How to chop wood correctly, cutting and preparing firewood

Chopping wood for a fireplace or sauna stove will not be a tedious task if you prepare well for the task and master the correct technique.

Where and how to chop wood

A well-organized place for splitting firewood is an area the size of which is sufficient for the scattering of logs and the swing of a cleaver. There should be compacted earth or thick concrete under your feet, and free space above your head, sufficient to lift the tool with outstretched arms. The splitting logs are placed on a stable log - a wide, uncracked knee-high hemp, preferably with knots and ornate wood.

A professional view of the preparation of firewood separates the actions of “cutting” and “splitting”, carried out by various tools. Splitting axes, which have a sharp tip, cut wood, so they are used when removing knots, felling small trees, preparing wood chips, and cutting thin, freshly sawn stumps. Other types of tools are suitable for chopping wood:

– A massive cleaver-sledgehammer, which has a blunt blade and splits logs like a wedge. It perfectly splits even impressive stumps, but when swinging it requires considerable effort. – Lightweight modifications of classic weapons - cleavers with rhombic blades, “eared” or with other body protrusions that split wood. The blow comes out weaker, but they are easier to swing.

It would be better to have both types of tools in your household. The bulk of the firewood should be split with a long-eared cleaver, and a heavy tool should be used for large and branchy specimens. And a “spare” is always useful to finish the job if one tool breaks.

The weight of the tip, the material of the handle, its shape and length - these parameters are important when selecting a cleaver, but it is certainly possible to determine them only in practice, after working with different tools. When choosing an instrument, hold it in weight and try to swing it. The main thing is that the cleaver fits confidently in the hand and is comfortable.

It has been noticed that with a long handle it is easier to break thick logs, and for dry small stumps a handle 50–70 cm long is enough. Stumps of large diameter lend themselves more easily to directly sharpened tips, the semicircular cutting part helps to split resinous and damp wood. To split dense, knotty stumps, steel wedges driven into the cracks with a sledgehammer are useful.

Preparing the cleaver for work

Before chopping wood, a real owner will always inspect the tool, check the integrity of the ax and the fit of the metal part. Reliable fixation of a wooden handle with a tip occurs through a wedge made of a steel plate and driven into the end of the wood.

The part of the handle under the tip, which is susceptible to crushing when missing, should be protected by a pad. If necessary, do this part yourself:

1) Taking a galvanized strip 20 cm wide, first beat off the tin at the corner.

2) Then bend the metal in half using a mallet.

3) Use scissors to trim the side opposite the bend.

4) Having placed the strip on the ax handle, crush the edge and grab the tin with a nail.

5) By going around the strip around the handle, cut off the excess metal.

6) Squeeze the protection with a clamp and bend it where necessary with a hammer.

7) Drill holes in the tin and finally secure with nails.

Before work, a cleaver with a wooden handle is dipped in water for 1–2 hours - the wood swells and holds better.

However, such measures can be used when there is slight wobbling of the handle. A badly dried out wooden part is replaced by purchasing a ready-made handle or making an ax handle with your own hands.

Correct splitting of firewood

Planning the work greatly simplifies the process of collecting firewood. Dry or frozen logs split faster than freshly cut trees. It makes more sense to dry “green” hemp than to strain yourself with damp logs.

Remember about safety - clear the area of unnecessary objects and ask those around you to move away. Wear strong boots and strong, non-slip mittens or gloves on your hands. Plastic safety glasses won't hurt either.

Place the stump on the deck with the knots down and turn the crack towards you. If there are no crevices, choose the split location between the knots. Make sure the log is in a stable position.

Stand in the correct position: your feet are wider than your shoulders, the deck is in the middle, the distance to the stump is such that you can touch its center with the blade. If you move further away, the cleaver will miss and hit the ground; if you get closer, you can hit it with the handle and knock off your hands.

A sharp ax - and a toothy bitch

Even with experience and skills in chopping firewood with an axe, many have more than once encountered awkward and even dangerous situations when pieces of logs, chips or splinters fly to the sides and can, at best, cause injury and damage, and at worst, cause injury and even life. Due to unsuccessful blows, the ax often gets stuck in the deck, and sometimes, on the contrary, it falls sharply down, risking hitting the leg. Logs with knots are especially difficult to split. The situation is even more difficult when you need to chop small wood chips, for example, for ignition. The risk of getting caught on the fingers of the hand with which you are holding a small log is very high. In any case, you can’t do this without dexterity and skill.

