What size and shape do you make your splits?

[bobdog2o02]

I like to make trianlges, dont know why. I try to keep each side less than 5". I found i can season oak in about 1.5 yrs with this side and shape. Since i dont have a whole lot of property to store wood i need to season fast and move to the wood bin. What sizes and shapes do you make your fire fodder.

 

[red oak]

I like to make triangles too, I think just because that's how I learned. For the fastest seasoning just get it off the ground, stack in single rows, and top-cover. The smaller the pieces the faster they will split, but it is good to have some medium and larger pieces on hand for longer burn times. The advantage of rectangular pieces is that it is easier to crib the ends so that your stacks are straighter.

 

[brant2000]

I never knew there was really a choice in shapes. I always start by halving the log right down the center, and then usually either halving or tri-secting each half.

 

[Clyde S. Dale]

I don't try for shapes, I just split and whatever happens, happens. The norm is triangles and squares/rectangles.

 

[bobdog2o02]

I never knew there was really a choice in shapes. I always start by halving the log right down the center, and then usually either halving or tri-secting each half.

I'm working a 36" hickory right now. I could make 16X16X16 cubes if i wanted.....

 

[STIHLY DAN]

I like squares, and rectangles. I believe they stack and burn better.

 

[Applesister]

One of my "winning the lottery" dreams is to own a marvin fireview cookstove. And a friend of mine who introduced me to them said with the small fireboxes on wood cookstoves, the best wood is small rounds. Because they burn slower. And I know you guys are gonna say its because they dont dry as well as splits.
Since we are talking shapes. I thought Id mention circles.
I was thrilled when I came across the gangbox designs here. Im lovin it.

 

[Applesister]

I know they arent called gangboxes but...those wooden contraptions to hold alot of limbs.

 

[ailanthus]

Is ugly a shape? I end up with lots of those.

I prefer squares for smaller E/W fireboxes like mine.

 

[Jags]

Rounds up to about 20" get the triangle treatment, but when I get hold of large rounds I like to block them out as much as possible. I can get a much more compacted load in the stove with square/rectangle blocks than I can with round or triangle.

 

[bobdog2o02]

Rounds up to about 20" get the triangle treatment, but when I get hold of large rounds I like to block them out as much as possible. I can get a much more compacted load in the stove with square/rectangle blocks than I can with round or triangle.

I don't like round either. To much wasted space. My triangles end up being mostly the same size and shape somehow. It's nice for the wife to handle and easy to tetris then in the stove for a big solid load.

 

[arngnick]

Wood Shaped...

 

[BEConklin]

Need I say more?

 

[Razo]

Wow, impressive stacking there Conk, I do the same as brant2000, just half it than half the halves, and then half the half of the halves if they are still big. It's exponential my dear Watson.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Your sizes sound pretty close to ours. I do split square or rectangular as much as possible like BEConklin.

 

[Woody Stover]

I make all different shapes. But yeah, I got burned last year stacking some dead Ash. Split 'em too big and they didn't get quite dry enough.

 

[CenterTree]

I split into OVALS.

Seriously. How can ya split and NOT get triangles. I know ya can get some squares in the middle, but ya GOTTA have SOME triangle, unless you are starting with a SQUARE tree, right?

 

[Seanm]

One of my "winning the lottery" dreams is to own a marvin fireview cookstove. And a friend of mine who introduced me to them said with the small fireboxes on wood cookstoves, the best wood is small rounds. Because they burn slower. And I know you guys are gonna say its because they dont dry as well as splits.
Since we are talking shapes. I thought Id mention circles.
I was thrilled when I came across the gangbox designs here. Im lovin it.

Im with you applesister on liking rounds. I believe they burn slower as well. I prefer rounds for day burning but l like squared off for overnight burns so I can get them packed in good and tight.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Like the look of BE's. I like 5 inch triangles and keep squared off splits for ends.

 

[BrotherBart]

Love me as many big thick Oak slabs as I can make. Lets me put a whole bunch of Oak in the 30-NC at one time and gives a long even burn.

 

[KindredSpiritzz]

I flail away til they are small enough to fit in the stove, whatever shape they happen to end up is always a mystery

 

[osagebow]

I do Hypocycloids - they stack nice and allow air circulation. Curving my fiskars blade was difficult but worth it .

 

[bobdog2o02]

Too many good responses, this is what i was hoping for when starting this thread......hypocycloids, awesome.

 

[aussiedog3]

I can fit a 24" round in my splitter and 24" splits in my big 'ol insert.
So I split them to the max size that I think my wife and kids will help load in the stove and haul to the stove.
Usually lots of triangles, half rounds, but I try to make some nice rectangles and squares from big rounds, for cribbing ends when stacking.
I scrounge everything I burn so a lot of times things are not pretty, so lot of shorts, crotches, etc. resulting in fun to burn uglies.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Too many good responses, this is what i was hoping for when starting this thread......hypocycloids, awesome.

Tough to get a real serious answer sometimes.