Firewood rack. 4x4 or 2x4?

[Toolfreaky]

Building a 1 row firewood rack. The base is 16" wide and 8ft long. It will have a small roof over it. Front post will be 6ft high and the rear will be lower to slant the roof (how much shorter?)

I've been looking at designs, definitely overthinking it but also want it to look good because it will be visible from the road. Otherwise I'd already have it slapped together.

For the 4 posts, should I do 4x4s or a two 2x4s creating a right angle at the corner? Which would be stronger? I feel like the 2x4 corner would give it more rigidity? I think I will be doing the roof like the 4x4 post style; more over hang. Might make it a saltbox roof actually.

If I do thr 4x4, I was thinking the posts would be mounted on the front and back and not on the end, so the stance is wider.

This will be above ground
I will be using pressure treated lumber

this is the two 2x4 right angle style



This is 4x4 post style

 

[nadogail]

4 X 4 is Nice, Steel is Better

 

[vavet]

Ok I’ll ask a dumb question. I don’t have a lot of experience dealing with firewood.
in the above pic of the 4x4 post shed, in the left side, there is a stack of wood in the middle of that section. Then there are piles of wood on either side that are thrown in a bit more haphazardly. Why would you do one vs the other?

 

[JSGAuto]

Ok I’ll ask a dumb question. I don’t have a lot of experience dealing with firewood.
in the above pic of the 4x4 post shed, in the left side, there is a stack of wood in the middle of that section. Then there are piles of wood on either side that are thrown in a bit more haphazardly. Why would you do one vs the other?

They separated the species of wood. Different BTU, different times of the year.

 

[ddurrett896]

Double 2x or 4x corners are fine - whatever is easiest.

I have 4 of these and they work perfect and look fine - simple, easy and they work.

 

[My Old Tools]

I built a small one for the deck to hold a day or two worth of wood. The big pile is out by the shop. I used 2x2x1/8" tubing and adjustable feet like my Steevo benches. Overkill but it looks nice and pleases the wife.

 

[Metal-Marc]

4 X 4 is Nice, Steel is Better

Just don't use PVC.

 

[rlitman]

They separated the species of wood. Different BTU, different times of the year.

Agreed. Also, the crisscross stacking dries out green wood faster, though that doesn't seem to be the reason it was used in this picture.

My own log rack was made from a scrap aluminum ladder. Cut it at 45 degrees and TIG weld it back on to make the sides.

 

[ericm]

Ok I’ll ask a dumb question. I don’t have a lot of experience dealing with firewood.
in the above pic of the 4x4 post shed, in the left side, there is a stack of wood in the middle of that section. Then there are piles of wood on either side that are thrown in a bit more haphazardly. Why would you do one vs the other?

Cross stacked takes more care and thus time to do but the stack won't collapse when the wood around it has been removed. If all the wood was stacked the long way you'd have to use the entire bay from the top (roughly) so it doesn't collapse on you. They did that so they can selectively use the one type of wood vs another.

I did 2x4s in an L as corner posts for a 2.5 cord shed, 8' wide x 6' deep x 7' tall. Single 2x4 posts are probably enough for your shed but the extra wood won't hurt.

 

[vavet]

They separated the species of wood. Different BTU, different times of the year.

I didn’t realize people would differentiate Wood species. I thought it was either hardwood or softwood, with hardwood being better for longer burn times. I grew up in a house with natural gas heat and even though our fireplace was an actual wood burning fireplace, it was really just ornamental.
even now, we have a propane burner on our heat pump for supplemental heat and a fire pit incorporated into our patio. The option to have a fireplace when we had the house built was just to have the propane burner and fake logs So we just deleted it and used the credit for other things.
thank you for the reasonable response.

 

[rlitman]

I didn’t realize people would differentiate Wood species. I thought it was either hardwood or softwood...

Ever see fatwood? It's a very resinous pine. Terrible for creosote, but fantastic kindling, and a great reason to separate out your wood.

 

[vavet]

Ever see fatwood? It's a very resinous pine. Terrible for creosote, but fantastic kindling, and a great reason to separate out your wood.

I have a store-bought bag of fatwood I use to help get the fire going in my fire pit. Until now, I never really knew what it was, but your question inspired me to google it and see that it is a naturally occurring piece of a pine tree, typically found near the base.

 

[Toolfreaky]

I just picked up some free 24" or so diameter logs of black locust. Never heard about it but I tried some and they lasted a long time! I want some more!

