Ideal steel split size?

[Babaganoosh]

I'll be getting the ideal steel hybrid in the next month or so. All my wood now is cut to 16. I've read that it takes 22 max. To me that means cut to 20 or are the 22 inch pieces easy to get in there?

I think I read to cut to 18 for north/south so maybe just cut to 18 and call it good?

Also any one know if I should split them on the larger side or just go with the standard mix of medium with some big and small?

 

[kennyp2339]

Better get the glue out.. lol but in all seriousness I like to float around the 16" - 18" anything bigger and you have to load exactly / carefully, if you burning mixed wood types or have knots in some pieces they can burn at a different rate so when you reload you may have some chunks left in the firebox, If all the lengths are the same and to the max you may not be able to fit a full load in there, you def want so room to work with smaller lengths.

 

[Babaganoosh]

I think I'm going to start cutting to 18. I'd like to cut to 20 but that just seems huge for some reason. Apparently it's not since the stove can take 22, maybe I'm just resistant to change.

 

[Fastdonzi]

if it has a glass door and you're loading N/S you'd rather not have ends up close to the glass, if it will take 22", 18" may be prime....and No risk of breaking the glass.. I can do 22" but am cutting 18" just for that reason...

 

[JA600L]

22" Fits fine east and west.

For north and south, you want to stay 18" or smaller to clear the andirons. Once you get above them its not as critical.

Last winter I found the stove seems to burn a little more complete when burning north and south. East and west seemed to cause more coal build up.