To split or not to split that is the question...

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Gotrek

Burning Hunk
Nov 20, 2014
242
Manitoba
Whether it is nobler in the mind.....


Anyways. I received a bunch of pine logs (8-10ft in length) a truck loads worth. Nothing fancy; pine, but I started splitting it as per the routine and got to wondering. There is more then I will use this winter (probably enough for 2-3 years).

Should I split and stack all of it or am I better to keep some of it around as logs. The wood is already very dry 10-14% moisture content. It's mostly all debarked fire killed or pine beetle killed.

Does it preserve better whole or cut and split?
 
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Plus I need the exercise :) I'm two cords in so far I enjoy the splitting more then bucking them with the chainsaw. I think I'm going to buy a long bar (48")for my big saw so I can buck 6 - 8 logs in one shot :)

My Stihl 026 makes bucking fun 'cause it hardly weighs anything and cuts logs like it's possessed. That's bucking fun!
 
Whether it is nobler in the mind.....


Anyways. I received a bunch of pine logs (8-10ft in length) a truck loads worth. Nothing fancy; pine, but I started splitting it as per the routine and got to wondering. There is more then I will use this winter (probably enough for 2-3 years).

Should I split and stack all of it or am I better to keep some of it around as logs. The wood is already very dry 10-14% moisture content. It's mostly all debarked fire killed or pine beetle killed.

Does it preserve better whole or cut and split?
Split it. Anything less is just procrastination.
 
Ugh its almost July and....

Glad I split a lot already... it's 60 in the house only 43 outside...

[Hearth.com] To split or not to split that is the question...

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Where in Manitoba are you?
 
Funny that's what I own as well. I do love it its a great saw. But like splitting more :)

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My 026 and I haven't run into anything we can't handle.
Had it at least 20 years

One of the truly great mid-sized saws. I can't believe how durable it is and how the compression/power/reliability haven't suffered at all in 20 years of cutting. I did replace the sparkplug once (not that it needed it but I figured after 12-13 years it was time). Three or four years ago I needed to replace the fuel pick-up and I wore a drive sprocket out but, other than that, the powerhead and two Rollomatic bars have been trouble free. Pretty good considering about all it has seen is 10% ethanol and a 50:1 oil mix and it remains fueled up more often than run dry.

A few weeks ago I added a Stihl MS 261 C-M to my fleet of one. I think this is the first 50cc saw since the 026 was introduced that bests it. For a while the new saw designs were getting heavier and losing power but the 261 with it's M-tronic brain is more powerful, smoother and, while I've never had trouble starting the 026, it's easier starting. The MS 261 M-C is as perfect a saw as I've ever used and it only weighs a few ounces more than the 026.
 
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Funny that's what I own as well. I do love it its a great saw. But like splitting more :)

Splitting and bucking both have their charms but I think bucking edges out for me because that's when I'm actually scoring the wood and loading it in my truck. I also like the problem solving/creativity of bucking. Depending upon how the tree is laying, I need to figure out how to buck it up with the least effort/danger.
 
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Half done... (well that's a lie, what I mean is, of the two piles I had, one pile is done, the smaller pile)

5 cords stacked so far (picture taken just before I finished splitting and staking what's on the ground) The other pile is probably 6-7 more cords, I'm running out of room but this should last me 2 years maybe even 3.
[Hearth.com] To split or not to split that is the question...
 
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Half done... (well that's a lie, what I mean is, of the two piles I had, one pile is done, the smaller pile)

5 cords stacked so far (picture taken just before I finished splitting and staking what's on the ground) The other pile is probably 6-7 more cords, I'm running out of room but this should last me 2 years maybe even 3.
View attachment 198380

What do you burn those in? Some pieces on the left look like they're over two feet long!

I consciously try to force myself to cut shorter because it's easier to load and seasons noticeably quicker.
 
Optical illusion everything is 16-18" I kept some longer stuff for outside but its out of view and some shorter 12" stove for my stove in the shop.

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