All What do you do with the park and scraps that are produced from wood splitting? I plan to use it, but need some suggestions for drying and storing the smaller bark/wood splinters from the wood splitter. Thanks in advanced Jason from RI.
I usually use it for the pit. I use crates and stack them on top of each other and cover it with a piece of plywood. I usually stack 5 crates high . I put them on pallets to keep them off the ground
I save the splitting trash for kindling. I don't do anything with the bark though, except dump it in the woods.
dont use much kindling so i just burn the junk in a pit while i am spliting and stacking to keep the bugs at bay. entertains my boy too so wifey gets a break.
I still split all my wood manually,all those slivers etc are saved for kindling.Depending on species bark pieces are either burned or broken up then dumped over a couple low spots in processing area.Nice to walk on,especially when mixed with shavings/noodles,better than having mud.Cleanest pieces of Hickory bark I keep a few pounds in a sack for use in future syrup making.
Bigger chunks and slivers, as well as large pieces of bark, just get tossed in the burn pit Smaller stuff and noodles I just leave on the ground. Like thistle said, it's better than mud. Kinda like free mulch
At the cottage, the scrap goes right to the burn pit. As I'm feeling all the heat from the bark and splinters, I'm thinking how nice it would be for the OWB at the house!
Good question boettg33 . Welcome to FHC as well! I'm sure everybody has their own thing when it comes to the debris from using the splitter/chainsaw. I keep the larger pieces and use them as kindling the smaller stuff, including bark, I put aside for the firepit. Clean chainsaw shavings and chips I use for making firestarters.
Maybe I'm nuts, but everything with the exception of the sawdust goes into my wood stove. Only problem I've not come up with a solution is storing the scraps properly and getting them thoroughly dried out. I tried using an aluminum garage pail in the past. The problem there was the condensation buildup.
If you are using the scraps for the woodstove thats ok. Your problem is getting the green scraps dry before tossing them in. A bucket will not get the contents dry throughout. I'd almost have to say spreading them out over an open area to dry it would work better.
Try getting a package of the large paper lawn debris bags. I have a couple that I store in the garage. All small twigs / splitter debris from around my small yard get put there. By the fall they are dry enough for kindling. Bark goes in the compost pile. I keep my compost pile active with frequently turnings, water, and lots of food. Usually takes 2-3 months to turn all of that into quality compost for the garden.
I have used milk crates and then leave them on the driveway for a week during a hot summer week. Now I just stack the decent sized ones in the stacks with the rest of the wood and grab the kindling when I hit it in the stacks. Any chunks of cooking wood get stored in a separate pile. I have about 20 boxes of kindling in my basement stored in diaper boxes. Once those are gone, I am just using the stuff in the stacks, easier for me and just as dry. Then I will just put them in a bin to bring in the house when its reloading time.
I was thinking about building a medium size storage box vented on the sides and bottom. This might be overkill. I like having wood projects.
I smoke myself away from the splitter & keep the bugs away more steam than smoke. I just start a fire, the birch bark burns good & hot & eventually the wet wood dries out & burns. Rake the area now & then to keep it clean enough to work comfortably. + the fire gives me a place to warm up when needed.
I always have a fire going while splitting as well Dave. I just pile up all my chunks/uglies/shorties/scraps and grab from the outside. Once I have the fire going with dry splits, the chunks from the outside of the pile are dry enough to catch and burn alright
Yea I had to thru some dry wood on there from the fire-pit stuff, when boiling water out of the wood, it's hard to keep it burning. Wind shifted, the smoke & steam ran me away from the splitter. When I have the same type stuff in the house wood box. I goes in the stove, good & dry by then, it burns hot & fast
Welcome to the forum Jason. When done splitting in the spring, I simply leave the trash. Then my wife gets tired of looking at it and picks it up to use as kindling. In fact, just a couple days ago I found another milk crate full in the barn. Yes, milk crates work well for this.