How to Split Firewood

^{photo by Kallerna | Wikimedia Commons}

It is important to wear proper clothing before starting to split your wood. The last thing you want is to end up with a splinter in your eye, blisters on your hands, or cuts on your body! Careful preparation begins before you begin to split your wood, which in turn, creates a more enjoyable experience!

1. The proper clothing is extremely important when you are splitting fire wood. Make certain that you wear a long-sleeve shirt, long pants, and closed-toed shoes or boots. These will protect you from any splinters that fly your way.

2. Leather gloves are needed to protect your hands from blisters. In addition, they will protect you from any venomous insects or spiders that may be lurking in the firewood!

3. Safety glasses will protect your eyes from flying debris. Make certain your glasses are tight enough to stay on your face, and that you can clearly see through them. If your vision is obstructed, the glasses are useless!

The best handle for a maul or axe is hickory wood. It is a light-weight wood, which dampens the shock of impact. Hickory wood is very strong if you use it properly. If you don't have access to hickory wood handles, then any strong wood can be substituted.

There are several styles of wedges. Make certain that yours is made of a heavy metal, so it won't bend or splinter. The best ones are made of steel or iron, and are specifically for splitting wood. It's best to have at least one with a flat edge, and another with four edges, or a "star" pattern.

The best wood to burn is hard, seasoned wood. Oak is the best, but any hard wood will do. If you don't have seasoned wood, then cut and split it while it is green, and stack it to burn later. The best pieces to split are those that are straight; have an even, flat bottom; and do not have nails or knots in them.

Check your wood for beetles and ants. There is nothing worse than hitting a piece of wood with your maul or hammer, and having bugs swarm out! Plus, if you don't burn all the infested wood before the bugs emerge, they may end up in your yard or house. It's best not to bring infested wood onto your property!

Before splitting your wood, make certain it is cut to the length that fits your stove. Most wood stoves can handle a 16-20 inch log. I have one of the smaller stoves, so my logs can be no longer than 14 inches. The shorter the log, the more easily it will split.

Your goal in splitting firewood is to end up with a wedge-shaped piece of wood that has at least two sides of bare wood. The less bark remaining on your log the better, as bark is fire resistant. This usually means that you will split each log into four pieces.

Choose a safe location in which to split your fire wood. You need a place that is free from overhanging limbs and debris, and where you will have secure footing. Hold your maul or axe at arm's length, then turn 360 degrees to measure a circle around you. Make certain that nothing comes within this imaginary circle while you are swinging your tool.

Put your first log on top of the chopping block, and check once again for obstructions or people. It is time to split your first piece of wood.

Now that you have donned your protective clothing, gathered your tools & wood, and made certain you have a safe location, it's time to split the firewood.

1. Look for cracks in the wood. When you swing your maul or axe, aim for the cracks.

2. Start with your maul resting on the crack, and your feet about a foot or two apart. Grip your maul or axe with both hands. Your strongest hand should be on top, and closer to the head of the tool.

3. Bring your maul or axe over your head, then swing it straight forward. Keep your arms straight when you swing. As your tool comes down into the wood, let your strongest hand slide down to the end of the handle.

4. If you are using an axe, it may get stuck in the log. Simply pull and twist your axe to remove it. If this does not work, turn the axe over, and hit the head of it on the chopping block.

5. Repeat your swing into the wood, aiming for the same place you previously connected. If the crack widened on your last swing, you can hit anywhere along the length of the crack.

6. Continue to strike the wood until it splits. Depending on how well the log split, you can continue to split these into smaller pieces, or move on to another log.

Using a sledge hammer and splitting wedge requires a bit more strength than using a splitting maul. Use the heaviest sledge hammer you can handle comfortably, and the job will go much quicker.

1. Set your first piece of wood on the chopping block. Look for cracks in your piece of wood

2. Insert your three or four-sided wedge into a crack. Tap it lightly with your sledge hammer so it is secure.

3. Grasp your hammer in both hands, raise it to about shoulder height, then bring it down onto the wedge.

4. The crack should widen with your first blow. Repeat the previous step, knocking the wedge into the wood. Continue until the wood splits all of the way.

5. If your wedge becomes stuck inside the wood, use a flat wedge to open the crack wider.

First, find a location away from your house where you can stack the wood. It is best to keep it off of the ground, as it will rot quicker if it touches the earth. In addition, bugs and snakes will find it easier to infest the wood if it is on the ground. Pallets, old lumber, cement blocks, or metal fence posts can be put under your wood to raise it off the ground.

Stack your split firewood where air can circulate through it. The best way is to make a long row. Keep the ends straight so your stacks will be stable. You may also want to criss-cross some of your pieces. Not only does this allow more air to circulate, but it also adds strength. At each end, put a stake or fence posts to keep the firewood from rolling off. Keep your stacks at 4 feet tall or less. Stacks higher than this are more likely to become unstable and fall.

After you get all your firewood neatly stacked, cover the top with a tarp or plastic sheeting. Do not cover the sides, as you want the air to circulate through the stacks.

This short video shows a number of ways to stack wood. While it provides great information, this wood is stacked directly on the ground. I urge you to put something underneath your stacks, in order to cut down on mold & pest infestation.

I hope this article shows you how easy it is to split your own firewood. You'll find that splitting wood is great exercise, and a quite satisfying experience.