Yes, I'm a noob, striving to get to that hoarder status. I love handsplitting, it gives me the same, relaxing feeling as when I go floating/fishing. Anyway, I absolutely hate to stack, and have a question for you pros. At what point do you stop splitting and start to stack? After the particular load you're working on? Stack as you go? What works best? And a pic.. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
I'm on the three year plan so at least three years before I'm going to need it. I tend to pile up a bunch of rounds, then split them, then stack them. I run into problems every single time I try to switch up that order of progression. When I was hand splitting and it was aggravating my lower back I would alternate stacking and splitting. I hand split a little bit the other day and split into a wheel barrow and stacked that when it was full. Usually I would hydro split a pile and the pile would be right next to where I was stacking and I would stack when I thought it was time to give the hydro or myself a break. Not a real fan of stacking either but have found it doesn't season too well in mountains.
I tend to stack the same day as I split because I cant stand to see a pile of splits browning up my lawn and picking up snow/rain on those fresh split faces. If Im to fatigued Ill leave it for a day or two but once Ive cut and split I get real antsy to stack it to get the clock rolling on seasoning, not only that but it looks so purty all nicely cribbed and stacked on pallets and top covered as apposed to being a mess on the ground.
I try to stack as I split with the splitter right next to the stack. Then I can selectively split to fit in the stack and maybe handle the wood one less time.
^^^That's how it works around here.^^^ The splitter is generally kept in the shed which has an 8 foot sliding door. Back up to the shed, splitter goes on bumper hitch, start splitting and stacking. I don't mind stacking at all..loading the truck is my least favorite part of c/s/s. (the shed is well ventilated)
I try to do this also, right from the splitter to the stack, but I find it works best for me with a helper. I do everything I can to not dump it in a pile so I have to bend down and pick it all up. You could use a cart, small trailer, UTV etc, even a wheelbarrow to throw it in and once it's full bring it to the stacks. Saves all that bending over. That way it's all stacked as you split and your not staring at a huge piles of splits that need to be stacked....
I hand split. If I have to handle fresh splits, then I might as well stack them. Less times I need to pick them up, the better. Sent from my XT1030 using Tapatalk
I have found this to be best also. I will go out back cut 2-3 trees buck them and load the trailer. Then back to the stacks to split and stack then repeat. I can spend all day or just part of the day this way and not feel like I have a mess to clean up at the end.
I try and split right into the trailer then head for the stacks. That said if you look at the picture with the splitter I have a pile split on the ground. If the trailer is loaded I split till its clear then start loading back.
There's no right or wrong answer. I try to split on the cutting site, so when it comes home it's off the trailer straight into wheel barrows and pushed out back for stacking. The least amout of times I have to bend over or handle the stuff is how I come up with my plan. I tend to buy my neighbors beer if I have alot to stack and move so I make them help to claim said beer. They haven't complained yet Stacking sucks, but it won't dry in piles unfortunately. Get it up, in the sun and wind if possible.
I generally accumulate wood all fall and winter from the trees we take down, usually only saving the premium stuff (oak, hickory, locust, beech, etc), being I'm almost 6 years ahead on my inventory. Towards the end of winter into early spring, I start splitting all that accumulated wood, piling it up out of the way. By the time I'm done burning for the season (usually mid-May), I clean up the area where I had the 'now-used-up' wood from the winter, and I stack the accumulated split wood. Anything I cut over the summer gets split and added as it comes in, when time allows.
If I'm hand splitting I will fill a wheelbarrow and then move it over to the stacks and stack it, repeat that until I'm tired. Makes for a nice break from splitting non stop. Whoever built the fence at my house wasn't concerned about getting equipment to the backyard. There's only one small gate and it goes up two stairs onto deck and then down two stairs off the back of the deck into the backyard. Talk about a major PITA. Just getting the push mower back there or dragging out leaves was a major project. I got so aggravated one day that I just took the chainsaw to part of the fence and added some hinges, it's still not big enough to get a truck or even my splitter through but at least I can push a wheelbarrow through without dealing with stairs. This summer I think I'm gonna replace the whole thing and put a gate large enough to get a vehicle through, it'll simplify my whole wood operation at least 50%.
I stack as it comes off the splitter. Usually into the larger of my two woodsheds. I've been pretty messy in the past and have just piled up the wood off the end of the splitter, but have found it does not dry well. I am trying to streamline my firewood cutting and not leave any trees on the ground in the woods, piles of rounds or splits left laying around, or leave a mess in general. Especially with a new OWB, I just won't need as much wood, so I can be a lot neater now and less frantic about just finding something to burn.
I prefer to stack as I split. I will split one round then using my pickaroon I will collect the splits and stack them in to a IBC tote. When I have a few totes full I will get the old tractor and move them out to season with the rest of my wood. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
really pjcalla it comes down to personal preference... I have done it several ways.. are you by yourself or do you have help? I got some acres close to biggest town in state.. lot of my friends show up to ride atv, shoot guns, boy scout camp outs all happen here.. a lot work in town and come to my place on days off instead of having a camp.. several love to run saws.. not much of that on quarter acre lots.. ps this really helps to get on 3 year plan quick! if I am alone I split and throw into FEL on tractor.. stack when it's full only pick it up off ground once... because I am generally so wet and to avoid ticks I like to keep grass short.. this requires keeping it picked up..
