How much do you cut and split on an average day?

[whotheguy]

Curious what you all cut and split on an average day. Assume the tree is readily accessible, 20%-30% moisture content and you have 8 hours to cut and split.
Stacking doesn't factor in to my question. I know the species could throw a wrench in the equation. And I mean split by hand, no log splitters, just a chainsaw and an axe and/or maul.

Robert

 

[PapaDave]

Well, I was going to answer, but since you've decided to shun us logsplitter users..........nevermind. :zip:

 

[LLigetfa]

When I was cutting slash, we would do around one or two acres a day per person depending on how much snow there was and how good the skidder operator was. Mind you we didn't buck or split it, just slash and skid.

 

[whotheguy]

Well, I was going to answer, but since you've decided to shun us logsplitter users..........nevermind. :zip:

Okay, I wont be prejudice...let me have the good news!! :ahhh:

 

[whotheguy]

When I was cutting slash, we would do around one or two acres a day per person depending on how much snow there was and how good the skidder operator was. Mind you we didn't buck or split it, just slash and skid.

Not to sure that would count towards actual trees....not to mention the skid! %-P

And thank you again LLigetfa for the help on my stove install.

 

[golfandwoodnut]

Cutting is the easy part. This weekend, in terrible conditions, I cut up three trees, one very large, got a chain stuck and still only took about 2 hours. For me getting the wood back to the house is one of the hardest things, if I do not cut one close to the house (very hilly here). I had to abandon getting the wood out on the weekend, ice and mud made it impossible. I usually only split about 2 or 3 hours at a time. The species of the wood is the key. Sassafras splits like nothing, like just dropping the maul(monster maul in my case) on the wood. Some cherry can be knarly, oak is pretty easy but heavy to move. Maple I find pretty easy. Locust, depends on how long it has been dead. I hear Elm is a real bear, I have avoided that. On average I think I could do a full cord if I had 8 hours start to finish.

 

[PapaDave]

Well, I was going to answer, but since you've decided to shun us logsplitter users..........nevermind. :zip:

Okay, I wont be prejudice...let me have the good news!! :ahhh:

Good news? Well, I usually do a max of about a cord, but the average day of cutting and splitting is only 2/3 cord. Takes about 1.5-2 hrs. to buck that amount, then about the same to split the 2/3. I figure about 2.5-3 hrs. to c/s/s a 1/3. I get log loads delivered, so easily accessible. Average 20 8 ft. logs/1/3 cord. Five cuts/log.
I could keep going with the details, but I'm sure you're getting bored by now.
I know I shouldn't, but can I assume you hand split? Lotsa work there, and I may have started doing that when this whole wood burning thing took over my life, but the house came with a logsplitter, so I use that.

 

[whotheguy]

Well, I was going to answer, but since you've decided to shun us logsplitter users..........nevermind. :zip:

Okay, I wont be prejudice...let me have the good news!! :ahhh:

Good news? Well, I usually do a max of about a cord, but the average day of cutting and splitting is only 2/3 cord. Takes about 1.5-2 hrs. to buck that amount, then about the same to split the 2/3. I figure about 2.5-3 hrs. to c/s/s a 1/3. I get log loads delivered, so easily accessible. Average 20 8 ft. logs/1/3 cord. Five cuts/log.
I could keep going with the details, but I'm sure you're getting bored by now.
I know I shouldn't, but can I assume you hand split? Lotsa work there, and I may have started doing that when this whole wood burning thing took over my life, but the house came with a logsplitter, so I use that.

Hi Dave, you are correct, only axe and maul here. I do have a question, in your experience how fast does a log splitter work for you? Forgive me for saying this as I've never used one, but I think I could split a chunk/round 4-6 times, faster than any splitter. Granted, that's my back, arms, legs and muscles doing the work, I'm just using actual "time" as a measuring device.

