Rustic Firewood Rack

If you've got firewood you need a rack for it. If you cut your own firewood you probably have a few long pieces lying around. Make them into a rustic any-length firewood rack! To see how it looks after four years, scroll to step 6.

Materials:
4 short logs for verticals (mine are 7” diameter and about 36” long)
12 short logs for horizontals and spacers, each half the diameter of the verticals (mine are 3.5” diameter and about 36" long)
2 small logs for top braces
12 long screws (mine are 1/4"x10” screws used in log homes)

Tools:
Chain saw
Felt marker
Small square
Tool to drive screws

Think of the firewood rack as a big pair of bookends. The picture shows one bookend in progress.

1. Square off the bottom end of each vertical so it can stand on its own.
2. Lay a pair of horizontal logs on the ground side-by-side and rotate them until they fit well together. Mark and cut away about 1/3 of the diameter of one horizontal log for about the diameter of the vertical. (I cut a little over an inch deep.)
3. Lay the first horizontal log back down and mark the adjacent log so its cut will match the first. Cut the second log then stand the vertical log on the notched horizontals.
4. Repeat for the other corner of this bookend.

1. Mark and cut a shallow V in the top of the shorter vertical. Stand it back on its notched horizontals.
2. As shown in the picture, mark and cut a shallow V in the top of the taller vertical so its height matches the shorter one. Stand it back on its notched horizontals.
3. Repeat for the other corner of this bookend.
4. Repeat all cutting for the other bookend.

Long screws hold the vertical pieces in place. Put two screws into each of the four corners of the bookends as follows:

1. Stand the vertical log upside down next to a table. Lay its horizontal pieces upside down on the table and align them as in the previous step.
2. Drive a screw through each horizontal into the vertical at a 45 degree angle.

1. Set the four bookends into their final position and level them up.
2. Select four spacer logs about the same diameter as your horizontals. Cut them to length and lay them between your bookends.
2. Select two top brace logs that fit the V notches. Cut them to length (about 20").

1. Drive screws vertically through the braces into each vertical.
2. Add firewood and enjoy your firewood rack!

Four years after I wrote this Instructable, the spruce logs I used are covered with lichen. My bride thought this made them look even more rustic and interesting, so the bookend log rack has been promoted from the back woodpile to the front. ;-)