In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

jackpot week.....but wow, it was backbreaking

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by Scotty Overkill, Sep 23, 2015.

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  1. Scotty Overkill

    Scotty Overkill Administrator

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    Most of you guys know me well enough by now, I LOVE the nice, clean, square splits that big oak rounds deliver! They work GREAT for cribbing the stacks!!
     
    Scotty Overkill, Sep 23, 2015
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  2. Scotty Overkill

    Scotty Overkill Administrator

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    I still have at least one more trailerload of big rounds (24-34" diameter) at the other job as well as the tops from that one to pick up yet.....lmao.

    Yes guys, me gots issues....
    :emb:
     
    Scotty Overkill, Sep 23, 2015
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  3. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Nice work Scotty. I like the way you saved the driveway as that thing would have dropped pretty hard. Glad it is you wrestling those rounds rather than I.
     
    Backwoods Savage, Sep 23, 2015
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  4. Scotty Overkill

    Scotty Overkill Administrator

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    Thanks, buddy. We did a wee little ding in the driveway that I'm going to fix for her, that was a mountain of a tree to drop.

    If I was closer I'd hook you up buddy.....
     
    Scotty Overkill, Sep 23, 2015
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  5. Fanatical1

    Fanatical1

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    I suspected those big rounds had a cribbing purpose! :whistle:
     
    Fanatical1, Sep 23, 2015
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  6. dusky

    dusky

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    Is there a thread on here about split shapes? I am still trying to figure out what shape and size to bust rounds into.
     
    dusky, Sep 23, 2015
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  7. basod

    basod

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    Beautiful pile of splits:yes:
    My back hurts looking at the rounds in the trailer.

    How many acres does 50cords of stacked wood cover?
     
    basod, Sep 23, 2015
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  8. basod

    basod

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    Depends on species and your needs near-term for the wood you are splitting
    Some stoves don't take well to big splits either, multiple smaller splits may suit your needs over another.
    For Oak/hickory/beech I keep it under 5-6" at any maximum diameter of a split, but I wouldn't leave a round that size - halve those otherwise it'll still hiss after 3 years

    Softer faster seasoning woods can be split smaller for fast relights but mix your split size with some larger ones for longer burns.
    It's nice to have a yule tide split here and there for long lazy burn
     
    basod, Sep 23, 2015
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  9. dusky

    dusky

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    Well, right now I am a wood hoarder without a stove... but I have been mixing it up size wise.
     
    dusky, Sep 23, 2015
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  10. basod

    basod

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    If you have a stove in mind make sure you are cutting to length more accurately than splitting to size;)
    Resizing to length can be done fairly easily - no sense in doing so twice though
     
    basod, Sep 23, 2015
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  11. Scotty Overkill

    Scotty Overkill Administrator

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    Good advice from a good man.....well said, basod!
     
    Scotty Overkill, Sep 23, 2015
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  12. milleo

    milleo

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    milleo, Sep 23, 2015
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  13. dusky

    dusky

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    So far, when I get to buck the logs I have been cutting to 16" for easier cord calculation. If the rounds are not cut to my preferred size I try to keep the sizes segregated. I have an area for shorts, and a stack for splits 18-20" but much prefer the 16" length. I also kinda sort by species.
     
    dusky, Sep 23, 2015
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  14. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Not a thread that I'm aware of but looking at different wood piles you'll get the idea. For cribbing the ends it works great to split into squares or rectangles as they stack nicely and are strong. If you get more than enough for the ends, split them any way because you can stack them tight in a stove which comes in handy for those long winter nights. Also, be sure to save stuff like oak for burning on those long winter nights. Burn the lesser woods during warmer weather and daytime burning but save the prime wood for when you really need it. btw, most of those splits we have are 4-5" maximum. If you look at all the pictures, you can see that the wood stacks are solid. That is, they don't fall over. We've had wood stacks for up to 10 years and no falling over. They will shrink quite a bit though and we tend to stack about 4 1/2' high which most times will be down to around 4' within a year and sometimes much less than a year.

    2013 wood-2.JPG Betty Deveraux.JPG Denny-April 2009h.JPG May 2014-e.JPG Wood-3-4-10c.JPG Wood-2009c.JPG
     
    Backwoods Savage, Sep 23, 2015
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  15. dusky

    dusky

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    I think I need to cut less pizza shapes... :sherlock:
     
    dusky, Sep 23, 2015
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  16. basod

    basod

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    If splitting by hand it can be hard to get squares for the end stacks - just use four of your pie shaped pieces narrow edges overlapped in each course, as you stack the weight will interlock them.
    Cribbing ends isn't that hard once you get a system down, a stack may fall(happens to all of us - some more than a few times:zip:) next time don't stack as high;)
     
    basod, Sep 23, 2015
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  17. Gasifier

    Gasifier

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    o_ONice work Mr. Overkill!:thumbs:
     
    Gasifier, Sep 23, 2015
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  18. Woodrat1276

    Woodrat1276

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    That will be a nice feeling when the snow is blowing outside and you reflect on all that work while kicked back in you chair
     
    Woodrat1276, Sep 23, 2015
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  19. FastDonzi

    FastDonzi

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    When I have to wrestle the Big Rounds, I split the outside off so I end up with as big of square as possible. Then I split it into nice equal squares. just seems logical... :) Lol
     
    FastDonzi, Sep 23, 2015
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  20. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

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    Oh boy, you're killing it Scotty Overkill :thumbs:
    Great pics, great responses, and excellent advice given to our PA sister dusky via basod and the quintessential one, Backwoods Savage!
    The model thread, I should say!
    Awesome Scotty!
     
    Eric VW, Sep 23, 2015
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