It’s only a matter of time before you start collecting offset log burner type smokers after you’ve been bitten by the BBQ bug.
While you can easily store bags of charcoal about the home, it won’t be long before you get in trouble for leaving large heaps of wood around the yard (you may want to take our word for it on this).
Even if you don’t use wood to power your grill, nothing beats an outdoor fire pit. It’s a terrific place to meet up with friends, particularly if you’re going to be spending a lot of time outside.
Rather than leaving heaps of wood about the home, investing in a quality outdoor firewood rack keeps things nice and tidy, and the wood won’t decay since it’s off the ground. So keep reading to find out who manufactures the finest wood racks.
Contents
- Best large firewood rack – Woodhaven 8 Foot Firewood Log Rack
- The best small firewood rack – Woodhaven 3 Foot Firewood Log Rack
- The best budget large firewood rack – Landmann 8 Foot Firewood Log Rack
- Best budget small firewood rack – Panacea Deluxe 4 Foot Outdoor Log Rack
- Benefits of Using a Firewood Rack
- What you need to know before buying a firewood rack
- What size rack should you buy
- Wrapping it up
- FAQs
- What is the best material for a firewood rack?
- Where do you put outdoor firewood racks?
- How do you store firewood outside?
- How do you store firewood outside in the winter?
- Does a firewood rack need a roof?
- What do you put under a firewood rack?
- Does firewood dry better stacked or piled?
- Does firewood attract termites?
- Can firewood get rained on?
- How long can firewood be stored outside?
Best large firewood rack – Woodhaven 8 Foot Firewood Log Rack
This stand provides you with a nicely piled one-half cord of wood with a cover, and it isn’t a horrifying sight, so no yelling neighbors or community organizations.
This beauty is 96 by 48 by 14 inches and is composed of black powder-coated steel with arc welded end pieces and stainless steel nuts and bolts, so don’t expect it to corrode anytime soon!
This item comes with a cover that covers the top 12 inches of wood. This keeps the wood at the top dry for burning while exposing the other parts to the weather to help in the drying process.
This 46-pound infant is American-made, durable, and simple to put together. The one disadvantage of this item is that, owing to its bigger size, you may wish to position it farther away from the house and keep something smaller closer to the house for easier access.
In this video, you can learn more about the company and see how the various racks in their line appear.
Watch this video on YouTube
We enjoy how the cover glides down as your wood pile shrinks, protecting it from the weather.Get the most recent Amazon pricing.
The best small firewood rack – Woodhaven 3 Foot Firewood Log Rack
This variant is a smaller version of the 8-foot rack mentioned above.
You also get the same type cover and materials, but it is 36 x 10 x 36 inches and weighs a significantly lighter 22 pounds.
The Woodhaven 3 foot is ideally suited for installation closer to your house so you can reach outside the door on a cold, snowy day and gather the wood you need.
It also costs roughly half as much as the 8-foot rack and can hold an eighth cord of wood.
All Woodhaven models have a structural guarantee for life. Get the most recent Amazon pricing.
The best budget large firewood rack – Landmann 8 Foot Firewood Log Rack
The Landmann comes with both an 8-foot and a 4-foot rack, but we’ll concentrate on the latter.
It stores around two-thirds of a cord of wood, measures 96 by 48 inches, and weighs just 11 pounds.
It is built of tubular steel and has a similar black powder coating that assists in rust protection as the Woodhaven.
The black plastic cover that comes with it looks beautiful, but it’s clearly poorly constructed and prone to tearing. Having said that, for the price, you can’t go wrong with the Landmann. You should still expect it to last a few years.
This model, like the others we’ve shown you, sits above the ground rather than on it. This feature helps to keep certain pests at bay, and the increased air movement will also aid in the drying process.
We found assembling to be fairly simple as well.
Make sure you pick the choice with the cover attachment for protection, since you may also choose without. Get the most recent Amazon pricing.
Best budget small firewood rack – Panacea Deluxe 4 Foot Outdoor Log Rack
The Panacea 4 foot rack is a good alternative for keeping a modest pile of logs or wood pieces clean. It is also less expensive than some of the other possibilities.
