Cut it to fit?

DianeB · Jun 19, 2013

got a great deal on 2 cut/split cords well seasoned wood. Problem is that much of it is 22-24 inches. Our stove max size is 20 (Castine) and I think 18 inches probably best.

Should we just cut each piece in 1/2 or should we just take of 4-6 inches? Maybe quicker to just eye ball and but it half but wondered about the other approach and using the smaller pieces at the time we start the fire? Any advice? thanks in advance!

WellSeasoned · Jun 19, 2013

I would cut off 6" and not in half if I were doing it for my castine. That way 18" would fit east west (18" is perfect) and the remaining 6" would fit north south, which is perfect. There are a few threads on here showing a special rack to cut that way. Be well.

Woody Stover · Jun 19, 2013

Yeah, you need a rack so you can cut many splits at once, or you'll be at it forever.

bogydave · Jun 19, 2013

DianeB said:
. Our stove max size is 20 (Castine) and I think 18 inches probably best.

Should we just cut each piece in 1/2 or should we just take of 4-6 inches? Maybe quicker to just eye ball and but it half but wondered about the other approach and using the smaller pieces at the time we start the fire? Any advice? thanks in advance!

If you cut it in 1/2 you'd have
Twice as many wrong size pieces for your stove.

Might have trouble with getting long burn times & getting full loads.

I'd cut to 18" & use the smaller chunks for shoulder season wood.
Split some for kindling

midwestcoast · Jun 19, 2013

When I got a bunch of Sycamore all cut long like that from a tree company I re-sawed it all on my miter saw. Setup a stop for my stove length & it went pretty quick.

Applesister · Jun 20, 2013

18" +6" also. Longer split pieces are also easier to stack than the shorties.

f3cbboy · Jun 20, 2013

I ususally opt to cut off the min amount that will allow the split to fit the stove. I scournge 100% of my wood and have to cut every piece usually (in the rounds). I stack in long rows 20-25 ft adn shorties tend to fall over easier. My 10 yr old stacks better than me! But, i get at least a month of heating from the uglies that i cut off every round.

firefighterjake · Jun 20, 2013

Time to make some chunks . . .

Another vote for lopping off just a few inches and not cutting them in half.

Jon1270 · Jun 20, 2013

This past winter I chopped about 1/8 cord down to 14" so I could try N-S loading, and that left me with a few fires worth of random-length offcuts. The small pieces burned well. Might be worth noting that the wood I had last winter wasn't as dry as it should've been, which may have made up for the extra surface area and prevented it from getting too hot too fast.

ansehnlich1 · Jun 20, 2013

i say cut it as long as your stove will take, burn the chunks on weekends when you're around the house.

DianeB · Jun 20, 2013

All great answers - thanks guys. Now the hunt for the post that contained info on making the rack to cut mutiple splits at the same time.

ScotO · Jun 20, 2013

Diane, I'd cut a "cookie "of a couple inches off of the splits so they will fit your stove, and throw the cookies in on top of the wood when loading it. you can use a homemade "sawbuck" (lots of posts on this site about how to easily make one of those) to cut the ends off of the wood. I wouldn't cut them in half.....

ScotO · Jun 20, 2013

DianeB said:
All great answers - thanks guys. Now the hunt for the post that contained info on making the rack to cut mutiple splits at the same time.

Talk to MasterMech.....he had a great video on his rack. I'm sure if you PM'ed him, he'd share it with you....

mywaynow · Jun 21, 2013

Had the same issue when I changed stoves, exactly the same issue. Most wood was 22-24 inches and large splits. While I did not change the split sizes, I did cut down the length using my garden wagon. See pics. Made it a one step process; load wagon like normal, cut in wagon and bring to house. I would use a wagon load a day. Had the ability to store 2 days worth at a time. That meant I was cutting every other day. That may sound like a pain, but I liked keeping the saw in fresh condition. The stubs make for great warmer temp fuel. They dont burn as quickly due to the fact that the air can't find a straight path to run down. I have 10-15 more cords to do this to. Ran my garden wagon into the ground though; bearing shot on 2 wheels, steering linkage junk. Would not buy one again, but would make a similary unit that could handle the load.

WellSeasoned · Jun 21, 2013

mywaynow said:
Had the same issue when I changed stoves, exactly the same issue. Most wood was 22-24 inches and large splits. While I did not change the split sizes, I did cut down the length using my garden wagon. See pics. Made it a one step process; load wagon like normal, cut in wagon and bring to house. I would use a wagon load a day. Had the ability to store 2 days worth at a time. That meant I was cutting every other day. That may sound like a pain, but I liked keeping the saw in fresh condition. The stubs make for great warmer temp fuel. They dont burn as quickly due to the fact that the air can't find a straight path to run down. I have 10-15 more cords to do this to. Ran my garden wagon into the ground though; bearing shot on 2 wheels, steering linkage junk. Would not buy one again, but would make a similary unit that could handle the load.

Good idea!

jeff_t · Jun 21, 2013

Make one of these. I made it about 2" shorter than max, in case I don't cut straight

HDRock · Jun 22, 2013

You can make the Same basic thing I made, just make it smaller, made this from pallet wood

WellSeasoned · Jun 22, 2013

Nice rack

Cut it to fit?

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