Robert

 

[PapaDave]

Well, I was going to answer, but since you've decided to shun us logsplitter users..........nevermind. :zip:

Okay, I wont be prejudice...let me have the good news!! :ahhh:

Good news? Well, I usually do a max of about a cord, but the average day of cutting and splitting is only 2/3 cord. Takes about 1.5-2 hrs. to buck that amount, then about the same to split the 2/3. I figure about 2.5-3 hrs. to c/s/s a 1/3. I get log loads delivered, so easily accessible. Average 20 8 ft. logs/1/3 cord. Five cuts/log.
I could keep going with the details, but I'm sure you're getting bored by now.
I know I shouldn't, but can I assume you hand split? Lotsa work there, and I may have started doing that when this whole wood burning thing took over my life, but the house came with a logsplitter, so I use that.

Hi Dave, you are correct, only axe and maul here. I do have a question, in your experience how fast does a log splitter work for you? Forgive me for saying this as I've never used one, but I think I could split a chunk/round 4-6 times, faster than any splitter. Granted, that's my back, arms, legs and muscles doing the work, I'm just using actual "time" as a measuring device.

Robert

Robert, I haven't put a stopwatch on the splitter, and no forgiveness required, but I'm sure someone with experience could outdo a splitter in speed. I can split for quite a while if needed, and could not with a SS or maul. I just don't want to work that hard anymore.
My back, arms, and legs also get a pretty good workout, just different than swinging a maul. Still have to position the rounds, then chuck the splits into the trailer. Oh yeah, there's that pesky lever that has to get pulled down and back up again EVERY darn split. Whew!
I think it takes about 45 minutes to split a face (1/3) cord with MY splitter and methods. Others may be faster or slower.
Are you trying to get an idea how long it SHOULD take, or looking for validation that you're pretty darn quick? Just curious.

 

[whotheguy]

Well, I was going to answer, but since you've decided to shun us logsplitter users..........nevermind. :zip:

Okay, I wont be prejudice...let me have the good news!! :ahhh:

Good news? Well, I usually do a max of about a cord, but the average day of cutting and splitting is only 2/3 cord. Takes about 1.5-2 hrs. to buck that amount, then about the same to split the 2/3. I figure about 2.5-3 hrs. to c/s/s a 1/3. I get log loads delivered, so easily accessible. Average 20 8 ft. logs/1/3 cord. Five cuts/log.
I could keep going with the details, but I'm sure you're getting bored by now.
I know I shouldn't, but can I assume you hand split? Lotsa work there, and I may have started doing that when this whole wood burning thing took over my life, but the house came with a logsplitter, so I use that.

Hi Dave, you are correct, only axe and maul here. I do have a question, in your experience how fast does a log splitter work for you? Forgive me for saying this as I've never used one, but I think I could split a chunk/round 4-6 times, faster than any splitter. Granted, that's my back, arms, legs and muscles doing the work, I'm just using actual "time" as a measuring device.

Robert

Robert, I haven't put a stopwatch on the splitter, and no forgiveness required, but I'm sure someone with experience could outdo a splitter in speed. I can split for quite a while if needed, and could not with a SS or maul. I just don't want to work that hard anymore.
My back, arms, and legs also get a pretty good workout, just different than swinging a maul. Still have to position the rounds, then chuck the splits into the trailer. Oh yeah, there's that pesky lever that has to get pulled down and back up again EVERY darn split. Whew!
I think it takes about 45 minutes to split a face (1/3) cord with MY splitter and methods. Others may be faster or slower.
Are you trying to get an idea how long it SHOULD take, or looking for validation that you're pretty darn quick? Just curious.

