Did some resplitting & restacking today

[BillsWS]

As a newby my learning curve is broadening. The opening on the BK Princess is plenty large but I decided that I left too many splits too large to comfortably handle them. I left some rounds 6 - 8" and found them just too clunkly to handle and pack in the stove. Today I blew a trail around behind the house and rolled the Super Split down there. Re-split and restacked about half of what I have left. When that is about gone, I will be able to finish what I have left for this year. I may resplit some of what I have drying for next year too. Going forward I will have a preference for what size to split right from the get go. Didn't mind the work today it was sunny and beautiful out.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

I always have a few too long and or too big around When cutting/splitting I eye some for stand alone couple of hour burners. I have one in my insert right now, it is by itself and holding the temp up well. It has been burning for 20 minutes and looks to worth at least another 40 minutes.

The temp outside is now about 27 and going toward single digits...the insert will run into the wee hours to keep my give my geo heat pump a rest - let the ground loop warm up. I'll get up early (that's 7 am for me) and fire the insert back up.

I don't try pack to burn for 8 hours or more - that may be best with many small splits than with a three or four big rounds.

When I was still burning anthracite coal in my coal stove I had that running all night...that was easy with coal.

 

[bogydave]

Got any pictures?
Difficult to visualize the size of splits you're after.
Blew a trail, means you have a lot of snow ?

 

[thewoodlands]

As a newby my learning curve is broadening. The opening on the BK Princess is plenty large but I decided that I left too many splits too large to comfortably handle them. I left some rounds 6 - 8" and found them just too clunkly to handle and pack in the stove. Today I blew a trail around behind the house and rolled the Super Split down there. Re-split and restacked about half of what I have left. When that is about gone, I will be able to finish what I have left for this year. I may resplit some of what I have drying for next year too. Going forward I will have a preference for what size to split right from the get go. Didn't mind the work today it was sunny and beautiful out.

We have the Lopi Liberty, we like it when we have some of each size and shape.

 

[ScotO]

over the years I've learned to make my splits smaller (largely due to the advice given here in these forums). It has paid dividends. The wood seasons faster AND better, I can get more wood in the stove with smaller splits, and I can get neater stacks out of it.

Anything over 6" diameter gets split.

 

[bboulier]

You always end up with some odd ones. I'm trying to clear off a pallet for some new wood. This pallet was the one where the uglies were hidden behind the front row. Right now I'm burning four chunky uglies. Given their shape, I can't tell you whether they are N/S or E/W. Since they are four across, I guess it must be N/S.

 

[BillsWS]

Got any pictures?
Difficult to visualize the size of splits you're after.
Blew a trail, means you have a lot of snow ?

I will see if I can get a pic or two tomorrow Dave. Maybe 12 - 14" of snow in the yard. It is 2:15 a.m. and I just reloaded. With the smaller splits I was able to pack the stove nice and tight N/S. It is so nice to know that one can improve with age, not just age

 

[Paulywalnut]

over the years I've learned to make my splits smaller (largely due to the advice given here in these forums). It has paid dividends. The wood seasons faster AND better, I can get more wood in the stove with smaller splits, and I can get neater stacks out of it.

Anything over 6" diameter gets split.

+1 on that. I split the few cords I had delivered this year to hold me over. I resplit all of it.
I really think it dries twice a fast. Not the oak, I seperated it and put it in my oak stacks.

 

[BobUrban]

I split small my first year to get wood as ready as possible. Now that I am working on year 4-5-6 I start small but by the end of a long splitting shift I always seem to split them larger - lazy I guess. I like to have a mix with some large square splits for overnights.

 

[Gasifier]

When I burned in the Pacific Energy Super 27 I learned to split everything down to a more managable size. Easier for packing the stove up at night and then set the "throttle" where needed. I still split fairly small for the gassification boiler. Like others have said, helps the wood season better and fast, and it helps keep a good bed of coals in the gassifier which is essential to keeping good gassification going. Best efficiency.

 

[Mitch Newton]

I split small my first year to get wood as ready as possible. Now that I am working on year 4-5-6 I start small but by the end of a long splitting shift I always seem to split them larger - lazy I guess. I like to have a mix with some large square splits for overnights.

The splits always get larger the longer the day goes.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I will see if I can get a pic or two tomorrow Dave. Maybe 12 - 14" of snow in the yard. It is 2:15 a.m. and I just reloaded. With the smaller splits I was able to pack the stove nice and tight N/S. It is so nice to know that one can improve with age, not just age

Wow Bill. That is not much snow for your area.

 

[Ralphie Boy]

I just recut about 1/2 of a rack, just under 1/2 cord, from open fireplace length of 24" down to insert length of 19". I took my seldge and drove my rack, with the wood in it, flush against the exterior wall of my house. I then tightened down a ratchet strap over the top of the wood and fired up the 441. Then I made a few upward cuts and next thing you know, 19" wood for the insert, and shorts for when I don't want an all day burn. Them shorts burn hot!

 

[BillsWS]

Mitch, I think that is what happend. Savage, yep, a strange year. Today it is raining. Wet heavy mess out there. I took on the rest of the pile yesterday so its done now. The splitter is back in the garage nice and dry and warm. Ralphie, love your ingenuity. Made me laugh besides banging the wood with the sledge hammer. Necessity is the mother....