Firewood Racks
Racks for holding firewood can be made of various materials. A high quality, steel firewood rack is probably the best. Other materials used for wood racks could be wood, especially pressure treated wood, aluminum and possibly PVC pipe.
Steel
Steel is probably the best material for a firewood rack. Commercial steel is typically stronger than aluminum by at least a third. The paint on a steel firewood rack should be baked on or otherwise applied to last. If the paint is damaged the rack should be repainted or it will rust. Many commercially available wood racks are made of steel.
Wood
Most homemade wood racks are made of wood, typically pressure treated wood. Non-PT wood would rapidly have issues with insects unless located fairly far north. Galvanized screws or nails should be used in a wooden firewood rack.
Aluminum
We have not actually seen an aluminum wood rack. It's probably because it would be expensive or because steel is stronger.
PVC
Everyone has seen furniture made of PVC pipes, at least on TV. Presumably a wood rack could be similarly made. There could be problems because the PVC is not really all that strong and wood is relatively heavy. Also the PVC may not hold up well in the sunlight.
Cord of Firewood
A full cord is split firewood that fills a four foot high by four foot deep by eight foot long cubic measured space. A face cord of split firewood is eight foot long by four foot high.
Firewood Heat Value
The heat content of any fire depends on firewood density, resin, ash and moisture. A rule of thumb often used
for estimating heat value of firewood is: "One cord of well-seasoned hardwood (weighing approximately
two tons) burned in an airtight, draft-controlled wood stove with a 55-65% efficiency is equivalent
to approximately 175 gallons of #2 fuel oil or 225 therms of natural gas consumed in normal furnaces
having 65-75% efficiencies." Generally, hardwoods which provide long-burning fires contain the
greatest total heating value per unit of volume. Softwoods which give a fastburning, cracking
blaze are less dense and contain less total heating value per unit of volume.
Firewood Tips
Stack your wood outside and away from the house - the greater the distance away, the better.
Bring only the amount of wood inside that you are going to use for the current fire. DO NOT STORE ANY WOOD INSIDE THE HOUSE OR IN THE GARAGE!
Don't spray the wood with a pesticide to kill these pests. First of all, you probably will not get the pesticide to the area where the pests are located. Secondly, the pesticide residue left on the wood may cause potentially hazardous fumes when the wood is burned.
Check the wood as you bring it in. Any pests you see should simply be brushed off before you bring the wood in. Any pests you don't see will perish in the fire.
Don't bum any type of treated wood such as decking material, telephone poles, and railroad ties. The fumes generated during burning are hazardous to your health. Dispose of this treated wood in landfills.
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