Light the stove, chop wood, stack and even steal

Use the stove. The solution to current problems will occur with varying degrees of success. Heat the bathhouse

The dreamer will be entrusted with an important matter, which will not be easy to cope with. Miller's Dream Book: you will live in abundance; Love dream book: fortune will smile, Gypsy: to communicate with an interesting person. Putting firewood in the stove means quarrels between households. Chopping wood with an ax

You will depend on a mean and deceitful person. If in a dream you had to chop wood and carefully stack it, then your financial situation will improve in the future. Wear. To small expenses and squabbles in the family and at work. Russian dream book: to losses; Maly Velesov - to money and unexpected happiness. Gather. Doing this yourself is a good sign: the dreamer is the master of his life. If someone helped you collect logs in a dream, then in real life another person makes important decisions for you. Collecting firewood for a fire in your dreams at night means financial losses in reality. Putting things together: trying to get your real life in order. If the firewood in the kingdom of Morpheus was scattered by a hurricane, and the dreamer tried to stack it, then soon after a series of major family quarrels he will have to go to reconciliation with relatives. Putting firewood in a woodpile is a sign of pleasant home improvement chores. Repairs or moving to a new place of residence are possible. If in a dream you happened to stack freshly chopped firewood, then you will have to spend a lot of money on household needs. Stacking boards in night dreams is a sign of misfortune, because of which life will change dramatically. Chopping wood with an ax in a dream - in reality you will depend on a two-faced person

Steal. Quarrel with a colleague or business partner. Because of the conflict, the common cause can go downhill, so keep your emotions under control. Did you dream that your firewood was stolen? In reality there will be losses and damages. One of the reasons for this will be your negligence. Cutting wood with a chainsaw. You will take part in a large enterprise and make good money. Sawing with a regular saw. The dreamer will be accused of infidelity or scolded for something. Miller's Dream Book: You will become a victim of a false accusation. Prick. To losses and machinations of enemies. Dream interpretation of Grishina: you will experience joy. Unload. There will be hard physical work, which will not bring the desired results, and for the most part will be completely useless. Buy. There is a risk of becoming a victim of scammers or taking part in a dubious business. Dream Interpretation of the 21st Century: you will be upset; dream book from A to Z: you will hear unpleasant gossip about yourself. Sell. Benefit from getting rid of something unnecessary. Eastern dream book: you will have to fight for success; dream books of Grishina and Maly Velesov: you will quarrel with others. Split the log into splinters. Meet a school or university friend with whom you will have a great time and remember the old times.

Wooden chips dream of sadness

Stacking firewood means putting everything in your life in order after things have gone badly wrong. Stacking firewood scattered by a hurricane means that you will have to eliminate the consequences of major quarrels and scandals in the family, that is, make significant concessions to family members or relatives. Stacking firewood in a woodpile, such a dream foreshadows the imminent arrangement of a new home, and the pleasant chores associated with it.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the icon of the intercessor and guardian angel named

What is a Kolundrov manual wood splitter and how does it work?

“And yet, what could be cooler when chopping wood than a good old ax?” - you ask. Only steel manual wood splitters “Kolundrov”™, with which the listed troubles and inconveniences do not threaten you. Chopping wood with these wood splitters is simple and safe. No special skills required. To split a log, you need to place it on the blade of the log splitter, then hit the log with a sledgehammer, and it will split.

Instead of a sledgehammer, you can use another log.

You'll be surprised how easily even knotty logs can be split into small pieces by the wedge-shaped edge of a knife blade. Moreover, the design is such that the firewood will not get stuck. How does this happen? It's all about the unique, but simple and effective design of the Kolundrov - a modern device that will change all your ideas about traditional chopping wood with an ax.

The process of chopping firewood using Kolundrov manual wood splitters is shown more clearly in the following video:

How to store firewood

There are also rules for storing firewood. It would be nice to put them in a woodpile. However, once they are pinned, there is no need to fold them right away. You must decide how to store firewood correctly based on weather conditions. If the weather is good, they are collected in a heap and left to lie for a while. If there are clouds in the sky or rain is gathering, they are moved under a pre-prepared canopy, or covered with some material, for example, an awning. In such a woodpile your firewood can be stored as long as you like.

