Building firewood rack from pallets

[Overtaxed]

I have a few ideas on how to do this already, but wanted to see if anyone had some better ones. Want to put my wood on pallets so I can stick it with my forks when I need it and move it up to the house, but keep it out of sight when I'm not using it. Also, want to cut down on the number of moves; cut the tree down/split/stack on pallet, then straight to the house when it's ready to burn.

Any pictures or descriptions would be great. I'm thinking of using 3 pallets per box, one on the bottom and 2 on each side to make a 3 sided box. 5/4 or something like that providing some bracing.

Thanks!

 

[SethWilliams]

I don't know about using pallets, but I know people that have used the metal crates that IBC totes go in. They seem to work well and can be had cheap enough.

 

[4570Man]

What tractor do you have? Lifting them will be the first challenge. I gave up on the idea after I discovered pallets weren't sturdy enough and it cost too much to make better ones.

 

[RNeumann]

I use pallets for my wood. They look like the photo above except they are made from 1x4 with a rope across the top to prevent the sides from pulling apart.

All I did was trim the top of the pallet so it was even with the 2x4s that stand on end. I glued and screwed the 1x4 sides on. I get the pallets for free and the 1x4 is the twisted "junk" from the lumber yard that people don't want to use for trim or finish work. They charged me about $1 a board. So 15' to assemble and a few bucks in material- I don't mind they "only" last a few years.
If money was no object the containers mentioned above are nice too- I just haven't found a deal on them in my area.

Btw that's about all the firewood my tractor can curl. It lifts it without issue.

 

[4570Man]

My boxes should have been taller since I had tons ( literally) of lift capacity to spare, but I had lots of free 4' 2x4s laying around. And I should have tied the tops together.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I've been using pallets for many years. I'm tired of them rotting out on me. Looking for another solution this year.

 

[mykleh]

here are some pics from this group over the years I snagged for friends.. I personally have the 45x48 plastic collapsible totes so I can stack the in my woodshed

 

[aeblank]

I use pallets, but the ultimate are the "GM" parts bins. They're like $120+ each, used, though (even more in the link below). I have 2 of them in this picture. The only one you can see is on top of the first one. My dream would be having 50+ of 'em. Wire Baskets For Sale: NEW 5131 Compatible 54x44x38 Collapsible Wire Basket, Stackable, Drop Gate., IL, Illinois, USA, TX, Texas, USA, CA, California, USA, GA, Georgia, USA, GA, Georgia, USA

Beyond those two things, I haven't come up with anything better.

 

[clemsonfor]

all the methods here is what I have have seen and considered! I have also considered laying palets on the ground and standing one up vertical and then using boards at like a 45 degree angle that connect the vertical ones to the ones on the ground.

 

[motownbrowne]

I have several that I've made. I use a heavy duty Chep pallet on the bottom. Then i set one vertically on top of the edge and another one butted up to the opposite edge. Then a couple 1x4s connecting the tops. The top isn't flat this way, so a piece of roofing set on top will shed water.

Honestly, though, I don't like them that much. They break, rot out, spill wood, and so on. Check out the ones Sawyer Rob makes. I think he's onto something. His design is wider and lower than what I normally see. Sturdier too.

 

[MIkeWard]

I've been using pallets like this for 10 years or so.
The first pallet racks I made were built so I could take them apart and break them down flat as I used the wood. I still have the first ones I built this way and they work well but are too much work and cost to keep making.

Can't beat pallet racks.
how I do it now=
Oak pallets are used for racks and I take crummy oak ones apart for boards for uprights and sides. I Put old ones or pine pallets under the wood pallets as sacrificial ones to keep the wood pallets off the ground.

