Just wondering

I'm a buck,split & stack processor, that is when I'm " dooin wood", I'll grab a log length stick (20'or so) that I have previously pulled out of the woods, and "buck" it into firewood length. I usually will buck about 3 or 4 of these until it gets difficult working this area safely with the saw (ground cluttered with bucked rounds). Then I'll push them a little closer to the splitter. With the splitter at the end of the current stack under construction, (between the rounds & the new stack) with the unsplit rounds to my back, the splitter in front of me, and the new stack behind the splitter, I split & throw towards the new stack. Then stack.
Repeat, repeat etc.
I like to "mix up" all 3 phases (bucking-splitting & stacking) during a session, leaving everything split in the new stack not needing to be touched again until fire time. For me, this keeps things mixed up and I think helps me use different muscles along with helping with boredom. It might be an OCD thing with a little ADD mixed in there, but I like to leave all that I have split, on the pallet/in the stack, done!! Of course this will change with different equipment available. My tractor is my friend!
What's your process? I know it's only firewood and not rocket science, but am curious. After all it''s FHC

 

Most of my wood is cut a few miles away. So it's cut to length on site, loaded then unloaded. I split as time allows. Mostly by hand when the kids are playing. Throw the splits towards where I'm stacking and stack when I feel like a break from splitting. My splitter is only horizontal so when I use it I angle towards the stack and split until a pile builds up and let the splits push themselves towards the stacks.

 

I get log loads in the front yard from my tree guy. I used to buck it all up, and haul the rounds out back, then split as I had time. Lately I've started bucking and splitting out front. Cut a little bit, then split till I get tired of that. Cut a little more, etc. then I just haul the splits out back and stack them. It cuts down on the handling and I don't have to throw rounds in the truck, which was the hardest part of the process

 

You guys have good problems..lol.. I drive in traffic to the DC area, load my trailer myself, drive back in traffic passing little Eco cars on the right, attempt to back into my driveway with some moron pulling right up against me as I back in, make a big mess in my driveway cutting to length and noodling, split in my driveway making a mess that covers up my cutting mess, use a wheelbarrow to get to the stacks - now a nice little wagon for the tractor, then stack, and once that row is done I tarp..

You guys have it made..lol..

 

Good discussion. I buck everything in the woods then roll the rounds down to the trail. If its big rounds i split right there. Rounds under 18" or so i generally bring up to the stacks. Unloading the truck i place rounds in my tire, swing my x27, then stack as i take the splits out of the tire. I try to cut a fuel tank worth of wood and then get it all cleaned up before i go cut more. This breaks up things nicely. I find stacking daunting if i split a whole years worth of wood into a pile. If its a tough splitting tree i will bring out the hydraulic splitter.

 

Greencastle to DC! That's a good piece of bad road to travel. I 81 & I 270 Hat's off to you Bud!

 

Lookin good Reaper! Love the pic of your little helper in the bib's!

 

It blows.. I like passing the Eco cars on the right with a full load though - especially up south mountain on 70..lol.. I'm pretty sure 270 is the worst interstate east of the Mississippi and I've driven them all.. Talk about 40lbs in a 5lb bag..

 

Usually cut in rounds on the spot where I am cutting (have a few areas to cut). Haul the rounds home and stack them, then split as time allows. Sometimes fill the wheelbarrow, sometimes throw in a pile, then stack as time allows or stack out of the wheelbarrow. I don't really have any set process other than I like to cut to length at the cutting site as hate to buck in my processing areas, already have enough mess to clean up.

 

Yeah, 3 lanes into 2, (South Mtn) the same every day for years. You'd think those pricks would know how to handle it without having to back things all up. I used to live just over the hill at exit 42.

 

Logs delivered off the tandem right in front of the woodshed. Roll one down then cut it to length. Put the saw down and grab the maul and split them all up. Into the shed right away on the stack. Roll the next one down and do it again.

I find this is easier on the back than cutting several logs at once and I'm not tripping over cut lengths. If the rounds are big enough I'll split half of them and pile them before splitting the rest. After two or three logs there's the obligatory smoke and Pepsi break.

 

I did that ride from Waynesboro for a spell, but we met in emmitsburg and headed down 15. Has to be passed Frederick before 530am or you were stuck....

