Firewood: To split, or not to split?

[arrow]

I read the first and last page of any thread as that is all I have the patience for. This may have been said: The size of the wood has nothing to do with you splitting it or not. It has more to do with what is "saleable" in your area. The picture does not show a lot of wood and if that is the amount you contend with every year, I'd keep it as simple as possible. See if you can sell it w/o splitting it. This would reduce the "sale price" of course. People around here are currently getting $225 for a split, seasoned cord. (seasoning is a conversation all in itself). $175 for unseasoned but split, $150 for unsplit and $100 for stem length.
The economics of it is purely your choice and that would be the factor for me to split or not and invest in a splitter.

To answer your original question: maple and ash I would not split under 5"- 6". They both season rather quickly.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Those are nice dogs. Why don't you consider selling some of it to someone who makes furniture, or flooring?

Dogs don't make very good furniture. They are warm to lean against but they keep wiggling and will lick your face and beg and steal your food. :laughing:

 

[check]

logs! logs! %$&#@ iphone keys again. I have got to stop typing while I am on the ....

 

[cartod]

I heat with a boiler rated at 10,000 sq ft and I absolutely want my wood split and dried. The only time I like rounds is with poplar or pine that dry better and are fairly light. After all, I'm the one loading it and I don't want a hernia.

The heat you waste drying out the rounds before they burn can be substantial. Not to mention the smoke.

 

[vtsnowedin]

logs! logs! %$&#@ iphone keys again. I have got to stop typing while I am on the ....

We don't want to know where you were when you typed that.:thumbdown:. auto correct and auto complete sure have made us all look like fools a lot lately. I certainly can't cast the first stone but can be the first to start laughing as someone joins the typing challenged group. If it warms up soon so I can take the mittens off I'll have less excuse for the summer.

 

[vtsnowedin]

logs! logs! %$&#@ iphone keys again. I have got to stop typing while I am on the ....

We don't want to know where you were when you typed that.:thumbdown:. auto correct and auto complete sure have made us all look like fools a lot lately. I certainly can't cast the first stone but can be the first to start laughing as someone joins the typing challenged group. If it warms up soon so I can take the mittens off I'll have less excuse for the summer.

 

[GManBart]

Split it and keep it for yourself. Wood is best if seasoned 3 years especially species like oak.

If you keep it under a shed(dry) it wont rot or go bad.

We don't have anything to burn it in...no wood fireplace in the house or shop/barn.

 

[GManBart]

Those are nice dogs. Why don't you consider selling some of it to someone who makes furniture, or flooring?

I would sell it, but I'm not sure if there's anybody in the area buying logs...not sure where to look really.

 

[GManBart]

I read the first and last page of any thread as that is all I have the patience for. This may have been said: The size of the wood has nothing to do with you splitting it or not. It has more to do with what is "saleable" in your area. The picture does not show a lot of wood and if that is the amount you contend with every year, I'd keep it as simple as possible. See if you can sell it w/o splitting it. This would reduce the "sale price" of course. People around here are currently getting $225 for a split, seasoned cord. (seasoning is a conversation all in itself). $175 for unseasoned but split, $150 for unsplit and $100 for stem length.
The economics of it is purely your choice and that would be the factor for me to split or not and invest in a splitter.

To answer your original question: maple and ash I would not split under 5"- 6". They both season rather quickly.

The picture you mention, was when I first started a pile from a small area I was clearing....I have many, many times more than that just waiting for me. I took an updated picture just a few days later, and the piles have grown, and added two more (can't see one of them)....and this is just a fraction of what I have.

 

[Billrog]

For fire wood anything bigger than 6" should be split where I live but there are customers that order 4" . As for selling the logs maybe check on wood web or portable saw mill sites to see if there's anyone in your area interested. May be worth a try for the larger ash and maple.