Do I need to split these?

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spacecowboyIV

New Member
Jun 22, 2010
129
Central VA
Hello again, have been working in our wooded area clearing out some dead, standing locust trees. I was splitting everything, but today a mix of laziness and insight hit me and I'm wondering if I need to split everything. I still split the really large rounds near the trunks, but left some of the medium size rounds (6 inches) unsplit. Does this make sense? I have been burning some of the splits and they are definitely dry, burning very hot with the air choked all the way down.

Here is a pic of some of the rounds
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0gPF0Wi78-A/TPKw4JMousI/AAAAAAAAABo/kSzGEGzs8DQ/s800/IMG_0808.JPG

On a side note, a friend who works for a tree service dropped of an oak tree a couple weeks ago (30" diameter at the 4' mark) finally got it split and stacked, a thing of beauty.....
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0gPF0Wi78-A/TPKw4unn3DI/AAAAAAAAABs/W3aD0dhUYyk/s800/IMG_0807.JPG

Thank you as always for the advice
 
Based on the description I wouldn't split them. That is a really nice load of hardwood there.
 
6" rounds of locust are perfect "allnighters".
 
I would probably do a test sampling and split a couple and do a moisture test.
Ash and locust are probably the only two I wouldn't think of splitting.
 
I would split them in half... Nice firewood!

Ray
 
raybonz said:
I would split them in half... Nice firewood!

Ray
Click to expand...
+1
I split everything that can be split, right down to 2" rounds.
 
+2 split pieces just seem to light up nice and fast when ya throw them in. i to split anything bigger than 2 inches
 
I would not split them, put them in the back of the box and they will burn for 10 hours. Split them and you will be lucky to get 5 hours.
 
I tend to split those bigger 6 inch ones in the morning and not in the afternoon.
:)

I have a smaller stove and it's tough to get a fire going with those big 6 incher round ones, but one or two isn't too bad, less so once there's some heat and coals in the box.
In a perfect world I'd split everything in half just because it seems I have better results that way.
But I get tired at the end of the day. and the end of the day seems to want to come sooner every year.
Gets easier to make exceptions. Especially when they're my rules to begin with. :)
 
Personal preference I guess. What ya like to have
 
Personally, i like to have a good mix between the small rounds for banking my stove at night and splits for, well anytime. You can always find a spot in your stove for both. Especially if your rounds are good and seasoned.
 
Locust my favorite wood. looks great and we love pictures thanks.
 
At that size 6" I'd personally split em in half. Just me though. Good wood though.
 
Having some rounds for overnight is good.
 
A good mix is alright. If the 6 " logs will season, take a break from splitting and use them for overnights. I usually split everything for seasoning and so my wife can pick them up one handed for loading the stove.

Nice pic's!
 
I like a mix of sizes. Most of the small stuff gets used in the early season. That said most of my wood is large pieces, as big as i can make them. When it's cold and the stove is hot with a bed of coals anything I ever put in the Oslo was consumed. Large wood increases the time between reloads. My rule is 6 inches rounds don't have to be split. Other than kindling, my smallest split would be half a 6 inch round.

This is my stove, with very seasoned wood , 3-5 years. Your stove may be different. Just make sure you have dry wood, hot stove and a sister wood in the stove.

Tom
 
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