Formula for loose piled firewood ?????

[Wood Doctor]

If you slap this into google, "volume of cone" , the top link right directly on the page is an online calculator for volume of a cone. As to how much to subtract for air space, dang not sure, 15%-20% maybe? I'm guessing there.

Volume of a cone = 1/12 x 3.14 x height x square of diameter of base.

Suppose the height of the wood pile is 8' and its diameter is 20'. The volume of the wood pile is approximated as (1/12)(3.14)(8)(20)(20) = 837 cu ft.

The amount of equivalent cords of stacked wood in that pile will vary from this amount based on average log length and average diameter. You might have 5 cords there, but you will not have 6.5. The actual amount will depend on who bucked the logs and who split the rounds.

It will also vary based on who measured the pile of logs and how many beers he drank before he measured it.

 

[StihlRockin']

yes holz hausen, which mine is more like a cylinder, not a cone
the volume of the 12ft one is like 904 and the volume of the 10ft one is 629, i just dont know what to do with the figures now!

Too tired to look into this further, but if those are the total volume, then divide by 128, the cu.sq.ft. volume of a cord. So 904 = 7.06 or 7 cords... which to me something is wrong. A 7 cord pile of loosely thrown wood is a LOT and looks even larger than the same area with stacked wood.

I also promise these figures are off too because it's standard practice to measure stacked wood to measure the amount of wood there is in cu.sq.ft volume. Meaning, take an area and pile wood in it, then take the same area and stack wood into it. You'll yield more wood having it stacked.

To try and calculate the extra air space that comes with loosely piled wood is practically impossible because each time you move that pile, so does the air gaps and the way the wood piles. Ever look into a loosely throw pile of and see gaps large enough to stuff 2,3 or 4 pieces of wood into to fill it? See what I mean?

StihlRockin'

 

[Gypo Logger]

It's not as though we're trying to split hairs here, but we need to know that every wood customer has every stick and then some.

 

[mainewoods]

The formula thing I see in this thread I'd have to disagree on totally. I think they're being light on the air gap in regards to loosely thrown piled wood.(non-stacked)





The 180cf thrown firewood "formula" seems to be a pretty common measurement in numerous states. I have seen at least 1 state with a legal definition of a thrown cord as occupying 150cf. Minnesota's legal definition of a thrown cord is 175cf. Unless it has changed recently.

 

[StihlRockin']

The formula thing I see in this thread I'd have to disagree on totally. I think they're being light on the air gap in regards to loosely thrown piled wood.(non-stacked)

The 180cf thrown firewood "formula" seems to be a pretty common measurement in numerous states. I have seen at least 1 state with a legal definition of a thrown cord as occupying 150cf. Minnesota's legal definition of a thrown cord is 175cf. Unless it has changed recently.

Please make sure you add your own comments outside the brackets of the person who is quoted or it looks like what you said is what I said, which I didn't. Makes it less confusing.

Well if the 180cu.ft. formula for loosely thrown wood works, then there's a way to calculate, approximately, that amount of actual wood in a pile. The difference between 180 and 128(full cord) is 52 or take your 180 and subtract approx. 28.75% and you get the 128.

Not sure why this would help, but it would work in reverse too. We know, presuming the 180cf formula works and wood is piled in a way to measure, that a full cord 128cf when thrown loosely in a pile fills a space of approx. 180cf. What one can pull from this is that if you take a measured full 128cf cord and throw it loosely into the shape that fits into the formula, that it will fill a volume area equivalent to 40.5% more. 128 + 40.5% = 179.84.

Because the greater variance of gaps that can occur in loosely piled wood versus stacked wood, I'd never use the formula if measuring to determine an amount to sell to a customer.

StihlRockin'

 

[Gypo Logger]

Obviously the longer the pieces, the bigger the spaces, but since 16 is the standard its fair to say it will take up 30% more space.
This method basically cuts your labor in half,plus you can throw in those odds and ends.

 

[Gypo Logger]

As a further volume discussion, I have 321 linear ft of 12" blocks piled 4' high. How many cords do I have?

 

[mainewoods]

Every site that I have seen stating the "formula" for thrown firewood, acknowledges that it is not a 100% accurate measurement, for the very reasons stated ( air gaps. and every pile never being equal every time it is thrown). For example, the State of Maine Attorney Generals office, after numerous filed complaints of shorted wood delivery's, tested multiple one cord piles of thrown firewood, and came up with an acceptable measurement of 180cf. I would think that if it is acceptable for the Attorney General's office it would be acceptable for the rest of us. Dealer and buyer alike. Personally, if I was selling firewood I would pad that 180 cf some, just to make sure.

 

[Erik B]

As a further volume discussion, I have 321 linear ft of 12" blocks piled 4' high. How many cords do I have?

You have 10.03125 cords of wood. 4x1x321/128=10.03125

 

[Gypo Logger]

Yes, math gave me the same answer, but what Ive done by going with a linear measurement is eliminate 20% of the airspace. so volume wise I bet its closer to 12 cords if it was tightly stacked within a 128 x 12 area. however I will sell it as ten and see how it pans out.

 

[Wood Doctor]

You have 10.03125 cords of wood. 4x1x321/128=10.03125

That assumes, of course, that he crisscross stacked the ends straight up and square to support the stack or at least used support stakes. And, 12" blocks (split logs?) seem rather short. They don't even stack very well. Just thought I'd add my two cents of seasoned experience.