Firewood Drying Techniques

[Ontario Firewood Resource]

 

[flushcut]

I Love IBC totes! I got out of selling split firewood not worth my time anymore.

 

[Jehinten]

I Love IBC totes! I got out of selling split firewood not worth my time anymore. View attachment 74398

I'm just getting into totes for my firewood, I found 14 totes at $10/each (normally $50/each around here) so it was a cheap investment to see how they'd work for me.

How's your mini handle the totes, plenty of power or are you anywhere near your tipping point with that load? I'm running a little bit smaller mini myself, a Vermeer s600 so lifting capacity was my biggest concern. I still need to get a set of forks, so I haven't been able to try out a loaded tote yet to see how it does.

 

[Ontario Firewood Resource]

Yes they're a good idea. I will be making a video on them

 

[GregManning]

So you dump the tote at the customers site ?

 

[Jehinten]

So you dump the tote at the customers site ?

For me personally, I don't sell firewood it's for personal use. If I did sell it, I'd deliver a tote with a deposit. Then pick up the empty tote when I delivered another full one. As long as there is an empty tote they would only pay for firewood, not the additional deposit.

Of course additional prices could be offered for no tote, either dumped in a pile or stacked at additional charge.

 

[GregManning]

1. How would you dump / empty the tote ? This seems cumbersome. You need to use the forklift to tip it twice; or tip & empty by hand !
2. If you don't dump, you need to lean in / over & lift the rounds out of the tote ?

 

[southsoundtree]

I'm just getting into totes for my firewood, I found 14 totes at $10/each (normally $50/each around here) so it was a cheap investment to see how they'd work for me.

How's your mini handle the totes, plenty of power or are you anywhere near your tipping point with that load? I'm running a little bit smaller mini myself, a Vermeer s600 so lifting capacity was my biggest concern. I still need to get a set of forks, so I haven't been able to try out a loaded tote yet to see how it does.

Rather than holding it so far away on forks, I wonder if you can hang it closer in, from the end of the raised loader arms, without an attachment.

 

[Jehinten]

Rather than holding it so far away on forks, I wonder if you can hang it closer in, from the end of the raised loader arms, without an attachment.

I'll look into that. The only one I've lifted so far, I slid into my smooth bucket and tied the top back to the arms to keep it from tipping. Unfortunately the bucket only fits over the narrow side, putting the longer side out (putting more weight out front) even so I can move a 3/4 full tote. My hope is forks gets the weight closer, giving me more control and capacity.


I can rent forks for $12/day, so I'll be giving that a try before I buy.

 

[Jehinten]

1. How would you dump / empty the tote ? This seems cumbersome. You need to use the forklift to tip it twice; or tip & empty by hand !
2. If you don't dump, you need to lean in / over & lift the rounds out of the tote ?

1) if your not delivering in the tote, grab from a pile that isn't stacked in totes. It'd be the same as many do, handling everything by hand.

As far as loading the totes, I'm building a table on my splitter that will self load the totes. As the wood pushes through the wedge, it will be pushed along the table and fall into the tote by the subsequent pieces (theoretically, it's not built yet)
2) I've seen some who cut one side of the tote out so that you can easily reach the splits in the bottom of the tote. Like pictured...

 

[Serf Life]

I'll look into that. The only one I've lifted so far, I slid into my smooth bucket and tied the top back to the arms to keep it from tipping. Unfortunately the bucket only fits over the narrow side, putting the longer side out (putting more weight out front) even so I can move a 3/4 full tote. My hope is forks gets the weight closer, giving me more control and capacity.


I can rent forks for $12/day, so I'll be giving that a try before I buy.

Forks are so handy, totally worth it. Moving lumber, big rocks, anything on a pallet, appliances, if bmg ever goes down...

 

[southsoundtree]

Don't say that out loud!!

 

[Jehinten]

if bmg ever goes down...

Blasphemy!

 

[flushcut]

I'm just getting into totes for my firewood, I found 14 totes at $10/each (normally $50/each around here) so it was a cheap investment to see how they'd work for me.

How's your mini handle the totes, plenty of power or are you anywhere near your tipping point with that load? I'm running a little bit smaller mini myself, a Vermeer s600 so lifting capacity was my biggest concern. I still need to get a set of forks, so I haven't been able to try out a loaded tote yet to see how it does.

The S800 handles the weigh just fine. It is heavy but controllable. 10 bucks is a great price for IBC's

 

[flushcut]

1. How would you dump / empty the tote ? This seems cumbersome. You need to use the forklift to tip it twice; or tip & empty by hand !
2. If you don't dump, you need to lean in / over & lift the rounds out of the tote ?

#1Dumping them is rather easy. Tip the basket on it's side and hook the underside of the tote and lift up, and presto empty.
#2 If loaded with firewood you can snake the wood out thru the openings in the sides.

 

[evo]

I'll look into that. The only one I've lifted so far, I slid into my smooth bucket and tied the top back to the arms to keep it from tipping. Unfortunately the bucket only fits over the narrow side, putting the longer side out (putting more weight out front) even so I can move a 3/4 full tote. My hope is forks gets the weight closer, giving me more control and capacity.


I can rent forks for $12/day, so I'll be giving that a try before I buy.

Get the forks, you will find a use for them. Well worth it IMO

 

[Ontario Firewood Resource]

A set of forks comes in handy beyond moving totes.

 

[Jehinten]

Rather than holding it so far away on forks, I wonder if you can hang it closer in, from the end of the raised loader arms, without an attachment.

Good idea. Not necessarily a good long term solution but this will definitely work for now. I hung it off of a 3/4 tennex dead eye sling that I've retired from the jobsite.