I usually like to get kindling split by late summer so it has some time in the stacks. This year, it didn’t happen. I didn’t get my supply of softwood until a few weeks back. Today, I got after it for a bit. I still have more rounds to split and this is a decent start. Hoping the smaller splits will aid in dry time. In a typical winter, I’ll go through two of those full racks (left side is empty now). What’s in the pic and waiting to be split is all hemlock from the amazing haul I got from my neighbor. I have a standing dead pine up back I may take down soon. I think that will yield some ‘ready to burn’ kindling sooner than later. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Some nice kindling! Any board scraps...1x4, 2x4 etc you can split up for kindling? Pallets to cut up? Usually ready to burn on the spot.
nice pile ... u ever try poplar if u can get your hands on some and split em into little sticks they make great kindling
I guess you will split some if this down even smaller when starting a cold stove? I do the same, but will also save lumber scraps and split them, and use shavings too.
Thanks everyone! And a good idea with scrap wood and pallets. I have some old pallets up back that are a bit too weak for stacking. May have to cut some of those up!
After our hike yesterday, did some splitting and finished loading up the kindling rack. I’ve got a few more Hemlock rounds to split up. I’ll get those processed over the next few weeks and leave them in the stacks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nice load there! I always tend to run out of kindling, so this year I'm getting as far ahead of it as I can. I take busted pine pallets from work and split the slats. Two weeks ago I put my nephew to work and did a couple carts full. Stuff goes up like matchsticks.
Great getting your nephew involved rainking63 ! How do you like that Kindling Cracker? I've been eyeing those lately. I think it may make things easier with the smaller splits. Plus, I have some pallets I need to take apart.
I definitely like it and it makes kindling processing easier and safer. It was a gift from a good friend of mine who understands my firewood addiction.
Can you let me know which one you get, please? I'm also eyeing one. Would like to keep it easier for the wife to be involved in splitting up the slats from the pallets; spent about half an hour going through and pulling out nails from the pallets so I don't accidentally burn them in the woodstove.
Pine and hemlock dry pretty quick. That's a size I like to throw on remaining coals first thing in the AM and start from cold with.
Like firewood it's all about getting ahead! I've got 4 ibc totes full of maple, oak. Black locust, and spruce/pine shorties that made for easy kindling! Each bin still has the top that has no holes in it. I just checked a split from my spruce stack that I started in April.....and registered at 13% MC. That stuff dries fast!
I gave my neighbor a ton of norway maple wedge shorties to make kindling out of....and he's been slacking...so I ended up giving him 2 garbage cans full of pallet scraps and cutoffs. Those are great for kindling too. I make sure to not use any pieces that have paint and I pulled out all the nails for him too.
If you're going to do a large number of pallets might be worth your while to get a pallet buster tool. This tool is $50 and is worth every penny. I was breaking about 1/3 of the boards using a hammer and a short pry bar. You use it on the outside nails first, doing the center last. Now I only break boards that were already cracked. Maybe not so important if you're jusing using it for kindling but if you ever decide to want boards for other purposes (raised garden beds for me) then it comes in super handy dandy.
Awesome score. For our kindling, I use the clean top rungs of factory pallets from work. Nice 1x4 pine. Of course I'm on the clock when I run the Sawzall through and leave the 2x4's with the nails. Hand saw them down to approx. 12" and hatchet split as needed. No pic, but I have a stack about 2 ft wide and 6 ft high at the ready
Yes indeed...and a board saver too. You gotta get used to maneuvering it and getting it in the right spot when you have two boards with no space in between. It is very heavy but has saved me oodles of time.
Looks great!!! I usually go through about 2 solid face cords of kindling myself..I have a bad feeling about this winter though..Cold and Long I'm thinking so I went ahead a split 1 extra face cord of kindling just in case. Heck..If I don't use it this year..then I'm ahead for next year...
