Cutting log lengths for my stove....

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mwhitnee

Minister of Fire
Jun 10, 2015
586
Central Mass, USA
I have a Blaze King King being installed tomorrow! Recommended Fuel length is 17” - 18” (432 mm - 458 mm)

I'm having 9 trees cut down at my property(too close to everything for me to do). They are cutting the wood to length.

I was going to cut wooden stakes and spray paint them so the cutters can have a guide to cut it to the right length as I heard they can get a little sloppy. Question is, what length would you cut the guides to?
 
16 is what I cut. Why not just let them fell them and you buck them up? That way you have control of the length
I hope you already have some good seasoned wood in the 20% range for the winter or you're gonna play hell. I know I did the first year and it was very frustrating
 
Not that I'm afraid of hard work, but it's a lot of wood and having them do it is not costing a lot.

Should hopefully be between 4-6 cords.

I'm working on this year's wood. You can see my "worried about wood" post.
 
That's great. Sorry, Wasn't implying you was. That's a good supply

No offense taken.

I'm interested in the amount of wood ill get, as in my other post I'm hoping some of the dead wood being cut (cherry)has dried a bit and ill be able to burn some, but I'm doubtful at this point.

I'm really just sick of worrying about it lol. Ill figure out something. :eek:
 
I cut my wood 20" so I cut a 1"x1" piece of wood 40" and painted the ends and the middle and use that as a guide. I usually mark the tree with a piece of chalk before I buck it. Maybe you can mark it for them to make it easier.
 
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This. They probably won't use a guide even if you provide them with one.

I'd be willing to bet you're right. Mark the trees prior, or ask them if you can move in with a tape and spray can to mark them quickly before they buck it.
 
Make the stick 16" and ask if you can step in and mark them with paint or chalk. Mark as fast as you can as to not slow them down. I say 16" because you will still end up with some at 17 or a little more do to them not being precise with the saw.
 
Make the stick 16" and ask if you can step in and mark them with paint or chalk. Mark as fast as you can as to not slow them down. I say 16" because you will still end up with some at 17 or a little more do to them not being precise with the saw.

Looks like they are cutting down first and cutting to length later. Ill try and mark the logs.
 
My gut tells me if you ask them more than once or bug them or look over their shoulders you're gonna get a bunch of +21" rounds on purpose. ;) . Or not - but a fine line between trying to help vs trying to tell a hired guy how to do his job. Maybe im a bit paranoid but its like sending food back to the kitchen in a restaurant. If these guys are cool then no worries. I like the idea of marking them and staying out of their way - they might appreciate that. I wouldn't sweat a few that are too long - easy it fix in a few minutes with the saw.
 
My stove can take a max 24" split. I try to cut mine at 22", when I have time I use a tape measure and upside down marking paint. If not I have marks on my saws roughly 22" so if it winds up 23" it's no biggie. Plus cutting bigger rounds at 22" can be a bear to move around so I make them no heavier than I have to
 
Just tell them to cut it to firewood length. If they are any good they already know what that means.
 
I agree with JA600L they will know what to do but could always just ask that they keep pieces under 18 inches
 
They did a great job. Used the stick with a little left over on the end and either spray painted spots holding it up to the wood or just held it up to the wood and notched it. It's all down and cut nicely.
 
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There's the progress...
 

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