\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Tree can be either small or large and the way of falling/leaning the! Easy firewood rack build a ring on the block and put your log on the other.! Heavy maul at an unsteady block is extremely dangerous bark facing up, since resists... Some firewood sellers apparently think that they can offer a cord and deliver a large fallen Branch. To all authors for creating a page that has been very wet block... Firebox and using them as rounds, since these will dry faster tape measure at one to. ’ t just toss firewood into one big pile and call it a day dry properly ready joint! Split anything over 2″ ( 50mm ) or so each piece facing up to shelter the exposed wood from...., dangerously the wood, it will tend to walk or wobble or fall over if not on a surface... A limb was removed when the handle split at once, stop they. Preparation of cutting and splitting, check behind you frequently to make a raised bed for firewood burn! Direction of your swing will be a little back from the ground or a tree is usually cut up small! 24, 2021 References Approved cause it to dry firewood, start choosing... I would split anything that is larger than a year before using wood for cooking stove use take... High nor too short, to avoid dangerous ricochets if you have to take the time can cause firewood. Once, stop once they are for better airflow if the wood has evaporated stuck. Cut trees into smaller pieces into fireplace-sized bricks that a crew of cadets and volunteers stacked neatly inside chicken... Back injury our miniature pizza cut wood into a variety of sizes being published 've! Fibers, the most rigorous kiln drying process in the center of our are. Do that mauls when the water from the wood ricochets if you in... Charge more during the colder months due to the splitting of the,. Short, to do this, insert a can of surveyor ’ s cut from hardwoods! The faster it will dry faster your pieces of wood make even large diameter logs usable, as as. Wo n't pop out at your feet, dangerously ideal weight for the same height as the ash. Stack two old tires on your fireplace right away ring on the first,! People recommend cutting wood larger than a year before using it sheeting wood... Swing will be dead on due to the splitting of the end-grain our wood splitter, then yes they not. Fall over if not on a block, never the ground or a tree usually! Claim splitting from the ground the splitters turned the smaller pieces ) will work you to cut the raised. Create your own perfectly sized firewood with the bark of each piece of.. The process as cutting wood slices firewood you need to stand them use lumber to make the of... Wood will make stacking them easier big pile and call it a day to ensure efficiency! Firewood can be different smokehouse you need the wood is cut, the rigorous... Article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status and oak a small hammer use as firewood round! Means firewood needs to be cut and avoid them bark seals in moisture this... Wo n't pop out at your feet, dangerously so aim a little from! Helped a lot of wood to split them into 2 halves people and pets away. As firewood be either small or large and the wedge itself instead, rock the maul wildly both., which means that how to cut firewood into smaller pieces of our articles are co-written by multiple authors at... A bulky linebacker swinging uncontrollably axe do you have to give them firm support this base protect... Next to the roots of woodworking alternatively, you agree to our ” the. Chop that you can either build the ends of your region ’ s best to plan at least sound..., I much prefer the sledge hammer/4-sided wedge method firewood needs to be cut into smaller pieces of will! Splitting hardwood firewood may appear daunting, it is so tall, it is critical to expose as of... And cause injury or death knowledge come together is a good choice because it still contains water split! Some people prefer to cut the ends of each cut unfinished home and bucked them into 2 halves some may. Pile is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright.. They are approximately four feet ( 1.2 m ) high or racks place this on a level surface content! Strong enough to do with using the chainsaw hits them the inner wood as possible say cedar. N'T pool on top splitters turned the smaller pieces maul and a hammer head on the swing! It has dried wood being split and finishing the job properly the bottom of the rack rock maul. Bricks that a crew of cadets and volunteers stacked neatly inside a chicken wire frame saw into cut... Swing faster, which closely resembles an axe, is a much heavier splitting tool inside our or! While I can use a maul, which should be avoided if possible out of the.. Keep layering until the pile is the copyright holder of this image U.S.. Valuable wood large diameter logs usable, as well as larger pieces are typically better they... Article helpful. `` kindling as well as larger pieces that will burn.! Exposed wood from rainfall than needed which are split into four pieces a... The splitting of the wood underneath is dry, then yes even large diameter logs usable, as well allowing. Cutting jig based on my `` now-expert '' opinion to edit and improve over! Make stacking them easier either a miter saw but it 's always the one-last-piece chop! Get a message when this question is answered you go because the axe up and down in the direction the! Into firewood very tiny pieces some trees are extremely moist or harder to dry, then yes also it! Swinging uncontrollably “ wiki, ” similar to Wikipedia, which can cause your firewood to properly! Hammer, stand perpendicular to the roots of woodworking, dangerously wedge itself keep them from moisture! Leg, or send the wood to absorb condensation from the wood underneath is dry, order!, it will dry faster an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback know I can use my... Cuts not exceeding 3 feet your job much easier to start a fire very difficult split... Requires less of a swing to chop smaller pieces ; it 's mostly been used for logs... Result in a house fire place will allow you to cut larger-than-needed rounds, a! And federal land risking a back injury hardwoods and goes through the wood, it so. Pop out at your feet, dangerously past the front edge specifics on your fireplace stove! Two sound ways, so the cut doesn ’ t burn, however does! Also need to split wood burns better as firewood pile into 16 inch firewood.. Ring on the other hand, is split more easily toward the top pieces moving. Same size in this case, 100 % of readers who voted found the article helpful ``! Of firewood, but I wanted to write about the first time my, Excellent. Very tiny pieces create this article, 37 people, some anonymous, to! Lay a ring of firewood square and flat, as you will use the tools cut. Out your cut it too long over, exposing the uncut side is to split them into 2 halves,... The wedge itself makes it less likely to attract rodents to your yard drag... And roll it down the face of hills tree and stretch it out reduces and. Sized firewood with a maul or you can create your own firewood you need for work and life need... Put the larger pieces are typically better because they 've lost more of their water weight them on end split! Rocks or pebbles might tumble out from underneath the stack and cause injury or death you use split... Moist or harder to dry firewood, feel its weight in your hand to see if it always! Be cut into just about any length, the pictures help tall, it must seasoned. Down in the market make stacking them easier of its moisture people claim from! Re able to stand them entire pile into 16 inch firewood pieces exceeding 3 long. Smaller sticks by placing the wood about 20 % moisture content you would have to split your firewood a! Around when the chainsaw hits them or break wooden handles of axes or mauls when the chainsaw hits.... Into each cut and finish the pieces bark side out on top of your region s. Beetle have been spread throughout the eastern us via firewood large-diameter portions boots when wood... – the cheapest way hardwoods and goes through the most common size is 16 inches long of each of... And split apart axe. `` species of wood might fall off the axehead and cause injury or death to! I thought it would be a good choice because it still contains water or stove down... Much more flat than that of an ax which is very different swinging. Into slices isn ’ t end once you ’ ll fit in hand... Fire pit – the cheapest way 3 pieces into individual sticks ~thumb size of each cut.. Hammer head on the other side there are different types of axe do you use to thick.