How to Cut Firewood
For furnaces and fireplaces, there’s no substitute for freshly cut firewood. The pleasant smell and the high heating value of firewood makes it an ideal fuel for homes and small industries. Cutting firewood to just the right size and dimensions can have a significant effect on the heating value of firewood.
What to Look For in Firewood
Most firewood available already comes cut to the right portions for a furnace or a firebox. If you plan on gathering and cutting your own firewood, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Seasoning. The best firewood is deadfall from the forest floor that has not yet begun to rot. Deadfall is pretty much dry, and will keep well in a shed or stack.
Resin and moisture content. Bone-dry firewood may ignite easily, but it does not have the heating value of firewood that still contains a small amount of resin and moisture. Make sure that you’re not picking and cutting resinous wood, because toxic fumes will be released if you burn it.
Size. Firewood for furnaces and fireplaces should be cut just the right size for steady, even burning. The size of the firewood depends on the size of the firebox, fireplace, or the furnace. The key to maximizing the heating value of firewood is to chop the fuel into pieces that burn as evenly and efficiently as possible.
Tools
If you’re going to cut your own firewood the old-fashioned way, you need the following tools:
A sharp axe (splitting wedge)
Chopping block
Nylon cord
Firewood
Protective equipment (goggles, leather apron, non-slip gloves)
Steps
Wear goggles and an apron to prevent splinters from catching your clothes or skin. You may also want to wear gloves while handling an axe, but you don’t have to use gloves if you feel that you don’t have a good grip on the handle.
Balance the piece of wood on the chopping block. Check the wood for knots or cracks; you want to hit the spot on the wood that is easiest to cut across.
Sharpen the axe if necessary.
Practice wielding the axe. Hold the butt-end of the handle firmly with one hand and position the other hand near the end of the axe. Practice sliding the hand near the base of the axe along the length of the handle as you swing the tool down; that way, you can get maximum force.
Assume a wide stance to give yourself stability and leverage. Raise the axe above your head, and swing downward, aiming at that particular spot on the wood. Let your loose hand slide down the length of the handle as the bit of the axe comes down the wood. The wood should then split cleanly right down the middle.
Do the same for the rest of the pieces of firewood, and then bundle the split pieces together with nylon cord.
Chopping wood may seem to be difficult, but it has to be done if you need a source of fuel for your wood-powered furnaces or fireplace. With these tips, chopping cords and bundles of firewood becomes easy and efficient.