Replenishing the Wood Pile
Winter is hitting us hard this January, at least for several nights in the mid-twenties, and it’s time to replenish the wood pile to keep warm on these coming cold nights. Recently, we took advantage of a source of firewood and spent some time gathering the three and four-foot sectioned logs. We loaded the truck to capacity, and, after driving home, I set up a space to cut the logs with a chainsaw and then split them with a 5-ton log splitter.
Cutting the Logs to Size
I set up a preliminary space to cut the logs with a chainsaw to the correct length so they will not only fit into the wood stove but also stack well. I measured each log and made sure to cut them to a uniform size, roughly 18 inches making them easier to stack and store.
Splitting the Logs
Once I had my logs cut to the proper length, it was time to use the 5-ton log splitter. The splitter is a Sun Joe LJ602E 5-Ton 15-Amp Electric Log Splitter w/Hydraulic Ram. It does an excellent job on these logs.
These logs averaged about 8 – 10 inches in diameter and splitting them in half was ideal for what we needed. Splitting also made them easier to handle as well as stack.
Stacking the Cut and Split Wood
Finally, I stacked the cut and split wood in a neat and organized manner, ready for some cold nights. I made sure to place the logs in a dry, well-ventilated, yet covered area to prevent mold and rot.
This unexpected ‘find’ of a wood source will certainly provide over a week’s worth of heat during this cold spell.
