Stop Stacking Firewood! Easy Access & Dumping W/IBC Tote Mod 

hi there john thinks it is real good. well done

Great idea Rachel! Thats why you’re the CEO of HWM. Merry Christmas!! 🎄

Heath looks like 👍 you’re the new man on the block and with that John will try to out do again 😮😊❤

Perfect! I was going to turn an old IBC into a fuel can locker (don't tell osha) and this solved my door problem. Following your design but clad it in old corrugated galvanized steel roof panels, and put in a shelf and I'm done. Plenty of ventilation but still out of the Florida weather Thanks!

Great job Heath. That’s exactly what I was going to try. I hadn’t figured the side attachment yet but I think the boat cleats and paracord is perfect! Merry Christmas to you, Rachel, and the kids!

I like it Heath! You have until spring to keep perfecting it before I need to start making mods in my wood yard 😂😂😂

I suggest using a cheap ratchet strap to hold the bottom instead of the Paracord and cleats. The ratchet strap will release easy under load and it doesn't require installation, just hook right onto the cage. Thanks for the video! I like that you leave the top bar intact, it seems stronger that way.

Another great contribution to tote month 2023! Merry Christmas!

I agree with your shopping experience of planning to buy 3 items for $25 and leaving the store with bags of "good stuff" that you bought on sale. Good idea for the tote. A few videos ago, you mentioned that it would be difficult to reach in under the top rail. I think the configuration of the tote depends on what you are doing and your priorities. Merry Christmas. Thank you for the videos.

Nice job, I think this is the best revision yet! I definitely think this is the winner for a multi purpose modification.

So Heath when you’re laying there in bed at night, Wideawake and Rachel doesn’t even stir because she can smell the smoke. Does that disturb you a little or do you think she’s already one step ahead of you lol knowing what the morning will bring? The only reason why I say this is because I live the same dream, knowing what the wife will think of your nights invention only to know ,how she will take our next build. Well, by the look of the smile on her face from the video, I think she’s all happy so you know you’ve done well so your already ready for the next build lol anyway, keep up the good work. Have a great week.

I like the idea, critters will probably chew on your paracord.

I think Karen and Phil from Allen's Family Firewood are on the right track for staging, transporting, storage and loading process Firewood. Yankee ingenuity and cost controls along with return on investment is what matters on the balance sheet at the end of the day. Being the Firewood Czar for the Falmouth Lion's, I do not have the same logistics. Wood is donated, labor is donated, yard and processor donated. I know the hard overhead costs, it's a hard business. You guys have a passion and love watching your videos, keep thinking outside the box. Merry Christmas to you and all your followers.

Can't wait to see the final version in action! Keep up the good work Heath.

Very good idea. Be interested to see how they hold up over time. I like the way you are always thinking! Keep up the good work.

Great concept. Will be interesting to see how the IBC’s hold up after a number of dumps/reloading.

The Lamborghini of ibc totes will work just fine by the look of things. Merry Christmas guys. Kenny

