Cut length questions

[blacktail]

My insert isn't very deep and I prefer NS loading if I'm really trying to pack the stove. I cut about half my wood at 12" for that reason. I can do it pretty accurately just eyeballing it. The rest I cut around 16".
I was cutting with my dad one time and he cut a bunch of rounds about 6-7" long. I was like, "dude, wtf is this?"
Turns out he's not very accurate estimating firewood length.

 

[NickDL]

I've cut anywhere from 16 to 20 inches because my piece of crap fireplace could take it. Now that I have a new insert, 18" max.

 

[Wood Duck]

I cut to 16 inches, more or less, and my chainsaw has a bar that is around 16 inches, so I sort of eyeball it while holding the saw up to the log. I don't really mind pieces a little too short. If I cut pieces in the 13 or 14 inch range, I can push them to one side, leaving a space for a few north/south pieces on one side of the firebox. My stove will actually take an 18 inch log, but if I try for 18 inch pieces and go a little over, then I have pieces that won't fit. Instead I try for 16 inches and rarely get oversize pieces accidentally.

 

[Wood Duck]

I cut to 16 inches, more or less, and my chainsaw has a bar that is around 16 inches, so I sort of eyeball it while holding the saw up to the log. I don't really mind pieces a little too short. If I cut pieces in the 13 or 14 inch range, I can push them to one side, leaving a space for a few north/south pieces on one side of the firebox. My stove will actually take an 18 inch log, but if I try for 18 inch pieces and go a little over, then I have pieces that won't fit. Instead I try for 16 inches and rarely get oversize pieces accidentally.

 

[Jeffm1]

This is true wisdom.

My thought process usually goes like this:
"Is this gonna fit? Let me try it...hmm....no...well, maybe if I turn it this way...and move this other one a bit...and then...oh chit it's already on fire."

Then it's GO time, and I can either close the door on it, or carry the smoldering piece of wood outside and leave it someplace where it won't start a conflagration

Lol! That's why I shoot for 16-18" lengths even though my stove will take 20" splits. It gives me a bit more leeway when cutting and I don't have to use a freaking T-square to make sure they will fit.

 

[edge-of-the-woods]

Lol! That's why I shoot for 16-18" lengths even though my stove will take 20" splits. It gives me a bit more leeway when cutting and I don't have to use a freaking T-square to make sure they will fit.

You and me both! Our firebox is like 6" narrower at the back than the front, I feel like I am playing the most dangerous game of Tetris, when I'm trying to pack it full. Such a pain in the a$$. Next time I'm looking for something with a square firebox if possible.

 

[Oldman47]

My little Napoleon stove says it will take a 16 inch E/W but they recommend a 12 inch, which fits N/S. When I get wood I decide real quickly if it is close enough to cut in half for the N/S loading. If I get pieces right around 16 inches I do not cut them down.

 

[osagebow]

Stove takes 22, so I aim for 20 or so. Many on here say wiggle room he's get fires going, and I concur. I still have a lot of stuff up to 26" from my last stove, so the barbecue chunk pile is growing. After next season l'l have a more uniform supply.

 

[scooby074]

I used to cut 18" now I cut 19. Stove will take a 22" straight in I believe, so there is a bit of wiggle room there. Might go to 20 or even 21, if I can get my length setting mechanism on the processor to work a little more accurately.

 

[scooby074]

oo.

I've read here about Europeans who split their wood to something like 3' long, let it dry, and then custom split it for their customers.

Yes. A lot do long 1 metre splits for drying, then cut to stove length prior to burning. Usually 33cm (13"), or 50cm (19.5") lengths (1/3 or 1/2 metre). It can be either automatically cut to length or many homeowners use a chainsaw "sawbuck" with a really long bar. Many times the 1metre splits are bundled for storage/drying so they can be moved by tractor.

This video shows the system very well. Im working on adapting it to my own firewood storage methods. I hate handling wood more than once, so any way I can reduce labour, Im all for. I will be using 50cm as opposed to 1m deep bundles that need to be re-cut though.

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"homeowner" manual cut to length with chainsaw. This is the deluxe version, there are much more basic models and more advanced, fully automatic ones too.

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[bboulier]

My Jotul will burn logs up to 24 inches in length, but I usual cut to 18 and then fill in around the end N/S with smaller pieces.