So I have been CSS maple from a score a fellow invited me to take. No one else has been there, and I want to help him out. I've split everything on site, to handle it less, and spare my back. I didnt split much that was below 4" diamater. The wood will sit for 3 years, top covered before burning. Its been a while since stacking small rounds.....but is it worth splitting them? Sca
If I was short on wood and couldn't wait 2-3 yrs for it to season fully, I'd split it smaller. I'm not short and can wait. 4" is OK for me to stack without splitting smaller.
3 yrs. on smaller rounds like that should make excellent firewood! Stack it and forget it for a while.
This stuff will be the late end of the 3 yr plan. That in mind, I could take a lot more wood from that cut, rather than favoring splittable stuff. Sca
Id leave them if sitting for that long. If theres a lot a few could be halved to give some mix to the stack. Since mine doesnt sit that long, i will half most wood over 4".
I’m with everyone, 4-6”ish and smaller does not get split. I’m probably 4-5 years ahead at this point, so time is not of the essence.
I like to leave small rounds alone and find they help hold fires longer which is a big help during January nights.
Yup, whole rounds burn longer than splits for sure...and anybody that is 3 years ahead should have some whole rounds to use, even if it is oak...although if the tree was green/live when cut (especially if leafed out) and the bark remains on it, it might take whole rounds longer than 3 years to really be right.
I have kept some but mine stay in the stack a good length of time. What I burned this winter had been tin the stack either 4 or 5 years.
So I thought I posted this question the other day, but evidently never hit "post".... Is this red maple? If so, are yall saying that a 4 inch round of red maple unsplit will take 3 years to be dry enough...but split will be 1 year? I understand all the other general issues like location, climate, wind, sun etc etc apply.....
I would skip splitting and just wait. Handling small rounds like that is annoying. A lot of effort for little return. I usually don't even take small stuff like that anymore. But it will dry faster if you split it and I use the tire method and shove a bunch in there so I'm not wasting even more time bending over picking up after each stroke.
Yes, maple. Green as anything, but not to be touched for 3 years, from now. IIRC, maple gives up its moisture pretty quickly, so 4" rounds should be well dry in 3 years time. Being that oak takes that long split, I'd split oak rounds, and at some point not even take them too small. I think the maple splits will be dry in a year or two, i chunked them pretty big. Sca
I am a snob, only Red & White Oak, Hickory or Cherry nothing under 8". Plus I am happier if the boys load the trailer for me too.
