Best way to (pre)cut large tree into firewood

[Moe Ron]

I recently bought a home where the previous homeowner had someone cut down two large trees but ran out of cash and couldn't pay to have the wood hauled away. I am trying to find the best way to cut the wood into pieces of firewood. There are about 20 large pieces of wood (about 16 inches thick and the biggest is about 36 inch diameter) as well as smaller logs from the branches laying in a large pile in the backyard. One of the former trees has probably been dead for a while since some of the large pieces have a 6 inch hole in the center. The trees were cut about a year ago and have sat in the elements since then. I don't currently own a chainsaw or a log-splitter and am searching for rental equipment that will do the job. Are there certain things i should look for in the equipment? Hints to make it easier on me? This will be my first time trying to do a job this big, only campground firewood experience.

 

[Roospike]

Post an ad for your town or here for free firewood needs cut and taken away and then it wont cost you anything except maybe the ad . I would guess if you wanted to use it your self you would maybe have a chainsaw already but you posted you didnt.

 

[MarkM]

For those big pieces, I'd recommend getting a heavy duty maul and a few steel splitting wedges. I would split them in half or quarters and then you could either use the splitting maul to take smaller pieces off, or rent a vertical log splitter. It's amazing what a few strategically placed wedges will do. Depending on the type of wood, of course.

 

[WarmGuy]

I've been splitting up rounds from this Monterey pine, using the equipment shown.

I work my way around the edges. Sometimes the ax will take off a piece, but more often I need the wedges. Make sure you have at least two wedges, because sometimes they just sink into the wood without causing much splitting.

Avoid knots (From branches) as much as possible. If there is a big knot, try to split down throught the center of it.

If you haven't done wood like this, you'll have trouble at first, but it gets a lot easier after a while.