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I'd worry first about cutting it to length I usually go for about 2 feet, though you might want shorter for a small firepit. At around 4 inches, I wouldn't bother splitting it, maybe baton it for fire starting. Six inches, maybe split it in half.
If you don't feel safe swinging an ax or sledge around, there are foot operated log splitters, Least expensive are the horizontal ones that just use leverage and your body weight, or for a bit more, there are vertical or horizontal models built around a small bottle jack.
I actually really like cutting up 3-4 inch diameter trees for firewood. No splitting required. Splitting 16 inch logs is a chore.
A bow saw is good for that small amount you're cutting to length. Just cut it to a length that fits your fire pit. Keep the diameter at about what the split stuff you purchased was. Bigger pieces will burn okay but you need a hot fire first to get them to catch and burn.
We put in a fire pit last summer and burned the store bought pre-cut wood.
If you are going to buy wood find someone that sells it by the cord. Might cost you $200 or $300, it's probably about $1K+ of store bought wood. Tarp it to keep it dry or store in a shed, don't store it near your house.
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What do I need to do to use the wood this Summer? Do I just chop it with an Ax? What kind of Ax? I heard of a log splitter, but have never used one. Do I need to dry it out?
Axes are dangerous and the smaller the wood gets the more dangerous they are. Here's a quick tip for you when working with small wood. While wearing heavy leather gloves take the small piece of wood and hold the end against the sharp end of the axe. Very gently tap both on firm ground, emphasis here on gently.
This will push the sharp end of the axe into the wood just enough so the wood can be held in place by friction to the sharp end of the axe.
Now you can swing the axe with the wood attached to it onto something firm to split it.
I always let wood age for 1-2 years before burning it. The wood in your picture might be ready to burn late next summer, if you keep it out of the rain until then.
When this wood is dry enough to burn, just start a fire with kindling/newspaper/whatever, and toss the smaller pieces on top of it, then the larger pieces as the fire gets going. I wouldn't bother splitting it, it's already a good size for burning, if it fits in the fire pit you have.
If you are going to buy wood find someone that sells it by the cord. Might cost you $200 or $300, it's probably about $1K+ of store bought wood. Tarp it to keep it dry or store in a shed, don't store it near your house.
That must be a full cord (roughly 3 face cords). Should be about $180 - $210 as a face cord is $60 - $70. That is quite a lot of wood, and you will be storing it for years if you are a typical sporadic fire user.
At first I did not get the "store it away from your house" advice. Woodpiles are not really that fmalmmable, less so than a wood sided house or even a composite shingled house. But then I remembered - bugs and critters. If you get a whole cord and keep it for years, eventually you will get carpenter ants, or carpenter bees, and or mice or maybe raccoons living in it. Don't want them moving into your house.
New Hampshire state law defines a cord as 128 cubic feet.
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Originally Posted by Coldjensens
That must be a full cord (roughly 3 face cords). Should be about $180 - $210 as a face cord is $60 - $70. That is quite a lot of wood, and you will be storing it for years if you are a typical sporadic fire user.
Cost of a cord varies greatly by type of wood and region.
In Northern New England, a cord of "campfire wood" (soft wood) can go cheap at the end of summer, but a cord of good hardwood is easily +$200, cut, split and delivered.
Cost of a cord varies greatly by type of wood and region.
In Northern New England, a cord of "campfire wood" (soft wood) can go cheap at the end of summer, but a cord of good hardwood is easily +$200, cut, split and delivered.
Wow. It is straight up $60 or $70 for anything here. There is a ton of ash because the ash borer beetle killed millions of huge ash trees. Oak, Maple and walnut are plentiful too. No one wants the softwoods. I would be surprised if you could get $10 a face cord for pine. Usually what they do with pine is mix it in and sell it as a "mixed cord" then when you buy it, you pull out the pine toss it to the dog for a chew toy and use the rest. Pine is not even a good choice outside because it pops violently and it burns too fast. I expect everyone knows by now you never use pine indoors. It makes decent kindling though when it is cut thin
Location: Finally the house is done and we are in Port St. Lucie!
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Originally Posted by LowonLuck
Surely you are just pulling our leg?
If you do not mind sharing, what is your educational background?
There those that do not know about wood. Not everyone is knowledgeable, until they actually learn. That's generally done by asking questions.
Personally I would rather they ask questions than get hurt doing something.
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New Hampshire state law defines a cord as 128 cubic feet.
