What Do You Think About Splitting Real Small?

Smaller is ok, and you can pack in more wood which is always a plus. But if you go shorter then the stove is designed for, you are cheating yourself out of those extra btu's per load. I always cut to near max length(for my stove that's 22-23"), and split a 50/50 ratio of small vs medium sized splits.

Lots of small splits gives you a much faster burning load (more surface area exposed to air and heat) and more BTU's per hour, shorter burn time. Good when it is really cold out. As long as you can control your stove and keep it from taking off with a full load of small splits. Perhaps a good option to have some if your wood is less than optimal...it will dry pretty quickly inside near the fire, especially if a fan is blowing on it...

Good point about managing a burn with small splits....how small are we talking?

I usually try and have a mix of both. Put 2 large splits and a few small to take up the gaps. My stove goes wild if I load it up with a bunch of small stuff.

You might as well buy slab wood.

mellow said:

You might as well buy slab wood.

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This requires explanation. Rather than take that large split and cut it in half or thirds, one should buy something else to burn

He is talking about slabs off a sawmill. I have a mill and burn slabs all the time. If you stack them flat on top of each other they are not much different then a split, but if you jumble them up and leave some space between them that burn a lot faster.

Motor7 said:

He is talking about slabs off a sawmill. I have a mill and burn slabs all the time. If you stack them flat on top of each other they are not much different then a split, but if you jumble them up and leave some space between them that burn a lot faster.

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Of course slabs burn fine. I was just curious why he would advise someone to buy slabs rather than split their own wood small.

Slab wood is cheap and is already in thin cuts, if you want it thinner then just buy that instead of taking the extra time to split small.

I like smaller splits, especially for small fires, especially during the shoulder seasons. like them too when you need to get the stove up fast and the room heated up if the stove happened to go out or you go away for a day or two.

I like having a mix of small medium and large splits. I also always have minding on hand to get things going when needed.

Minding = Kindling?

rideau said:

Minding = Kindling?

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minding is the Olde English version of kindling.

Grrr. I've got 3 cords of small splits. Can't wait to get some larger splits seasoned and into the stove. The small splits burn hot...and fast. Not particularly useful for overnight burns, and I've got small firebox too... (1.8 cubic feet).

All wood kiln dried wood that's available here is about 12 inch, perfect size fot NS loading in my oslo.

But it disappears mighty fast, although it is oak.

Would love to fill here with some full length sized splits.

I like smaller splits. I go about 18" long and around 2x4 or 4x4 size. I can pack the Fireview very full with them and reloads are nice and quick with small splits. I have no problem controlling the fire either. I have been burning lots of Black Locust the last few years and smaller splits help with BL's tendency to be hard slow to ignite. Small splits also dry faster. Not to mention that smaller splits are easier for Mrs. Flatbedford to handle as she does the bulk of the stove loading during the day.

begreen said:

The Europeans (we're talking millions of people here) split according to their needs and size of the stove.

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Europeans. I'm always seeing pictures of them in their suits, hunched over, going up and down hills with enormous loads of firewood strapped on their backs. I don't know if I would look to them for good burning practices. The Americas have the great forests and we burn with gusto. Half the time, the Europeans are burning peat, or something worse. They don't don't even drive on the right side of the road.

That LZ pic was the one I had in mind, but I've seen a few others, too. No doubt this is (mostly was) a common way to tote loads. I actually do split small, probably similar to the Europeans mentioned. I also split a variety of widths, so there's small to start loads with. The Summit seems to close down enough to not take off with a full load of smalls.