firewood storage

[mtl272]

??? i have a small storage shed that i could use to store the wood and keep it dry. the ??? is for a stock pile of wood, will the wood be less likely to get bugs and rot if i remove the bark? i have torn down some old barns and used the wood for fires,it burns fast as it was really dry. i would like to have a large supply if other power sources fail. or would i be better served buy an equil volume of coal . is there a shelf life on coal? if so it's got to be longer than wood.

thanks this site is great!

[sage_morgan]

I dont know if you're more or less likely to get wood that rots or bugs in your wood if you take off or leave the bark. However:

The wood will get some bugs anyway. Some of the bugs are already in there.

The bark makes GREAT firestarter! Burns hot and fast. Sure you want to get rid of it??

[flatwater]

Yes take the bark off if possible because moisture will get under the bark and start rotting your wood and it is also a home to all sorts of bugs that you don't want in your cabin/house. Also when your packing it indoors its a lot cleaner to handle.
Flatwater

[MadTripper]

I would leave the bark. If the stash is under cover, the moisture will dissapate just as the rest of the wood seasons. Bugs are a part of burning wood so there is no sense on trying to avoid them. If that is a huge issue, go with coal as there is no shelf life on coal and it won't attract insects.

Tripper

[gardenfay]

Yes take the bark off if possible because moisture will get under the bark and start rotting your wood and it is also a home to all sorts of bugs that you don't want in your cabin/house. Also when your packing it indoors its a lot cleaner to handle.
Flatwater

Flatwater is so right on all these points!

[mtl272]

;D thanks yall, thinking about replacing insert fire place wiht woodburning stove insert if i can find one reasonalble