How to Build an Outdoor Firewood Rack

Firewood stored outside needs to be elevated to allow air circulation in and around the wood to prevent from rotting. Therefore, if you plan to store firewood for the season, it is advisable to have an outdoor firewood rack on which to store it. Anyone with basic carpentry skills and a few hand tools can construct a sturdy rack. Here's how to do it:

Supplies

• 2 x 4 x 8 feet wood (6)


• Nails


• Hammer


• Tape measure


• Saw


• Posthole digger


• Tamping tool


• Cement mix (optional)

1. Gather your supplies for the project.


2. Use your saw to cut four of the 2 x 4s to five feet each. Measure in order to make it accurate.


3. Lay out the remaining two 2 x 4s parallel to one another, about 12 inches apart. Since wood is typically only sold in cords, which is 4 x 4 x 8 feet, it is important to make the rack large enough to hold this amount.


4. Take the three foot sections which were cut off of the original 2 x 4s. Measure and mark each piece into three 12 inch sections. Repeat this on all four pieces. Cut the 2 x 4s with your saw.  When finished you should have 12 matching one foot sections.


5. Take one of the five foot sections of  2 x 4 and measure up 12 inches from an end. Mark the position inside the board. Repeat this process until all four are marked.


6. Take one of the four marked 2 x 4 pieces and align the 2 x 4 x 8 feet to the mark on the inside of the vertical board you are holding.


7. Nail the bottom horizontal  2 x 4 to the vertical board at the end. Repeat process on the other end of the horizontal board with another of the five foot cut  2 x 4. When you are finished your structure will resemble a short legged "H".


8. Use the remaining pieces of wood to build an identical structure.


9. Once you have successfully constructed two of these pieces. Stand them vertically together. The bottom runner will be 12 inches from the ground when in the correct standing position.


10. Separate the pieces until they are approximately 12 inches apart. You will now use 12 one foot 2 x 4 cuttings made previously in Step 4. Six will be applied to each side.


11. Nail the sections in a ladder formation on the sides of the two horizontal standing pieces. This will create and stabilize the rack.


12. Once the rack is moved to its desired location. Use the posthole digger to dig four holes approximately eight inches deep. Drop the legs of the rack into the holes and tamp the dirt around them to stabilize it. If you wish to leave the rack permanently at its location you can pour quick mix cement into each of the holes.