How to Build a Firewood Rack

When you use a fireplace during winter months to save money, it's important to store firewood correctly. This will keep your firewood ready for your hearth. If you enjoy building things at home or taking on projects, you can build a firewood rack instead of purchasing one from the store.

N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for latest updates 

 Steps

    1
    Choose wood that is resistant to the elements and to insects. Hemlock, red cedar and pre-treated lumber are good options for a firewood rack.
    2
    Begin building your rack's base.
        Place 2 uncut 2 x 6 boards parallel to each other on a sturdy surface. The boards should be about 2 feet (.609m) apart.
        Cut 2 18-inch (.457m) sections of wood from a new 2 x 6 and place these pieces between the 2 parallel boards. The shorter boards should go at the ends of the longer boards to form a rectangle for the box's base.
        Secure the base boards together 1 side at a time. Apply a thin strip of exterior adhesive to the narrow ends of both uncut 2 x 6 boards. Align an 18-inch board (.457m) so it is perpendicular to the narrow ends of the uncut boards. Press the boards together to secure the adhesive.
        Attach each 18-inch (.457m) board with 3-inch (.076m) deck screws by screwing through the 18-inch (.457m) boards into the narrow ends of the uncut 2 x 6 boards.
    3
    Start construction on the side supports, or the uprights, of your rack.
        Cut 4 4-foot (1.22m) sections of wood from new 2 x 6 boards at 90-degree angles and place them near your base box. These are the upright supports of the rack.
        Place the 4-foot (1.22m) boards on the inside corners of the base box. You want the 6-inch (.152m) part of the 4-foot (1.219m) board flush with the longer side of the base box.
        Connect the uprights to the base box by screwing 3-inch (.076m) deck screws through the uprights and into the longer boards of the base box. Use 2 or 3 screws at each location for stability.
    4
    Start making your lateral supports by measuring a 24-inch (.610m) section on a new 2 x 6 board and cut.
        Mark the newly cut 24-inch (.610m) board at the 6-inch (.152m) and 18-inch (.457m) measurements starting at the end of the board. These marks will be the starting point for the diverging angular cuts you need to make.
        Use your carpenter's square and draw 45-degree angles at each mark on the 24-inch (.610m) board. Remember, the angles should plane away from each other. You need to cut 4 boards total.
        Place the angled boards at the corner of the base box to make a triangle. One of the angled sides of your lateral support should line up with the bottom of the longer side of the base box and the other end of your lateral support should line up with narrow sides of the upright. Repeat until all 4 angled boards create triangles where 1 of the 3 sides is the bottom of the longer side of the base box, 1 side is the lateral support board, and the third side is the upright.
        Join the supportive angled boards to the base box using 3-inch (.076m) deck screws. Place screws perpendicular to the angled boards where the angled boards meet the uprights. This will allow the screws to penetrate the upright. Screw through the wide face of each angled board and into the base box. Use 2 screws at each location.
    5
    Stand the entire rack up on the base box.
    6
    Cut boards to form the top pieces of your firewood rack. You will need 2 18-inch (.457m) sections from a new 2 x 6 board.
        Arrange each 18-inch (.457m) board perpendicular to the uprights, completely covering both of the uprights' narrow ends and stretching between the longer sides of the base box.
        Connect each 18-inch (.457m) board with 3-inch (.076m) deck screws by screwing through the 18-inch (.457m) boards and into the narrow face of the uprights.
    7
    Make sure the entire rack resembles a very wide letter U. Wood will stack in between the upright ends and atop the base box.
    8
    Apply a coat of varnish or stain to protect your firewood rack for years to come.

Tips

    When you're shopping for wood to build a firewood rack, look for boards that are still on a pallet and banded together. Loosely stacked lumber tends to warp.
    When you're measuring your cuts, double-check the measurements before cutting to eliminate wasted lumber.

Warnings

    Wear safety goggles at all times to prevent eye injury.
    Always pay close attention while cutting to prevent injury.

Things You'll Need

    10 2 x 6 boards, 8 feet (2.44m) in length
    Saw
    Exterior adhesive
    3-inch (.076m) deck screws
    Screwdriver
    Tape measure
    Pencil
    Carpenter's square
    Stain or clear varnish