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Heath and Rachel

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Your new revised IBC tote will save all hand loading of the tote. (1 touch is saved)! The automated dumping with "a flap" is excellent. I sent a similar idea to Brad (firewood at the furnace) a few weeks ago: Brad, Here is a cheap and easy solution to dumping IBC totes into a dump trailer that will: 1. Eliminate the "extra touch" of the firewood for those that hand pile the splits into the tote. 2. Allow easy dumping of the tote with no expensive and heavy "rotator" required. Here is how to create "the flap": ---You must first cut out the entire metal face of each tote (leaving the top rail intact), then make some 1 inch wide "galvanized strapping strips", and bend them over the top rim and attach them to the top of the "cut out face section" with bolts and washers and nuts. This will act like a "flap". --- At the bottom of the "cut out face section", you must attach 2 small lengths of rope, which will "hold the bottom" of the flap shut, when filling the tote from a conveyor. --- You must "keep" the bladder: (This is needed to create a slippery surface that the "firewood splits" rub against, and to prevent the splits from sticking out of the tote and causing obstruction when dumping the tote.) 1. Cut out the top, and bottom, and front of the bladder, and set it aside. 2. Reinstall the remaining part of the bladder, back inside the tote using wire to fasten the plastic bladder to the metal tote. 3. Attach the "cut out front section" of the bladder to the inside of the "cut out face" of the metal tote using wire. Here is how it works: ---You will fill the empty IBC tote (from your conveyor) with the "flap" shut and the 2 pieces of rope fastened to the metal tote at the bottom. ---Then, transport the full tote to your woodyard for seasoning for 6-12 months. ---Then, haul the seasoned tote back to your dump trailer, to attempt dumping the tote into the dump trailer. ---But first, remove the 2 pieces of rope at the bottom of the flap, and swing the flap straight up and over the top of the tote, just like "opening a door". ---Then, using your skidsteer or tractor forks, dump the tote into the dump trailer. You now have "touchless" filling and easy dumping of the tote. ---To make dumping the tote slide easier, I would pile the bottom row of the tote by hand, before filling the tote with any wood off the conveyor. Put the flat section of each split on the bottom of the tote, in a "north to south" orientation. If you ever plan to "stack" fully loaded totes 2 or 3 high, you will have to reinforce the tote, since you weakened it when originally cutting off the entire front section. I would use some 2x2's (about 48 inches long), and jam them between the weakened top rail and bottom floor section on the inside of the flap.

Have you thought about using the face cord firewood bags? That's what I use. No fabrication required, flips just as easy, and it actually holds a full face cord.

Lamborghini of totes? Starting to worry about you Heath- besides everyone knows it’s more like a DeLorean😂Merry Christmas to you and the family

Looks good! Hope you guys had a merry Christmas 🎄

You’re always thinking Heath! Keep it up👍💪👍

Heath , your brain never stops does it😂😂😂. I like it, not a fan of totes yet, cause I dont have a tractor or means of moving them yet but this looks like a cool idea. Merry Christmas guy's 😘😘

Works like a charm. Happy New Year to you and your family.

Nice idea. Would never have thought of cutting the front out. Merry Christmas to you all

Love the ingenuity Heath! Hope it works and hope it lasts!! Merry Christmas Heath, Rachel and the kids!!

Great idea looks like it works pretty good merry Christmas to you and your family

Great idea. I'm definitely going to give this a try. Dave

Wow, I am in Northern St. Clair County (Lakeport). I did not realize you were nearby.....Gary (Woody’s Sawmill & Firewood Sales).

Merry Christmas to you folks too! Neat idea, but I'll need to get the IBC's first LOL :)

That works awesome . Great idea you two . Merry Christmas Heath and Rachel 🎄🎁

Pretty smart idea Heath. Great for dumping for sure. You won’t damage them in the process. Merry Christmas 🎁🎄 to you and your family

Good job Good video That was a good vision on your part It works So have a good holiday

They definitely are a pain to get the bottom half out. I got three these in the garage. I thinking trying something. I just use them half way fill them back up. Merry Christmas hope you and the family had a great day.

Great idea. I’d say it will work great. Have a great week.

You guys have the ABC's of IBC's down pat now! If they start charging for those, you might be better off contacting the manufacturer of the totes and see if they have or what it would cost to build a 'Wood Tote" that would be purpose build for you. Maybe? I don't know what they sell for. Cool idea, nice video.

Awsome job on the tote Merry Christmas

I like it! Thanks for sharing

Looks like a good idea.

Nice mod. -Deburr/Chamfer the Drilled holes, Will save the Cable. -turn the Bolt cutter 90 Deg to crimp, Come in from both ends.. Mike M central Wi.

Great idea. Nice job. Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas 🎄 that’s an awesome idea for the Ibc!

Merry Christmas and happy new year

Covering those raw ends that were cut off is going to be very important. How about a piece of 1/2 inch pvc? Use a forstner bit to drill 1/2 way through the pipe, sliding it on to the tube ends, and , drill some pilot holes, and use some sheet metal screws to keep the pipe from slipping off. You could use any type of material; I suggested pvc because it is easy to work with.