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Advantages of the Kolundrov wood splitter:

more effective than a splitting ax due to strikes in the same place;
easily splits even damp and knotty firewood into chips (you can sit right in the house by the fireplace);
completely safe to use (firewood and wood chips do not fly apart, remaining inside the circuit);
ignite a fire in a couple of minutes without paper or special liquid;
does not require special skills or much effort;
the tool is compact and not heavy, strong and durable (entirely made of steel with an 8-layer anti-corrosion coating);
the blade is resistant to dulling - can be sharpened with a whetstone or a special sharpener;
a great idea for an original, practical and unusual gift.

How to make a log for chopping wood, which wood is better?

You need to make a block for chopping wood (and meat, periodically) how to make it and what wood is best from.
It would not be entirely successful to use a deck for chopping wood and meat at the same time; you can, of course, make it double-sided, i.e. put it on the base and turn it over, but you also don’t have to strain it, because a normal deck will be quite heavy.

Also, depending on the cutting method, its use and the desire for durability, the choice of material will depend.

Basically, it is recommended to use oak or birch for chopping meat.

It is best to immediately beat the deck with a hoop, or even better with two hoops (top and bottom), since when struck from above, the lower part also bears the load.

Making a log is not difficult, it is simply cut out, basically the lower part of the tree closer to the root, part of the trunk. If the deck is then installed on a stand, then about 40 centimeters will be enough; if it stands on the floor or ground, then select the height of the deck to suit your height.

The same block for chopping wood is essentially an ordinary stump.

That is, this device is not at all difficult to manufacture.

It is better to take solid wood, the ideal option is oak, if there is no oak stump, then you can use elm, birch is not the best option, but in principle, such a deck can last for several years.

The deck should have a flat top (on which the wood is split) and a bottom (set on the ground).

Therefore, first we make markings, then with a chainsaw or other tool (a two-handed saw, for example), we saw off the stump from the tree trunk.

You don’t have to remove the bark, you can remove it, look at the place.

The diameter of the deck is arbitrary, but usually it is 500 mm or more.

The height of the deck is approximately knee level, so when chopping wood there won’t be much strain on your back and legs.

The deck can be strengthened if necessary (this is not a mandatory point) or with strip metal like this

Or like this

In general, everything, the deck is ready.

If you choose the “right” wood, then such a deck can last 5-8 years or even more, that is, dense, knotty wood is the most important parameter.

Source

Rules for working with the Kolundrov wood splitter:

1. Place the log splitter on a hard, level surface. For best results, secure it with wood screws through the holes in the sole. 2. Place the wooden log on the edge of the knife, inside the upper ring of the wood splitter, resting it on the ring. If the log is significantly smaller in diameter than the splitter ring, move the log toward one of the posts. 3. Using a sledgehammer, hit the log until it completely splits into two parts. For safety reasons, it is recommended to stand on the side of one of the support posts of the wood splitter. 4. After splitting, remove the log pieces from the log splitter. To split into smaller fragments, repeat the procedure until the desired result is achieved. 5. Be careful when splitting firewood or boards that have been used previously on the farm; they contain nails that can damage the splitting knife. 6. Also, to avoid damage and jamming of the knife edge, it is not recommended to place the log directly with the knot on the edge of the wood splitter knife. Place the log so that the knot does not touch the edge of the knife or the side of the log that does not have obvious large knots. 7. For the best result, the weight of the sledgehammer should be selected individually for the type of wood, knotiness and size of the logs. The average option is a sledgehammer weighing 1.5 kg; for large and very knotty logs you should use a sledgehammer weighing 3-4 kg.

8. If a “spring effect” is noticed when chopping firewood, this means that the wood splitter is installed on an unsuitable (not hard enough) or uneven surface. 9. Keep the tool clean, periodically clean it from dust and dirt. Store the log splitter in a dry place. To avoid the formation of corrosion, before long-term storage, it is recommended to lubricate the edge of the wood splitter knife with a thin layer of oil or grease.

Owners of fireplaces, stoves, barbecues, grills or barbecues will appreciate the work of simple and reliable Kolundrov wood splitters as a quick and safe way to chop firewood, splinters or wood chips for ignition in a couple of minutes. It really works, see for yourself!

Many people like to watch a living flame, so the installation of wood-burning fireplaces in dachas and private homes is very popular. This is not an easy task, but if you wish, installing a fireplace can be done. But even if the fireplace is already installed, it will not be possible to light it without fuel. Therefore, it will be useful for owners of wood-burning stoves to learn how to properly chop wood.