The first pics are the old pallet racks which are now 10 years old and still in use

 

[MIkeWard]

These pics are how I'm making the pallet racks now
All wood is from pallets taken apart
The empty ones are on their side so I can move them with a hand truck
You have to look close but there are two strands of wire across each of the uprights.
Wire is unwoven from black chain link fence. It holds up well and keeps sides from spreading when I'm moving with tractor.

the last pic is a little wood shed made of pallet racks thrown out by BJs, holds a cord

 

[MIkeWard]

I got a late start splitting with this year because the Lovejoy on my splitter broke. It took me a while to get the parts and fix it. I thought I'd post some pictures of what I've split since then. I'm keeping all the wood this year on pallets. So I can move around easily with the tractor and forks .
Right now I used up my last pallet so I'm waiting to get more.
I've been breaking up pallets to make the sides on the new firewood racks so the only cost to me is screws and nails
All the wood is red Oak except for the last two pictures
The last picture is all the cherry I've been hoarding in the second to last is maple

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

all the methods here is what I have have seen and considered! I have also considered laying palets on the ground and standing one up vertical and then using boards at like a 45 degree angle that connect the vertical ones to the ones on the ground.

That's what I've been doing.

And I'm tired of them rotting out and having to be replaced every few years. It's a pain. Even though they are free, it's just a hassle.

 

[clemsonfor]

I've been using pallets like this for 10 years or so.
The first pallet racks I made were built so I could take them apart and break them down flat as I used the wood. I still have the first ones I built this way and they work well but are too much work and cost to keep making.

Can't beat pallet racks.
how I do it now=
Oak pallets are used for racks and I take crummy oak ones apart for boards for uprights and sides. I Put old ones or pine pallets under the wood pallets as sacrificial ones to keep the wood pallets off the ground.

The first pics are the old pallet racks which are now 10 years old and still in use

View attachment 515426View attachment 515427View attachment 515428View attachment 515429

Hey I recognize this setup and your name!! Like I know you from some place else??

 

[clemsonfor]

I've been using pallets like this for 10 years or so.
The first pallet racks I made were built so I could take them apart and break them down flat as I used the wood. I still have the first ones I built this way and they work well but are too much work and cost to keep making.

Can't beat pallet racks.
how I do it now=
Oak pallets are used for racks and I take crummy oak ones apart for boards for uprights and sides. I Put old ones or pine pallets under the wood pallets as sacrificial ones to keep the wood pallets off the ground.

The first pics are the old pallet racks which are now 10 years old and still in use

View attachment 515426View attachment 515427View attachment 515428View attachment 515429

Hey I recognize this setup and your name!! Like I know you from some place else??

Hehe ;-)

 

[MIkeWard]

Hey I recognize this setup and your name!! Like I know you from some place else??

you are sure right!
good to see you here
This is another great forum

 

[Overtaxed]

Well, I actually have something like one of those part bins, I got a wood chipper and it was delivered on something kind of like that. Definitely going to be a wood rack in the future!

Not hearing a ton of good things about the pallet racks other than "cheap". What about building it ground up for this use? 4x4s on the bottom, 5/4 decking, 4x4 posts on the sides? Gonna be a bit pricey, but probably in the 50/rack range I'd guess. And it can be pressure treated, and I can make it any size I want, so long as my tractor can pick it up. Hmmm...

Anyone go down this route?

 

[4570Man]

It's more money than I want to spend. And I doubt you could do it for $50.

 

[BoylermanCT]

I built wooden firewood racks so I could move them with my forks. Lasted 1 season. The 2x3 sides and top just did not hold up.




Found a guy selling IBC cages for $30, so I bought 2 season's worth so I can have 1 years supply ready to burn, and 1 seasoning for the following year. Hoping these last me for the rest of my life! Cut out an opening so you can reach in and grab the wood on the bottom.




I still use wooden pallets to keep my firewood in process off the ground until it is split and can be stacked in the IBC cages. Just picked up 2018-2019's firewood. A woman at church had 5 red oak trees taken down, and she had the tree guy cut everything in 18" rounds. She called me and asked if I could use the wood. Took home 3-4 cords worth. A real blessing!