Firewood Accessories
1/8 cord Firewood Rack
Firewood Facts
What does a cord of firewood measure? -
The only legal unit measurement of firewood is the CORD.
A CORD is defined as:
measuring 4 ft. wide x 4 ft. high x 8 ft. long."
The total volume of a CORD is equal to 128 cubic feet (= 4W x 4H x 8L).
You can stack the firewood anyway to get 128 cu ft
(ex. 2 ft. Wide x 2 ft. High x 32 ft. Long is also = 128 cu ft)
Back before modern machinery, most firewood was cut at 24 inches long
so it was 2 rows = 4 ft Wide (as seen in above diagram).
Nowadays, 16 inch is the standard cut legth, so 3 rows = 4ft Wide
There is no legal standard for the "Face Cord"
but it should be @ 45 cubic feet = 1/3 cord.
It is called a "Face Cord" because it is the front row of a true cord volume.
Back when firewood was 24 inches, a "Face Cord" = 1/2 cord !!!
Beware of sellers offering "Face Cord" or (4 x 8) quantities !!
"Face Cords" should be multiplied (x3) to determine true full cord pricing !!
If cut a 12 inch length, then multiple (x4)
A cord of hardwoods firewood weighs over 4,000 lbs.
& does not fit in a standard pickup truck -
An average seasoned cord of hardwood weighs more than 2 tons !!
Randomnly piled it will take up to 200 cubic feet in space.
An 8 ft. pick up truck would have to stack the wood uniformly at 5 feet tall to fit an ustacked cord + have a 2 ton capacity with dually rear wheels !!
Therefore, the average pick up truck can only haul
1/2 a cord of randomnly piled firewood at a time.
Seasoned firewood should have less than 30% moisture content -
When wood is fresh cut it contains a lot of water. By properly splitting, stacking and storing wood the will become seasoned once the water is evaporated by the sun and wind. When the wood reaches a moisture content (MC) of less than 30% it will burn properly and release the optimum stored BTU's (heat). Wood with more than a 30% MC should not be burned indoors!! It is very inefficient and produces dangerous acid water vapor (Creosote) in your chimney.
KILN DRIED firewood has 25% moisture content or less -
The technique of drying wood in modified lumber kilns produces consistenly high quality firewood with a moisture content (MC) of 25% or less. Kiln drying is widely used to allow food stores and restaurants to carry firewood products that meet USDA standards that include bug & larvae free products. Due to the superior quality and BTU production KILN DRIED Firewood has become very popular with residential customers.
All hardwoods do not make good firewood -
There are many characteristics to consider when producing and burning firewood. The wood should be plentiful and renewable. The wood should be easy to split. The dried weight of the wood should be considered. The ease of burning and throwing of sparks is also important. Perhaps the most important is the BTU's (heat) and aroma of the firewood. Since each species is different, be sure you know which type of wood is best for you. On Long Island we burn mostly Oak and Maple. Upper New York State uses less Oak and concentrates more on Maple, Ash, Hickory and Birch.
A wood stove is much more efficient than a fireplace -
Today's wood stoves are very economical and produce much more heat than a fireplace. A fireplace uses warm air from the room to feed the fire while drawing cold outside air through cracks and drafts to replace the air in the room. The large size and masonry construction of a fireplace also does not maximize heat exchange. Firewood in fireplaces tends to burn much faster while producing less heat. Modern wood stoves are generally 50% or more efficient than fireplaces, but you may lose the ambiance that only a fireplace can produce. Fireplace inserts are a great way to improve the efficiency of a fireplace.
Firewood stored outside should not be completely covered with a tarp -
Firewood needs the sun and wind to remain optimal for burning. Firewood should not be completely covered unless long periods of heavy rain or snow are forecast. Always store firewood off the ground in an area that receives both sun and prevailing winds. A thin tarp or pieces of plywood can be placed on top to repel rain and moisture, but always leave the sides open and the entire wood pile open whenever possible. Trapped moisture can only create mold,fungus,bug and decaying problems. Remember wood retains the heat of the day and moisture will build underneath a cover when the outside night air becomes colder. Storage of dry firewood in an open wood shed, under a porch roof, in a garage or on a log rack or ring is optimal.
**** As a general rule, your firewood should be stored so that water may dry & evaporate faster than the rate it is received.****
Pine can be used as firewood -
Many far northern climates use pine successfully as firewood. Although the wood has a much lower BTU rating than quality hardwoods, pine and other similar species are burned in some Northern climates for home heating. The use of pine and softwoods can be debated, but the fact remains that it is used. The benefits include: it is widely available & very sustainable, it seasons faster than hardwoods, it is easy to split, starts easy, is lighter than hardwoods and has a pleasant aroma. The drawbacks include: Creosote buildup in the chimney, low BTU's, frequent bugs, exploding sap pockets and it is very fast burning.
**** L.I. Firewood does not recommend the use of Pine (or other softwoods) as indoor heating fuels.****