Probably, many will be surprised by the question of how to chop wood. After all, there seems to be nothing complicated in this process. You just need to swing the cleaver, splitting the logs into even logs that will fit in the firebox. However, when faced with the need to cut firewood in practice, many encounter difficulties. Let's figure out how to chop wood correctly so that this rather difficult job can be done easily and quickly

The easiest way to watch how to chop wood is on video. But oral advice from an experienced woodcutter will never be superfluous. Therefore, we will dwell in detail on each stage of this difficult but fascinating matter.

If you have a sauna or fireplace in your home, then the ability to properly chop wood will definitely come in handy. Of course, you don’t have to bother yourself and buy ready-made, chopped firewood, but it’s such a pleasure to swing an ax in the fresh air, inhaling the smell of fresh wood, and get a charge of vivacity and positive energy.

Yes, and on a hike this skill may be needed. And if so, then it would be useful to learn all the secrets of chopping wood (see Which firewood is better).

How to chop wood with a hydraulic log splitter

1. Read the User Manual. Each hydraulic wood splitter designed for chopping firewood will be different, and knowing its technical features and operating rules, you can ensure its safe use. You should always operate a wood splitter with caution, as a mistake can lead to serious injury.

2. Check everything related to security. Before turning on the log splitter, you must prepare a clear passage along which you can safely move away from the operating log splitter. You must also have personal protective equipment to work with a wood splitter. Typically used:

Non-developing clothing.
Protective glasses.
Work gloves.

3. Check if there is fuel in the tank or if the machine is connected to the electrical network. Some wood splitters can be like attachments to a tractor, others can be connected to an electrical network, and others can run on gasoline or gas. Do not leave fuel or electrical cables anywhere that could cause a tripping hazard or could get caught in the operating parts of the wood splitter.

4. Prepare the firewood that needs to be split. After reading the instructions, you will know how to use the wood splitter. You will know where to best place the firewood to feed it into the hydraulic splitter. Place the wood on the pile where it is most convenient for you.

5. Turn on the wood splitter. Start the car and check it

idle operation (without wood supply). Make sure the log splitter operates smoothly as expected and check all functions in the owner's manual.

6. Feeding logs into the wood splitter. Follow the instructions in the Owner's Manual for loading solid wood and removing split wood from your machine. No matter what type of log splitter you use, you should always be careful around the log splitter when it is turned on.

Video hydraulic wood splitter

What do you need to split wood?

Deck

Firewood is chopped by placing logs on a level and solid base. The best log for this is the thickest and gnarliest section of a sawn tree trunk. It is advisable that two or three knots are not cut down, but stick out from the deck: with their help, it will be easier to move it from place to place.

It is very difficult to split such a deck, since the knots and twists in its body seem to tighten it and perfectly withstand blows.

Ax or cleaver

Experienced wood splitters almost always choose a heavy and dull ax - a splitting ax - for chopping firewood, especially if the trunks are cut into long logs.

Chopping wood with a tire - a method for the lazy and cautious

Let us remind you that this work can be done using an ordinary ax or a hammer with wedges, but to save time and effort, we still suggest considering a device for splitting firewood made from an ordinary car tire (it is better to use R16-17 diameter - more firewood will fit). Let's look at everything step by step.

STEP 1: install the deck . You need to place a large deck on a flat surface. It is advisable that its diameter be at least 70 centimeters; if larger, better.

STEP 2: hang up the tires . We recommend putting 2 tires on the deck, which are tied together with a rope or twisted with metal bolts - it doesn’t matter. A homemade firewood splitter of this type will allow you to keep all the split logs in a pile; you will not need to collect and support them with 1 hand. The result: less body fatigue, two-handed work and quick splitting of several logs.

STEP 3: quick chopping of wood in the tire . First you need to install several logs inside the tire, which lies on a large deck (the lower tire can be nailed to the deck or screwed with screws). We take a splitting ax or an attachment for chopping wood, put it on the ax and strike the logs, which will split and remain in place in the tire.

It seems like we figured out how and where to chop the wood, now we need to pull it out and load it onto a wheelbarrow. We take out several pieces from one side, then the others will be freer and you can take them in a bunch and put them in a wheelbarrow and take them to the right place.

How to chop wood correctly?

Despite the apparent simplicity of the process, you need to know how to chop wood correctly so as not to become physically overtired and not to injure yourself or others. In addition, the type of logs that come out from under your ax will determine how well and how long they will burn.

