Seasoning Firewood

[WinterDeere]

It has a thousand uses, I use it all the time, it's been one of my "best buys".

SR

Nice! You actually just solved TWO problems for me! I have a 3-point pallet fork set that I was just setting up to weld JDQA brackets to. I had been debating whether to make a separate frame, to have one for 3-point and a separate for JDQA, or to just put all the mounts and weight onto the same frame.

But now I think I can re-use the top link connection point for mounting that thumb or cylinder, which answers the original question. I also have a spare top link cylinder, which was too small and weak for my needs at the time, which I've been meaning to sell for some time. I think I might be able to re-use that in fab'ing up a rig like yours.

Just out of curiosity, who made yours? Might be worth comparing buy vs. build, or dollars vs. hours, before I dive in.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Mine was made by the same company that made by the loader, ALO. It's the best design I've seen and super strong!

It's also adjustable from side to side if I should want to use it that way.

You've heard the saying, "buy once, cry once" haven't you? That's what ALO products are, and that's because they last a lifetime.

SR

 

[stumblinhorse]

My wood sits out for 1 summer. Not covered or in a shed. It is split and stacked by May to be started burning by mid October. It is pine and I do about 10-12 cords a year.

 

[WinterDeere]

Mine was made by the same company that made by the loader, ALO. It's the best design I've seen and super strong!

It's also adjustable from side to side if I should want to use it that way.

You've heard the saying, "buy once, cry once" haven't you? That's what ALO products are, and that's because they last a lifetime.

SR

Yeah, it's a real nice design. But I've already got forks and a frame, which double as 3-point for stuff heavier than my loader can lift, so I'd really like to mod those.

In my first glance at a design, it looks like it might be easiest for me to do dual cylinders and thumbs, with the cylinders connected to the lower 3-point link pin studs that are already there. This would have the side benefit of allowing me to keep the thumb(s) installed when using as 3-point forks, as they'd be inboard of lower links, but also not interfere with top link.

What do you think of a dual thumb vs. single thumb design?

Since my loader is more limited than yours (Deere 320R), I'm aiming towards something easily removable, to reduce weight and max out lift capacity when I need it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I've never needed a second thumb, why have to pick up something that's not needed?

I would make sure you have a strong cylinder so to be able to hold onto heavy things.

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My wood sits out for 1 summer. Not covered or in a shed. It is split and stacked by May to be started burning by mid October. It is pine and I do about 10-12 cords a year.

I build half cord boxes; I put the splits into them right off the end of my splitter and move the boxes with my tractor.

A few weeks before I use one, I cover it with a tarp so the surface dries out, and then the box gets moved to the house where the splits will be thrown threw a basement window to near the stove.

It's not too much work to pick a few off the basement floor to feed the woodstove.

SR

 

[Cougsfan]

One thing I dislike about my wood storage shed is that it is "last in, first out" rather than "first in, first out". In my perfect world I would have a storage shed that had roll up doors on opposite sides so I can keep putting wood in without covering up last year's carry over wood.

 

[4570Man]

One thing I dislike about my wood storage shed is that it is "last in, first out" rather than "first in, first out". In my perfect world I would have a storage shed that had roll up doors on opposite sides so I can keep putting wood in without covering up last year's carry over wood.

I put mine on separate sides so I can kinda separate it beyond that it still has the same problem.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Mine are in a long row,

I can easily pick up a box of the oldest splits.

SR

 

[shooterdon]

The way SR and I store wood addresses the first in first out problem. The modified IBC totes in my post hold just under 1/2 cord and I bought a tractor with enough capacity to lift them.

The only downside of totes is stacking wood in them. Next year, I will not be using them. I will use bulk firewood bags that hold 1/3 of a cord. Using bags, means no handling of wood until I carry the splits into the house. The bags will be filled directly from the outfeed conveyor of the firewood processor. The processor also eliminates the need to buck logs into rounds. I bought 6 bags to test the concept this year.

I might use the bottoms of the totes I modified as caps to cover the top of the bags. They are the perfect size.

I am 72 and a bit crippled up so looking at ways to work smarter and not harder.