 

Used to have to pull rounds loaded in a trailer and the back of the truck, 100 miles. Did it for years. Now, I'm able to cut trees on my own land. I drop the trees and buck to lengths I can slide out on snow. Stack all the logs up off the ground. Then I'll get into bucking all the logs in late spring, pushing rounds where I need to with a small tractor. Next, I'll set up to split next to the pile of rounds with a vertical splitter set-up at waist height on a workdeck, and use a light duty crane to lift/drag the rounds across a 30' area and up onto the splitter. I try to use the tractor or pickup to take loads, as they're split, to the woodshed and stack them.

 

Your way sounds efficient :
My way, not so much

here:
http://firewoodhoardersclub.com/forums/threads/the-14-times-i-handle-fire-wood-tree-to-ashes.929/

 

Great thread Fuelrod, I have been wanting to have this discussion for some time as I think I have a lot to learn. Here's what's been working for me lately...I cut all my wood on my property, which is hilly, so I use my truck to move the wood from where I fell the tree to my stacks. I've started not putting the wood into the truck until it's split, since I was getting complacent and making piles of rounds to split "later." So, I drop the tree, limb, buck, and split right there(I don't have hydraulics so I can split wherever they lay), then get the truck as close as I can and throw the splits in the bed. Drive to the stacks and stack 'em immediately. I have been trying hard to drop a tree, and get the processing done and the splits in the stack before I start the next one so I don't give myself a big work load that seems insurmountable. I've really been knocking it out this season so far, and for the first year ever I'm staying ahead of my usage and my overall stacks are growing even as I burn. I'm gonna get to three years' ahead one of these days!

 

Varies depending where I'm at when getting the wood.
Log loads...I cut 'em, then split right into a trailer. Take the trailer to the stacking area.
Rinse and repeat.
Cutting in the woods is similar, but the splits usually get either split at the stacking area to the ground then stacked, or taken to a pile and dumped, then s/s.
It's all very complicated.
With the log loads, I would usually buck up about 1/3 cord, then split into the trailer. If I felt up to it, I'd then stack. If not, that would be done the next time out, then start back at the bucking.
Sometimes I'd do a couple loads, other times I'd just buck 'em up until I could barely stand up straight, then hit up some IBU and sit down until the urge to work left.
Lots of variations in processing firewood, as most of us know.
Then, there's those days where all I do is sit and contemplate how I might cut out a step or two........

 

My favorite "processing" flow was getting the bucked rounds home, and splitting them from the bed of the truck, stacking after split (90% of the time its two of us working.}) Doesn't happen as much as I would like as I am usually pressed for time, but when it does, its a thing of beauty and seems to be the least amount of times to touch the wood before they are in their stacks.

 

I cut from lots of different places, basically wherever I can. My goal is to make as many rounds officially mine by getting them home anytime I'm out.

I split on days I'm around the house directly into the trailer. I then pull the trailer to the appropriate stack and stack them. I like to stack from the trailer so I never have to walk with splits. Much easier for me to just turn around, grab one split in each hand, turn back and stack. My bad elbow doesn't really like piling splits up in one arm.

 

I do things a bit differently depending on where I'm working at -


In the woods at parents acreage I'll keep small stuff from 4 to 8" diameter at longer lengths from 3 to 9 feet when loading the cart or pickup.Then hauling it out up to the processing area where the sawbuck is used.Much easier/faster for me to carry long poles than be constantly bending over picking up literally dozens of small short pieces.Plus it keeps the bar tip outta the dirt.Larger rounds that need split are cut normal or ''double length" depending on their diameter & weight before hauling. Everything is dumped in a pile near the sawbuck & chopping block,when I have a couple truckloads stockpiled that's when I start bucking/splitting/stacking at my leisure.

My main goal is get the day's work outta the woods before any expected rain and/or snow,since I work year round.Because with bad weather & my varying work schedules it might be a month or two before I can get back to it.


Here in town at my place when dealing with tree service dumps since its all random lengths - I mix it up by bucking a small pile,splitting/stacking then sweeping up the chips/bark as I go along.Then repeating the process.Keeps me alert & I take frequent breaks.