Ill be curious to how they will hold up after a few years. You should double stack totes to see if they will still be sturdy enough.

I had a better idea. Made a bar to go across top. It is screwed in on each side. Front is cut out but remove screws at base. Use u bolt on top. Put scews back in bottom until you want to open. Solid and easy.

I might try that way with ones I have already cut part of the top out. I don’t usually dump unload but hand unload at the furnace so I don’t want the top bar across the front. Nice video

That’s a fine idea!! I really like it!! Looks like it’ll work great too!! Merry Christmas to y’all!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas ,Heath and Rachel. Heath I will be trying that out this week. I think you have something that may work. I need to figure out how to reuse my previous cut totes. I really would like to fill loose, but may need to stack. I don’t have enough totes to dump loose. I don’t remember you ever talking about bags. Later more discussion on totes to come.

Nice Postma Engineering indeed !

You need to get your outside boiler set so it only circulates when the house is calling for heat. That way your house doesn't get too warm and you will use about half as much wood. I'm speaking from experience with my boiler. Logger Al

Heath it work out for you and Rachel and family . 😊

Awesome I Believe It will work

How about sleeving the side tubes near the bottom so they become more ridged. Also maybe a piece of bar steel at the bottom to create a channel for the tubes to fit within. I am thinking after several fills those loose ends may starte to bend out. You have enough play in the hinges you can lift then pull the "Lambo" door open. Might not need the paracord.

That’s smart 😊 merry Christmas 🎄 to you and your family 😇😇

Good idea 👍

Loose dumped in wood for dumping yes. For home use I'd stick with the old way everyone been doing for years.

Good video and Job should work well. If you are dumping them out there is no reason to stack them anyway they will dry faster not stacked . Take care, be safe and well.

I am m 4 hours southeast of Boonville NY show. Joe The Grower.

I think you guys just save me thousands in not investing in a rotating pallet fork. I left my totes intact because I was not sold on methods I have seen dumping with cut outs. I don’t stack in my totes so I like tbis idea. How is it holding up?

Heath, are you related to MacGyver. Hope you had a great Christmas

Engineer😂 merry Christmas 🎉

Heath, how about coming up 1 row & use a couple buggy cords, 1 on each side. No tying string & you won’t need to buy any screws , hardware, or string to tie the cover shut. I think it would work awesome I enjoy your videos.

was watching your newest video with the big Oak rounds. And I notice that pickaroon you are using. Looks like a great tool. Where can I find one

good idea to getthe wood out

Not trying to be negative but, I dont understand this at all? Why take away the strenght of totes to get side access. When you can just flip the tote on its side where you want to unload wood and grab out of the top which is now the side? How many times can the wheel be reinvented?

Love it

You need a tractor for each of your properties.

Neat idea. Does your mind ever rest..

I wood try using bungee cords rather than the para cord. Could be a lot quicker and easier. Good idea though.

Lamborghini's are number one are they not merry christmas keep innovating

I have an idea for a video about splitting between two different machines you have. How’s the best way to run it by you?

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If you are able to cut the cable to the exact length you need, you can crimp the Nico (swage) with the ends flush to the cable. As the nico is compressed, the end of the zinc coated copper will "flow" over the end of the cable. This will keep you from being jabbed by the strands as they become frayed. Aircraft builders sort of do the same thing except they add a second nico sleeve. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6LzH5iSxmig.htmlsi=CB6QwRiv56cBbG63

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I put a ratchet strapped around my tote and bucket and dump them

😊

Happy day I wish. Two youths broke my tract and our system did nothing for me. Now I throw wood with one arm. Could you do. Live video from here in NY? I am really stuck here. No food Christmas was just cutting and splitting. Saw is half broken. I am will to pay for transportation and your help. Joe The Grower

I like that because I don’t Stack in my totes

Cleats not clevous

There is a better way o came up with...lol