Palletize firewood

[AKKAMAAN]

I'm planning on using pallets for storing and distributing firewood.
I need to here some experience from stacking, secureing and storing firewood on pallets (with out using bags).
How to safely store 2pts high. What type of lift equipment is used?

Per, Swedish Forest Engineer
"Aw come on"

 

[blackdoggy]

One word for you to search "Steel Wire Basket"

 

[AKKAMAAN]

Thanx blackdog for taking time to answer. But it wasnt exactly what I asked for....... I have looked at bags of different size. Full size bag that fit a pallet is about 10$, that will make bag costs at least 50$+ per cord of wood.
It might work if customer pay deposit, and then reimburse/reuse them
I want to hear any experience from palletizing...PLEASE....

AKKAMAAN

 

[cat320]

from what i have seen on the net if you stack them right on the pallet then you need that plastic banding wire to hold it doen then arounf or you could stack and shrink wrap it.

 

[leon]

I'm planning on using pallets for storing and distributing firewood.
I need to here some experience from stacking, secureing and storing firewood on pallets (with out using bags).
How to safely store 2pts high. What type of lift equipment is used?

spend some time looking in the past postings for the items on palletised firewood- unless you intend on selling to the fireplace one bundle market which would make more sense.



Per, Swedish Forest Engineer
"Aw come on"

forklift-6,000 lb. capacity


Buuuuuuuut:

Steel baskets rectangular set in a two axle trailer are the best way, as the more labor involved period the less money you will make.

If your thinking of a thrown cord it would be simpler to load a rectangular steel mesh bin with two and one half thrown cords (filled with a conveyor or front loader) set in a two axle trailer and then winch it on and off/lower it or slide it off to load it if it is built heavy enough.

Biuld two or three bins for a two cord and one half cord minimum order to justify the set up and you will have less work unless you want grape harvesting bins adding higher sides that will rotate to dump if your fork lift can do that, if you have one with a fourth valve. a front loader tractor unless it is very heavy will not work well with forks clamped to a bucket-been there done that bent bucket:%@#$%^&&*()_.:censored:

It would be more advantageos if you simply bought a 2 axle trailer that could have side boards to allow you to fill it with two and a half thrown cords or simply sell it by the ton-they will can not will not accuse you of screwing them then with a scale ticket in thier hands.

 

[Sawmill]

I am going to try using some of that nylon deer fence that Menards sells. It is really tough stuff for as light wt as it is and it is cheap. I plan on adding a drawstring on the top to close it and just staple it to the top of the pallet so the wood will hold it in place. I had a large skid steer so I think I can lift a full size pallet up to stack it 2 high. I tried to find the bags at a local wood processor dealer but he never heard of them.

 

[Rookie1]

One word for you to search "Steel Wire Basket"

Thats 3 words.

 

[redprospector]

Stack the wood direct on the pallet one tier at a time. Alternate the direction the wood is stacked every tier, this will pretty much lock the stack. When you've got all on the pallet you want (1/5, 1/4 cord etc.), wrap it with 12" stretch wrap. If the top of the stack is flat you can stack them 2 deep. With the stretch wrap around the pallet of wood it can be shipped.
You said $50 a cord for bags at $10 each, so I assume you're doing a 1/5 cord pallet. A mid size skid steer should handle that pretty good. My buddy's done 1/2 cord pallets of Ponderosa and loaded with my Bobcat 863, but it was crouding the capacity of the 863 (1800 lbs.).

Andy

 

[KsWoodsMan]

I worked in a factory years ago. At the end of the production line were stacks of pallets the finished/boxed goods went on. Some of the lines had a turnstyle for the pallets. As the pallet was stacked up the last operator would turn the pallet to save walking around it to stack. Tied to the bottom of the pallet was a large roll of palletwrap about 18" wide ( think of Saran wrap only wider). Every time the pallet was turned it pulled off more wrap. Wrapping the pallet and boxes as you went along.
Flip a light and the next forktruck operator was supposed to pick it up on their way back to warehouse. Once it was on it's way to warehouse, you load an empty pallet on the turnstyle and start the process over again.
Before leaving the warehouse on a truck it would get wrapped with a few more layers that started just below the bottom of the pallet and wrapped everything completely so the load didnt shift in the van on transit. It seemed to work pretty well. I dont know how much the pallet wrap cost them but kept things tight and on the pallet as the forktruck operators whisked it away from the area at break neck speeds.

Might work for you to stack wood on 40"x48" pallets. It seems that 3 rows of 16" wood stacked 3'3" tall is 1/3 cord. If the same stack is 4"10" tall it is 1/2 cord. These pallets fit inside the wheelwells of nearly any PU in one configuration or another.

I've thought about ways to load a full pallet like this by hand and havent come up with much besides an "A-Frame" either in the back of the delivery truck to lift it and then bring it onboard. This wold also work for unloading.

Also an "A-Frame with a hoist or 4 line block and tackle to lift it. Once you get it high enough you back under it and let the load down.

Or a roller board stout enough to let you drag it on the truck with the block and tackle. Then rollers on the truck floor or pallet once you get it on.

I have seen an air lift for a vehicle that would raise 6,000 pounds 6 feet in the air. You only need to go 3 feet or there abouts depending on the heigth of the truck bed. With one of these you could use a pallet jack ( on cement ) to load the hoist with the pallet and roller board on the hoist to move it to the PU.

Any way you do it, you have to have someway at the delivery location to get it off unless you pull up and dump it. Or have the "A-frame" mounted to the truck. Monument companies around here have these setup on 2ton trucks for delivering and setting head stones and vaults in cemetaries.

 

[AKKAMAAN]

Stack the wood direct on the pallet one tier at a time. Alternate the direction the wood is stacked every tier, this will pretty much lock the stack. When you've got all on the pallet you want (1/5, 1/4 cord etc.), wrap it with 12" stretch wrap. If the top of the stack is flat you can stack them 2 deep. With the stretch wrap around the pallet of wood it can be shipped.
You said $50 a cord for bags at $10 each, so I assume you're doing a 1/5 cord pallet. A mid size skid steer should handle that pretty good. My buddy's done 1/2 cord pallets of Ponderosa and loaded with my Bobcat 863, but it was crouding the capacity of the 863 (1800 lbs.).

Andy

My goal is to do1/4 cord pallets, but I dont know if I can get a 1/4 into that net. I have some experience from stretch wrap. Great product!! It's probobly the way to go. Thanx for gr8 input

 

[leon]

firewood etc.

My goal is to do1/4 cord pallets, but I dont know if I can get a 1/4 into that net. I have some experience from stretch wrap. Great product!! It's probobly the way to go. Thanx for gr8 input

If your still intent on doing it that way:

purchase some of the very heavy card board pallet boxes that fold open to create a cardboard box on an existing pallet. works well for pumpkins and other squash and the ard board is heavy enough to be reused and prpbaly less expensive than the deer fence.

Also Where are you located and how many bags do you wish to purchase?
I will direct you to whom you need to discuss the matter inexpensively if you wish as it will be simpler still than what you want to do as you can purchase 4 strap bags that are taller to hold more etc.


leon

 

[Richard_]

stretch wrap it like these guys do

 

[shokidq]

This company sells a drum for doing it, once u filled it with logs it wraps with netting as you lift the drum clear.

http://www.posch.com/allsite_prod1/ContentView/undefined?pageId=4507