence half a football field long? Not me. That's why I use the round stack.

 

[MossRoad]

Oh, I use 95% locust, with some sassafras and cherry mixed in if they get in the way.

 

[murphy1244]

i think the round stacks acts like a compost, no?