How To Chop And Store Firewood
This DIY video expertly covers the basics of how to chop, stack, and store firewood in the most efficient and safest way possible. Get answers to all of your questions about firewood, from the best tools and wood to use to building a log sled; all aimed at keeping you and your family warm this winter. Brought to you by the experts in country living, http://www.progressivefarmer.com and sponsored by John Deere.
Step 2: Setting Up
To hold your log steady and also to keep your chainsaw to the ground, we came across this great idea. We call it the log sled. It's a very easy project to build and we're going to show you how to do it.
Step 3: Log Sled
To build the sled, we're going to use 3, 6" x 4" x 6' timbers. I'm also using 4, 12"x1/2" concrete anchor bolts. Drill several 5/8" holes into the center of each timber, about halfway through. Make sure you space the holes evenly.
Step 4: Log Sled
Take the third timber and cut it in half. Cut a notch on both ends. The notch should be wide enough to slide over the other timbers. Cut another notch into each timber half. This is to cradle the logs. Now drill 5/8" holes all the way through the timber halves. They must match the position of the holes you've already drilled in the other timbers.
Step 5: Log Sled
Lay the halves over the two full length timbers. Push the anchor bolts in tying all three pieces together. By using the other holes, you can adjust the sled to the size of the log. That's the whole project.
Step 6: Safety Advice
Okay, we're ready to cut our first log, but let's talk about chain saw safety. Here's a few things you want to wear; safety goggles, earplugs, heavy duty leather gloves, a long sleeved shirt, close fitting jeans, steel-toed boots, and a pair of safety chaps.
Step 7: Chain Saw
Let's talk about the length of the log. What I usually do to get a consistent size log is measure by the length of the chain saw bar. As I cut, I keep my feet about shoulder width apart and keep good balance. Don't forget to keep that escape route clear. Also when you finish cutting that splitting log, push it clear of your work area.
Step 8: Splitting The Wood
There are a lot of different opinions about splitting wood, but I'm going to show you what works for me. I have two types of mauls here. This one's heavy and also has a very wide top. It's good for splitting thick logs. This maul's a little bit lighter, but these wings also make it a good splitting maul.
Step 9: Splitting The Wood
As you're getting ready to split a log, picture it's on pretty level ground. Also, look for cracks in the log. These are good targets for your maul. This is a larger log. I made my swings to the outside. It's difficult to split one this size right down the middle. It's better to cut off pieces by working around the edges. You want to make sure that each piece is less than 8" wide.
Step 10: Splitting The Wood
There are some logs that just aren't going to split for you. Maybe there's an old branch sticking out that just makes splitting difficult. This is where you go to the wedges. Here's a new wedge. Here's the one I've had for years. I really like this one. The idea here is to put the wedge into a crack if you can find one. You hammer it in about an inch and then you go to the sledge hammer. Keep driving the wedge down into the log. I've even driven wedges below the surface. It's work, but your aim has to be pretty good. And be careful. If that doesn't work, use a second wedge. Drive it down into the log on the opposite side of center. If all else fails, you can remove the wedges and cut the log down the center with the chain saw.You've cut logs and you've split those logs.
Step 11: Stacking The Wood
Now let's stack them. You want to create a pile that will dry quickly. The best way to create air flow around the firewood is to stack the wood on something other than the ground. You can create a base with pieces of firewood. Or you can use something like these old 4 x 4's. Now you're going to want to build an end for your pile. Here's one way to do it. Stack the logs in a criss cross pattern to a height of no more than 4'. Build one on each end of your pile, then start laying down rows of logs, again, no more than 4' high. There's a couple of other ways to create a stable pile. One is to drive a stake like this into the end of one end of the pile. Loop a piece of twine around the stake, take it around to the other end of the pile and just wrap it around the end log. Another way to do this is just forget the stake and wrap the twine around both ends of the pile. And then you're going to want to do this every so often, maybe every three or four rows.
Step 12: Drying The Wood
Now we've stacked the wood. How long do you think you should let it dry? Well, as you can imagine, there's a lot of opinion on this. Some people say twelve months. Some people say nine months. I say, "Who plans that far in advance?" Here's a rule of thumb. If you cut it in early spring, it should be ready to burn by fall. You've probably seen people stack firewood on their front porches and against their houses. It's really not a good idea. That wood on wood contact can create rotting. It can also cause damage from insects. Here's some other dos and don'ts. Don't stack wood in contact with other wood. Don't stack wood near your home. Do stack the wood in a single row. It dries faster.Do put your stack in a place open to the sun and the wind for faster drying.Don't cover the pile. The shade decreases drying time.Don't apply insecticides to your wood and...Do check your wood for critters before you bring it into your home.One point I want to emphasize. Unless you're in an extremely wet climate, don't cover your pile. The shade will actually slow your drying time and a tarp will actually hold in the moisture.
Step 13: Wood Types
This is hickory. It is a little bit tough to split, but it really puts out a lot of heat. Oak is another good fuel source, as are some species of maple, birch, beech, and ash. I've come across some that were almost impossible to split. Elm and willow are among those. I've tried to split live oak recently. It felt like I had hit a piece of steel. Guess that's why they made chips out of it.
You may wonder why I'm not using a log splitter. That's easy, I'm cheap. No, seriously, it is a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun. And there's nothing better on a cold day, than to sit in front of a fire fueled by your own wood. For more information on this project and others, go to progressivefarmer.com. Click on Projects You Can Do.
