What is considered the perfect size split for wood stoves & inserts?

[jscs.moore]

I have been using a local wood supplier who has a great reputation for delivering high quality hard woods (oak, ash, hickory, etc.) with very little junk in it. I understand that they cut all the wood with some kind of large industrial type wood processor that cuts all splits to a 16" length.

However, even though the splits are cut to 16" inches in length they are often very large 16x10, 16x8, etc. The problem is when you are dealing with oak, for example, it takes much longer to season the splits so I end up taking my axe and splitting them down to about 16x4 or even 16x3?

But what is considered the perfect size split for a wood stove or insert. I understand this depends on the size of the firebox...but I'm referring to splits for the average size firebox?

 

[Woodsplitter67]

My Firebox takes up to22 inch. But i cut all 18in lenths. I generally split all sizes, because that is the perfect size
I use ....
6 to 7 in at night for overnight burns
3 to 5 for during the day when home
1 to 2 to reignite from coles or to start up.
One thickness doesn't work. Some of your wood may need to be resplit. If your box is bigger 16 may be on the small size
I just did a post on solar kiln drying. Your thicker wood will dry muck quicker that way.

 

[Sconnie Burner]

I generally split so the end fills the grip of my hand but so I can still pick it up. Wedges are 4-5" at the widest point. Plenty are split smaller too around 3" as those will fill gaps even have a few that are smaller yet. Large isn't always best if you can only fit a couple in the stove. Best to be able to pack them tight with small air gaps for a more controlled burn.

 

[TheAardvark]

After a few years with my insert I have started cutting at 13 inches for north - south loading. Its easier to pack it full that way.

 

[armanidog]

18 inches long for me.
8-16 inches diameter, I split in half.
Larger than 16 inches I split into quarters/eighths depending the diameter.
For the buttress part of the trunk on large trunks I cut them 10 inches long and split them in halves or quarters so I can stuff them in the stove upright or sideways..

 

[jscs.moore]

My Firebox takes up to22 inch. But i cut all 18in lenths. I generally split all sizes, because that is the perfect size
I use ....
6 to 7 in at night for overnight burns
3 to 5 for during the day when home
1 to 2 to reignite from coles or to start up.
One thickness doesn't work. Some of your wood may need to be resplit. If your box is bigger 16 may be on the small size
I just did a post on solar kiln drying. Your thicker wood will dry muck quicker that way.

Thanks...this makes sense to me. I'm trying to keep a mix of sizes, especially some larger splits for overnight burns, etc. Also like the idea of cutting some 1 to 2 for reigniting from coles...haven't really cut specifically for this reason.

 

[D8Chumley]

I cut all mine to around 22”, stove will take 24” supposedly. I split 4-6” as it will sit for 3+ years before I get to it, and I can always split it smaller later if I need to

 

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

15 3/4".

 

[firefighterjake]

I use a variety of size splits . . . smaller ones are great for getting a fire started or when I want to really pack in the firebox and use every available space for that long, cold winter night . . . mid-size splits are my all-around, every-day wood . . . and the large ones (I often try to split these up into large rectangles or squares) are for the long, overnight burns.

If I can pick up a round with one hand I generally leave it unsplit . . .the exception being white birch which I split quite small.

That said . . . I find that the longer I split the less picky I am with the size splits and towards the end all splits tend to be on the large size.

 

[hickoryhoarder]

It depends on the stove and person. I like 15-16 inches for our stove. We're looking for purty fires, only three hours long, and don't heat overnight, so I re-split a lot of the wood I buy. More manageable for me. And does season quicker. We claim we could sell videos of our fires to Hollywood to use in movies.

The longer I've had the stove, the more I've honed in on what works for this stove and this household. I'm very careful not to buy from someone who has lots of 17 or 18 inchers. Not easy in this particular stove. On the other hand, I tell them if they want to get rid of some 13 or 14 inchers, just put them in my load.

 

[heavy hammer]

Anywhere from 18 to 24 inch long, then splitting all ranges for different burns quick burns, overnight etc. Plus the smaller the quicker it dries. Most of my wood sits for two to three years. I still have some locust over five if it's not cold it can sit.

 

[pen]

The size splits my wife is willing to handle.

I am happy that she is willing to keep the stove going at times I am away so a slightly smaller size than I would do just for myself greases the wheels and makes her happy.

 

[Paulywalnut]

I like to split ash in squared off pieces. Everything I split I want to be able to grab with on hand. My woodstove will take up to 19", but I prefer 16". 3 - 8 ft. Stacks is a perfect cord.I don't sell any but I like to know how much I have.

 

[enchant]

I feel a lot better reading these posts. I recently had a cord of split seasoned (yaright) wood delivered. I don't have the room for a full on gas splitter, but I've got a little electric for making kindling and resplitting oversized pieces. My usual supplier was out, so I had to go with someone he recommended. I had to resplit a good 20% of the wood, and I was starting to feel like a real pansy. Maybe Real Men (tm) want the larger sizes. But I just measured some of my biggest pieces and I'm up around 8" or so. The stuff I was resplitting was well over that. Maybe these would be good for overnight burns in very large stoves that you'd find in the backwoods of Maine, but I'm in a city suburb. I think he just got lazy with the splitter.

 

[Bad LP]

18-20 inch long.
A wide range of sizes on the splits because I feed a wood insert and a wood boiler.

 

[Dobish]

the further ahead i get, the bigger the splits get

 

[Tar12]

Now that I am way ahead....my oak splits are going to be in the 8-10 in range for those nights when I want to push the stove a little harder when its in the teens at night. The smaller stuff I have on hand I will burn through the day and on the weekends