Splitting Firewood

I love the warmth of an open fire or log burner. There is something about being nice and cosy in front a fireplace. The only problem with fireplaces is you need firewood. Now if you get wood that requires splitting this can be back breaking work. It can be made easier if you have the proper technique. This hub has steps on how to split firewood.

1. Cut your wood to length. You should cut your wood to the most efficient length for your purpose, in terms of both handling and storing it, as well as making it a suitable length for your application. Normal wood stoves and smaller fireplaces usually take a 16 to 20 inch (40 to 50 cm) log, and the shorter the log is, the more easily it will split.

* Try to cut the ends of each piece of firewood square and flat, as you will need to stand them on end to split them, and crooked cuts will make this difficult to do.

2. Set up a chopping block, usually a large section of the tree's trunk. This will be the surface you place individual logs on to split them, making it easier to swing your axe, and causing less strain on your back.

3. Make sure you are in a safe location, allowing for good footing, with no debris or overhanging limbs around where you will be working.

4. Place your first log on the chopping block. Make sure it is stable, and near the center if possible.

5. Look for large knots or places where a limb was removed when the wood was cut. These places will likely have very crooked, gnarly grain, which should be avoided if possible.

6. Look for hairline cracks in the log. You should aim so that the blade of your ax or maul runs in the same direction as the crack.

7. Choose the location you want to split the log, stand with your axe resting on that location, and set your feet properly. This will place you in a stance that will allow you to swing the axe with great force and accuracy, both of which will be required to successfully split the log.

8. Bring your axe over the shoulder of your dominant hand, gripping with both hands securely, then swing it down hard, into the block of wood. Your control and balance will greatly improve if you start with your stronger hand towards the head of the maul - as you swing down towards the log this hand will slide down toward the end of the handle to meet your weaker hand.

9. Pull the axe bit out of the log if the wood fails to split on the first swing. You may have to pull and twist it hard to remove it, if the bit is sunk deeply and stuck in the wood. Rock the axe bit up and down to work it out of the wood; do not rock it side to side there is a chance of breaking the handle when rocking the handle side to side.

10. Repeat your swing into the wood, attempting to strike in exactly the same place as the first time, or along the length of any crack which appeared when you hit it.

11. Continue the previous steps until either the wood splits, or you choose to give up. If your wood is very knotty, twisted, or tight-grained, you may have to use a splitting maul or even a hammer and steel wedge to succeed.

12. Split each block of wood into progressively smaller pieces, until they are the desired size. Normally, you will split the block in half, then each half will be split again, until the pieces are about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) in their largest cross section.

13. Stack the split wood where air can circulate around it to allow it to season thoroughly before it is burned in a wood stove or fireplace. Cover it to prevent rain from repeatedly wetting it, which will cause it to rot, but do so in a manner which still allows good air circulation.