I typically put 2 splits east/west then put another piece on top. Sometimes a couple smaller ones on top or one big one, just depends on how fast I want it to burn down.
I like burning N/S and I will put 3 in the middle like a pyramid. I've always felt a fire burns better when the flames and air has to come up through cracks and crevises so to speak.
Coupe of splits N/S and then a couple on top E/W. the two on the bottom are spaced out a bit and then the 2-3 on top are pushed pretty close together.
It really depends on your stove. You need to experiment and figure out what gives you more heat and burn time. Small loads in ours are NS and 1/4 to 1/2 a box.
My stove is an E/W stove so I typically load that way. I've had a lot of uglies and odd shaped pieces left over this year from cramming the stove all winter with my best pieces, so I've been adding a couple small splits then some big uglies on top to burn up all the odd stuff I have left from this year
I've been doing the same thing, With all this really cold weather I have been throwing aside my odd pieces, So I could pack the stove its tight and full as possible, Since it has gotten up into the 20s and 30s I have been trying to use up all this odd stuff ,They are not really uglys, just odd
Depends on the burn I want and the wood that is inside. Some go N/S. Overnight, long burns, on the one side E/W, then N/S over the raked coals on the other side. (The firebox is 30" wide.)
Small load in the 30 is always bunched together. Whether it is n/s or e/w it doesn't much matter for me. With the VC stoves, the firebox is shallow and the load is always e/w and bunched together.
I have 2 small splits n/s, with 2 more e/w on top, log house style going right now...Maple. With more coals, I've been doing more e/w loads, with one in back, another on the coals I pull forward and the last one on top sort of diagonal.
We burn N/S, a small load of firewood for us is about five splits. three on the bottom and two on top. I think your E/W burning will give you a longer burn. Our Liberty will take 24 inch splits E/W, I have a good size Basswood down in an area we need the trail to go so I'm thinking about cutting it 24 inches long so we can use it for the shoulder season.
I load almost full but not as particular to place each split to get as much as I can & I don't stack it tight To the top Full loads seem to burn better N/S