Discussion
I've been cutting a lot of wood this winter. My prefered method is to cut into 2-3ft lengths where the grain is straight enough then split into log sized pieces to transport and stack for drying, then cut into log lengths on a saw horse for burning. I've been using a log grenade to split these and it generally works great but I broke my second one today, which suggests I'm asking a bit much of it.
Has anyone else used these successfully long term? Or am I better off cutting it down to log length before splitting? Or what else should I use?
Has anyone else used these successfully long term? Or am I better off cutting it down to log length before splitting? Or what else should I use?
.Yes definitely cut them to the final length in one go. They'll be easier to split, will season more quickly and it'll remove a step from your processing.
A big petrol powered splitter is the way forward if you burn a lot of knotty pine and spruce like we do - easily splits stuff that would be completely impossible by hand.
A big petrol powered splitter is the way forward if you burn a lot of knotty pine and spruce like we do - easily splits stuff that would be completely impossible by hand.
I want a tractor. Unfortunately my small scale domestic use and limited parking mean it is hard to justify.
Might be shorter lengths then unless it splits very easily with a maul. The reason I prefer longer lengths is I have to cut it and then transport it a couple of miles home. Cutting nice long lengths means I can load up quickly and stack at home then make into stove sized logs at home.
Might be shorter lengths then unless it splits very easily with a maul. The reason I prefer longer lengths is I have to cut it and then transport it a couple of miles home. Cutting nice long lengths means I can load up quickly and stack at home then make into stove sized logs at home.
Snow and Rocks said:
How do you transport it home? Maybe just cut it into trailer sized lengths out in the woods (or wherever you get it from!) then you can quickly stack it while it's still in long lengths and process at your leisure.
Just in the car, sometimes use a trailer. For thicker stuff it's hard to wrestle a decent length of tree trunk into the boot, so I usually split it first. caymanbill said:
i've got some trunk size bits that are on the floor in the shed that don't seem to dry. When I try to use the splitter/wedge i just can't get into the wood. What Am i doing wrong?
I'd get them out of the shed into a covered log store for better air flow and split them.Another X27 owner here as well. I need to find more unsplit wood so I can use it for more!
Snow and Rocks said:
Yes definitely cut them to the final length in one go. They'll be easier to split, will season more quickly and it'll remove a step from your processing.
A big petrol powered splitter is the way forward if you burn a lot of knotty pine and spruce like we do - easily splits stuff that would be completely impossible by hand.
This ^^^. A big petrol powered splitter is the way forward if you burn a lot of knotty pine and spruce like we do - easily splits stuff that would be completely impossible by hand.
Depends on your setup, but we keep logs further away (usually seasoned for a year or two before I get round to splitting them) and use the tractor to move the wood over towards the split log store and a road towable petrol splitter to split it. It has no issue with knotty stuff or punching through green or seasoned wood:
When you hit big knots it pretty much tears through the wood rather than being the sharp split that you’d normally get.
Tbh, owning one is probably overkill but some places may have them available to hire.
The people saying cut to final length aren’t taking into account op’s transport requirements.
It’s much easier to move long lengths than logs. Also easier to stack. Also more resistant to rot if stored long term in long lengths.
I split anything up to 20” diameter and 3’ long + into quarters with a x27. Store it bark side up for a season before logging and dry storing another year. Helps I work with ash. I think chestnut and oak would be ok this way also but wouldn’t try it with beech.
It’s much easier to move long lengths than logs. Also easier to stack. Also more resistant to rot if stored long term in long lengths.
I split anything up to 20” diameter and 3’ long + into quarters with a x27. Store it bark side up for a season before logging and dry storing another year. Helps I work with ash. I think chestnut and oak would be ok this way also but wouldn’t try it with beech.
I'm a scavenger so cut up whatever is going (with permission).
Sycamore did for the first grenade and elm did for the second one, though in fairness I was bashing away at some knotty beech (I think it was beech) last week and this might have done the damage.
I think I'm just going to have to split the really straight knot free stuff this way and cut the rest down to log size. Until I get a big tractor.
Sycamore did for the first grenade and elm did for the second one, though in fairness I was bashing away at some knotty beech (I think it was beech) last week and this might have done the damage.
I think I'm just going to have to split the really straight knot free stuff this way and cut the rest down to log size. Until I get a big tractor.
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