Process description

To make the job easier, follow the following procedure:

Chipping of the edges of a thick log

Place the block of wood on the deck so that the knots or most of them remain at the bottom.
Find a crack , which almost always exists at the end of a sawn log, and turn it so that the blow of the cleaver hits it.
If there are no cracks, try to get an ax or cleaver between the knots or along them. When chopping wood with an ax, it can get stuck in a log, hitting a knot. In this case, the ax along with the log must be turned with the butt down and struck with force against the deck.
It is more convenient to chop very thick blocks not in the middle, but by splitting the blocks closer to the edge.

Tip: you don’t need to put in a lot of force when lowering the cleaver onto the log. Just lift it above your head and lower it with acceleration - the weight of the cleaver itself is enough for it to do its job.

Safety precautions

To prevent the ax from flying off the handle, the day before chopping wood, lower it into a container of water. The ax handle will swell and the ax will sit firmly on it.
While working, spread your legs wide : this is both convenient and will protect you from accidental mistakes.
Make sure that there are no people nearby, especially children , since when cutting firewood can fly quite far in different directions.

What should the logs be like?

If you do not want the firewood to burn too quickly or not to burn completely, leaving firewood, then the thickness of the logs should be 7–10 centimeters. How to split wood so that it turns out exactly like this?

It depends on the thickness of the logs. Thin ones are split in half into two blocks, and then each block is split in half again, obtaining the so-called quadrangles.

Wood splitting scheme

Thick logs will have to be split into octagons, that is, each quadrangle will have to be halved. If you come across very thick logs, then split each octagon in half, but not along the radius, but across it, so that two smaller logs are formed: one triangular, the second tetrahedral.

Blocks (halves of a log) can be split not into two, but into three triangular parts (or two triangular and one tetrahedral) to obtain logs of the required thickness - sixes.

Tip: it’s easiest to split firewood when it’s dry, but it’s better to split damp firewood if it’s been left in the cold. If there is no urgent need, do not rush to chop freshly sawed raw logs - let them dry or lie under a canopy until winter.

How to store firewood?

You should not put firewood in a woodpile (see DIY woodpile) immediately after cutting it. If the weather is sunny, dry, let them lie in the open air in a heap, even if the logs were initially dry. If the weather turns bad, they need to be covered with a tarpaulin, or it is better to immediately lay the pile under a canopy so that unexpected rain does not take you by surprise.

Firewood stacked in a neat woodpile can sit for several years without loss of quality. If the firewood was very fresh when chopping, then it is best to start using it after a year.

We hope that our tips will help you chop firewood quickly without getting overtired. When you start chopping wood for the first time, don’t try to immediately set a quantitative record. Otherwise, you may wake up the next day with sore muscles and bloody calluses on your palms.

What size should the firewood be?

High-quality combustion in the firebox of a stove and fireplace depends on the thickness and length of the logs. They, in turn, are determined by the width of the firebox and should be no more than 2/3 of the firebox opening. There is even a mathematically calculated optimal size for one log:

length 30 cm
width 10 cm

The dimensions of the log for the stove should not exceed 3/4 of the width of the firebox. Why are these parameters calculated? The heat transfer of the stove and the amount of soot formed depend on the size of the firewood. This affects the degree of fire safety, since excess soot leads to spontaneous combustion.

The more convenient it is to carry logs

Carrying logs in your hands is uncomfortable. Especially if they are wet, dirty or covered in ice and snow. The “third” and “fourth” steel hand comes to the rescue - a pincer (grab) grip.

I was wondering if anyone has used a manual log gripper? Is it worth paying 3,000 rubles for a branded one? I want to order some for myself so I can load the logs. Is it convenient to use?

I've been using a pincer gripper for 5 years. I have never regretted buying it. I took them for 1500 rubles. My friends told me that he threw away the money, but now I don’t go to the forest for firewood without it.

By the way, there is a cheaper option - single-jointed log pliers. Is it worth taking them?

With a single-joint grip, to prevent the log from slipping out, you will have to squeeze the handles, i.e. make additional physical efforts. On soft wood the force is less, on hard or frozen wood more. In double-jointed grips, compression occurs automatically due to the weight of the lifted log.

Well, for all home-made people, a user with the nickname 152247 offers to make a hand made version of branded pliers with a grip width for a log with a diameter of 30 cm.