I like my wood pieces to be big, I think they burn longer. I generally split my wood down to ... 6 to 8 inches fat sometime a bit bigger. If I have limbs that are 6 to 8 inches I don't usually split them, but sometimes I do, and anything smaller I never split. Someone was just recently telling me that you have to split every piece of wood, no matter what the size, last words to me were, "split everything" So how do you all feel about me splitting down to 6 to 8 inch and not splitting large limbs? Or do you split everything?
I have birch, save I split everything down to 3" Makes good fillers between bigger splits , when loading a full load in the stove.
IF the stuff I have is barkless Oak, I'll leave it alone up to about 6". I'll sometimes split smaller stuff to use as fillers or kindling, or larger stuff for the same. So, the answer is.....it depends. No real hard and fast rules for me.
My philosophy is "the bigger the better"! But then, I have an OWB that I burn full time! and an nc-13 that I do split everything that goes into it...about like Bogy says. 6" or so is about the largest I put into the 13.
Here's another twist.......as I've gotten slightly older , I find the larger splits tougher to handle. Not as strong as I used to think I was, and the old arthuritisdoesn't help either.
I usually split everything 6" and up, usually but, not always depends on the type of wood, I do like to have some larger rounds on hand so my answer like papadave is it depends.
For me, just way too many variables to have a set answer. Do what works for you. In the last 3 years, the splits have gotten a little bigger, but they also take a little longer to dry in my situation. I use a lot of Oak, and now, also more Maple. That dries more quickly, so larger splits are less of a problem. See what I mean by variables? Those examples are just touching the surface of the firewood split "iceberg".
All depends.. Depends on the type of wood also, some hold the moisture in more than others if left unsplit. Nothing wrong with big rounds or big splits if they dry properly. General rule of thumb for me, is I like a mixture of big and small splits and a mixture of different types of wood... This gives me a lot of choices when loading the stove.
Yes I see what you mean, so I guess Im on the right track, I'm doing what works best for me, and I didn't think my wood stove burning friend really knew what he was takin about. I guess, no need to do the poll, thanks everyone.
I agree with the barf man. If its in the tire and splitting easy then i keep swinging. This is especially true for oak. I am not looking for long burns and the dryest wood possible is best for me.
I like to split everything possible. I've got a bunch of 4-6" mulberry over three years old that is coming in at 34% on the mm.
Limbs? They belong in the chipper. Rounds I usually split on the larger size. Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking when I can only fit two in the stove.
I have found lots of unsplit wood that rots before I get around to burning it. Split wood doesn't do that.
I'll just crack open some of the 6", but leave them together, so there is a nice drying crack down the center but will still give a very long burn.
i got a 3 hit rule too. if i cant bust it in 3 hits then it gets stacked as is. most of them have only a small strip of barn anyway so they get to drying well. if it wont fit through the door of my boiler then it goes to the fireplace which we only light a few times a year for aesthetics (christmas dinner will be the second time of the season so far). i have become fond of top-down fires in that heat robber. its nice to have large pieces in the bottom so i dont have to reload. ussually that 3-5 hour burn is enough of a show. oh and as long as the sticks are straight, i will bust them in half down to 3" diamter.