 

[bb29510]

mine is steel pipe

 

[Toolfreaky]

For steel guys. Are you buying those racks you see online or making them?

 

[GirlnAgarage]

4x4
Notch them and carrisge bolt or all-thread w nit and washers.

But I have quite a fewFace Cord 2x4/Tpost racks for function. They do fine.

I've got some black pipe racks too, those are 20', ends are Tpost.

I've got at least 10 racks setup, I use what I got.

 

[cgrutt]

I built a similar one to first pic for a vacation house I used to own only it was 4' deep for 3 rows of wood. I used pressure treated lumber 2x8 on edge for bottom I really liked that didn't rot or collect snow/ice and allowed some air flow through wood stack. I used 4x4 posts (3 on each side). About 6' tall in front probably 8' in rear (I had it near rear wall of garage and roof was sloped towards front. It worked good believe it held about 1-1/2 cords. My only regret was not making it bigger. We only used house on weekends but went through a ton of wood with wood stove.

 

[Toolfreaky]

I built a similar one to first pic for a vacation house I used to own only it was 4' deep for 3 rows of wood. I used pressure treated lumber 2x8 on edge for bottom I really liked that didn't rot or collect snow/ice and allowed some air flow through wood stack. I used 4x4 posts (3 on each side). About 6' tall in front probably 8' in rear (I had it near rear wall of garage and roof was sloped towards front. It worked good believe it held about 1-1/2 cords. My only regret was not making it bigger. We only used house on weekends but went through a ton of wood with wood stove.

Nice. This one I'm building is to store the wood to burn, as well as a privacy wall for the dog area. I just invested in a miter saw so I will probably builder a bigger one and replace the pallets in the back. Would be awesome to attempt a no hardware joinery like the Japanese buildings. Anyone have pics or links to one like that?

Sort of my official intro to woodworking. I've done stuff but now with a DWS779, I can do a little more

 

[aafadca]

I just picked up some free 24" or so diameter logs of black locust. Never heard about it but I tried some and they lasted a long time! I want some more!

Yep! Around here people really like black locust. I've heard someone call it 'yeller gold"! You have to be careful because it does burn hot! If you can, mix it with some other type of wood

 

[Innovate1]

I would do 4x4 posts. I got some concrete parking bumpers years ago and put them close together and stack wood on them. Not pretty but works well. How to people keep the rain off? I just use a tarp but it doesn't look great. Wife has suggested a fence to hide it.

 

[tjansson]

2x4s would probably end up being straighter and more stable, but I guess I'd go with 4x4s as it cuts out the step of fastening them together. I don't do either, usually use 2x on flat for "posts" and I rely on diagonal bracing on the back to get the rigidity in the other direction. A single row rack with a 24" wide roof really doesn't need to be that beefy. I use whatever is laying around...

 

[tjansson]

How to people keep the rain off?

All my racks have permanent scrap metal roofs. I don't like having a tarp or anything else laid over to "maintain" or dig out of the snow, ice, etc.

 

[Metal-Marc]

ITT, a bunch of old farts posting pictures of their racks...

 

[zippyslug31]

All my racks have permanent scrap metal roofs. I don't like having a tarp or anything else laid over to "maintain" or dig out of the snow, ice, etc.

Yep, same here. I made a bunch of racks out of pallets, scrap lumber, and leftover tin from a couple of barn builds. They aren't very pretty, but I made mine small enough (1/2 cord) so I can move one closer to my house using the tractor. I empty one and then replace it with a full one; works a treat!

 

[tjansson]

@zippyslug31 Most of my "shacks" are just like yours! I built them to be liftable by tractor too but only my buddy's big JD can handle them, not my little B8200.

 

[zippyslug31]

@zippyslug31 Most of my "shacks" are just like yours! I built them to be liftable by tractor too but only my buddy's big JD can handle them, not my little B8200.

Ha, nice... small world.
I have an L3901 and upped the lifting capacity of my tractor. When some of my "shacks" are loaded with green wood they can get up to (or over?) a thousand pounds, I'm sure of it. It can make for driving them around a little sketchy!
Being able to move them around with a tractor, and then with a cheap HF pallet jack on the patio is so incredibly useful; can't imagine a better system for wood.

 

[jesse72]

Yep, same here. I made a bunch of racks out of pallets, scrap lumber, and leftover tin from a couple of barn builds. They aren't very pretty, but I made mine small enough (1/2 cord) so I can move one closer to my house using the tractor. I empty one and then replace it with a full one; works a treat!

That's a great idea to make the "shacks" movable like that!