What's the smallest rounds you guys keep?

My favorite pieces are the ones between 5" & 20" inches, I don't split the 5" pieces, the 10" rounds just cut in half, the 15" rounds get split into thirds and the 20" rounds get quartered. I love it all

maple1 said:

That seems like a bit of a waste. There'd be a lot of wood in a top that was 20" at the bottom. Most trees I cut aren't that big. Situational perspective, I guess.

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Depends... what is left in the wood is beneficial for the ecosystem so it's not really "a waste", it's just not being used for firewood. If he has a surplus of available wood in his area there is nothing wrong with being picky and taking only what he prefers. While I don't agree with his choice, I support his right to do what he wants with it...

kennyp2339 said:

My favorite pieces are the ones between 5" & 20" inches, I don't split the 5" pieces, the 10" rounds just cut in half, the 15" rounds get split into thirds and the 20" rounds get quartered. I love it all

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You must have a pretty big firebox whatever you're burning in...

BK princess

maple1 said:

That seems like a bit of a waste. There'd be a lot of wood in a top that was 20" at the bottom. Most trees I cut aren't that big. Situational perspective, I guess.

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True, but if I spend my time processing tops, I'd have to leave the trunks to rot! I'm limited by time, and run out of wood before I run out of winter, every year. Also, there is more wood down from Sandy than the firewood burning population of our area will ever have hope of burning, before it rots. The eye of that storm passed directly over us, think mass casualties (for trees).

I get what your saying, plus from other posts you have a nice big tractor for skidding, If I was in your situation I would probably be doing the same thing. I have a nice patch of wood directly behind the house + - 30 acres, I go with the quad and dump cart to pick up wood, so the smaller pieces work for me.

CountryBoy19 said:

Often times there isn't a great deal of limbing until you get down to the 2-3" mark and from there I just make a snap judgement call as to how much work it's going to take to get the rest of the wood.

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Very much this. I'll usually go for anything wrist sized or bigger, but if there's tons of small twigs coming off, I'll leave it be. Conversely, if its still straight and clean, I'll keep going smaller and further up the tree.

I find I can stuff the smaller pieces in around the bigger ones to get my firebox really full and extend burn times with the air cut down.

1 inch and up - my stove seems to perform much better when the fire is built on small diameter pieces loaded NS

It depends. If I have limited time and more wood than I can collect, I don't take smaller stuff because taking big stuff (more than 6 inches or so) I get more wood per hour. If I have lots of time but not unlimited wood, I take everything down to an inch diameter, provided it is somewhat straight. Collecting small diameter wood is more time consuming than larger stuff. One 16" round has as much wood and dozens of 1" rounds.

I have built lots of nice fires with very small diameter wood, so everything is worth collecting provided I have time.

2-3" is were I stop for heating wood. I the small branch rounds for campfire wood. Who cares if that burns dirty and fizzes.

When we moved in our house 2 years ago I started clearing 5+ years of neglect on our 2 acre lot. I took out 15+ hedges that were over 30 feet tall. The slash went to yard waste at the dump and I kept everything 1 1/2" and larger for my wood stove. Usually I like the big rounds - the bigger the better. It all looks the same when it comes out of the stove.

I leave the tops at around 2-3 inch, then every couple of years ( this will be one ) go back and cut up the canopies. Loads of dry wood to use as shoulder burning or to cram in for overnight / all day. There is a lot of work but I hate to leave free wood to rot, a truck load will last a long time ( 1/4 - 1/3 cord ) which is why I do every couple of years. Of course there is always camping and fire pits to fill.

bob