Willow Firewood Tote

Carrying firewood to a stove, one piece at a time, is just a waste of time. I wanted to build a simple firewood carrier from materials around my home that was functional, and pleasing to look at. I made this green willow firewood tote and believe it covers all these bases.

2 - 48 inch lengths on ½ to ¾ green fairly straight willow

2 - 24 inch lengths of 1 ½ inch willow

2 - 10 inch lengths of 1 ½ inch willow

8 feet of 1/8 nylon chord

Prepare the green willow

Cut the 2 green willow sticks at 4 feet long by about ¾ inch at the thick end, then cut about 6 feet of a larger willow about 1 ½ inch diameter.

Cut the thicker piece into two 9 inch pieces and two at about 24 inches.

Gently flex and supple the 48 inch willow pieces so they can bend into a half circle arch.

Pre-drill the larger willow 24 inch lengths at 2 ½ inches from both ends.

Screw the 24 inch sections to the 9 inch sections about 2 inches from both ends using 2 1/2” drywall screws. This forms the base to the tote.

Flex the longer pieces into an arch. Supple the wood by flexing it in smaller movements. With a number of flexes, the wood bends more readily.

Screw the ends into the corners of the base.

Bring the two middle pieces of the 48” willows together and lash them together to form a lashed-wood handle.

Coat the lashing with an outdoor wood glue.