This rackoffers the following features:
- Powder coated finish (black);
- Steel tube construction;
- Assembled Dimensions 48H x 48W x 14D;
- Tips the scale at 18 pounds;
This item is produced in China and does not have the handy cover that comes with the Woodhaven versions. However, considering the price, this device can still support a reasonable amount of weight. The nuts and bolts delivered seem to be of high quality.
Assembly only takes approximately 15 minutes and is quite simple. However, we suggest that you tighten each screw extremely securely since you do not want the rack to wobble.
Get the latest price on Amazon.
Benefits of Using a Firewood Rack
You may be wondering why you need a storage rack. To be honest, you don’t. However, there are various advantages to employing a stand over a pile of wood.
Dry wood just burns better, and racks aid in the air flow process, assisting with ventilation. Freshly cut firewood has a high moisture content, reducing the value of your fire.
Backyard City explains how keeping newly cut firewood correctly may make it ready to burn in 6 months.
Backyard City ,Tips for storing firewood
Wood that is placed in a single row rather than back to back rows or tossed into a pile enables more air to circulate and moisture to evaporate.
Firewood prepared in this manner may be ready for burning in six months, but it never hurts to keep the wood you cut and split this year for winter fires next year.
The appropriate storage of your seasoned firewood is critical, and there are several solutions available.
Dry wood also leaves less residue in the chimney, which reduces the danger of a chimney fire but does not eliminate the need for a yearly sweep.
We addressed neighbor concerns before, and racks make your wood storage seem more acceptable and appealing.
Leaving the wood directly on the ground causes it to collect moisture from the soil, which will harm your fire-building efforts. Wet or wet wood also produces more smoke.
Stacked wood has fewer nooks and crevices, making it less appealing to pests than a heap of lumber with numerous burrowing alternatives.
Improperly kept wood rots and degrades the quality of your fire.
What you need to know before buying a firewood rack
Racks are classified into two types: circular and conventional. The traditional frames are composed of steel for durability and are flat and long, similar to a fence line. The log hoops are available in a variety of sizes and are often utilized inside the house near the fireplace for convenient access.
It comes down to personal choice. Because a stack of wood attracts insects and other pests, we suggest that log racks, particularly bigger racks, be put outside of your house, and that is what our guide on firewood racks will focus on.
However, indoor racks might be a really unique addition to your living space.
Please do not wait until you have a cord of wood dumped in your driveway to make a choice about wood storage. You will most likely come to regret that choice. Here are some things to think about before you buy. In an ideal world, wood would be:
- Stored about six inches off the ground,
- To protect it from the weather, it should be partly covered with a waterproof tarp.
- To prevent bugs from taking up residence in your home, stack them away from the house.
What size rack should you buy
The appropriate size for you is determined by how much wood you generally consume each year. If you routinely utilize wood as your primary source of heat or fuel, a bigger 8ft or larger rack is recommended.
If you just plan on having a few fires outside, a smaller rack would suffice.
Most firewood suppliers make an attempt to size their items in the rack business. Of course, if you’re the Paul Bunyan type, you may be splitting wood into your favorite sizes or sizes that are compatible with your fireplace or pit.
- When possible, expose the wood to the light and breeze, since this aids in the drying process. In fact, if you can stack your wood in the direction of the wind, the larger the air movement, which is beneficial for your fire.
Take note of the materials utilized to construct the rack; they must be able to withstand the weather. There is no compelling reason not to utilize a firewood rack.
In conclusion, the usage of a wood frame is strongly suggested for the aforementioned reasons.
Instead of buying a frame, you may create one of your own design if you like do-it-yourself projects. In any case, keep in mind:
- Wood may get wet from both the top and the bottom.
- Wood must be sufficiently ventilated to reach the driest condition for the hottest flames. The size is determined by how much firewood you use.
Wrapping it up
A gorgeous, aromatic fire is simply one reason to welcome chilly weather. It takes some work to acquire or chop the wood, but the effort is definitely worth it.
Light the fire, enjoy a glass of wine, and unwind in the soothing and romantic light of a warm fire. A blazing fire, whether inside or outside, will undoubtedly be the focal point for you and your guests. Enjoy!
Pic Basementon on Flickr provided the featured CC image.