No, no, it's not a race at any point. I was just comparing the two different methods and what can be accomplished in the same amount of time. Personally, I enjoy splitting wood with an axe. I'm still young, just turned 40, and I find it great exercise to burn off those beers I enjoy drinking while admiring the pile of wood I just split. :coolsmile: But then again, I could really throw back the beers while watching the log splitter work :red: But I regress, should I choose that method that will make me fat and I'll have to go back to swinging the axe.... :bug:

 

[whotheguy]

Cutting is the easy part. This weekend, in terrible conditions, I cut up three trees, one very large, got a chain stuck and still only took about 2 hours. For me getting the wood back to the house is one of the hardest things, if I do not cut one close to the house (very hilly here). I had to abandon getting the wood out on the weekend, ice and mud made it impossible. I usually only split about 2 or 3 hours at a time. The species of the wood is the key. Sassafras splits like nothing, like just dropping the maul(monster maul in my case) on the wood. Some cherry can be knarly, oak is pretty easy but heavy to move. Maple I find pretty easy. Locust, depends on how long it has been dead. I hear Elm is a real bear, I have avoided that. On average I think I could do a full cord if I had 8 hours start to finish.

Hey Golf, I feel your pain my friend. I've had a few situations somewhat similar to yours. After sh!!ting out my spleen one weekend with a tough log I changed tactics. I now only cut trees that that are roadside. Which we have plenty of here in Idaho. Find a forestry road, drive it and find the closest trees to the road, problem solved.

Robert

 

[SolarAndWood]

1.5 - 2 hrs to scrounge a cord somewhere nearby in the city that is usually already bucked. 1.5 - 2 hrs to split a cord. Single operator, dump trailer, hydraulic splitter.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Curious what you all cut and split on an average day. Assume the tree is readily accessible, 20%-30% moisture content and you have 8 hours to cut and split.
Stacking doesn't factor in to my question. I know the species could throw a wrench in the equation. And I mean split by hand, no log splitters, just a chainsaw and an axe and/or maul.

Robert

Robert, there are too many factors to make any comparisons. For example, first you assume the tree is readily accessible (what does that really mean?) and 20-30% moisture. Methinks there are a few trees out there which would have higher moisture than what you are asking.

Readily accessible tree? Okay, where is this tree? I have some trees that are readily accessible in a fence row and some that are just as accessible in the middle of the woods. I can cut up that tree in the woods much faster than the one in the fence row. Why? The tree in the middle of the woods will have a better trunk and fewer limbs.

Or we could compare cutting up an ash versus cutting up a pin oak. Wow, the trimming on a pin oak is crazy but very little on an ash.

I see you did agree to allow log splitters but I would challenge a good man to try to keep up with a hydraulic log splitter. Of course some of that would also depend upon what type of wood is to be split. Again, if I split ash, most of the time I can move that wedge into the log only a couple of inches before raising; don't raise to full height and right back down into the log. Technique. (btw, I can speak from experience as I have done a bit of splitting myself; both ways.)

What I am trying to say is that over time a man finds out the best way to split wood and then he can split using much less energy. A new guy will have to work sometimes twice as hard as an experienced man. That also goes for using the hydraulic log splitter.

Usually what we find when someone wants to compare a good man splitting with a maul or axe to another man using a hydraulic splitter is that they first can show just by timing the wedge or ram to see how long it takes to go all the way down and then all the way back up. That is the first mistake in comparing.

Another thing is physical ability. Compare a good man swinging a maul to a fellow who works in an office all week and only on weekends does a little cutting and splitting. Before they start you can choose who would be better. Everyone does not have the same abilities, but does that make one better than the other? NO! He may be better at that one thing, but will be weaker in another.


Lest this post get too long I'll stop except to add that I will not give you a figure for how much I can do in an average 8 hour day. At one time I could do a lot and now I do only a very little at a time. It takes me a lot longer (probably 5-6 times longer) than it used to and I can not work an 8 hour day any more....and I do use a hydraulic splitter. But my trees are accessible and some are very low in moisture.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Well, I was going to answer, but since you've decided to shun us logsplitter users..........nevermind. :zip:

Okay, I wont be prejudice...let me have the good news!! :ahhh:

Good news? Well, I usually do a max of about a cord, but the average day of cutting and splitting is only 2/3 cord. Takes about 1.5-2 hrs. to buck that amount, then about the same to split the 2/3. I figure about 2.5-3 hrs. to c/s/s a 1/3. I get log loads delivered, so easily accessible. Average 20 8 ft. logs/1/3 cord. Five cuts/log.
I could keep going with the details, but I'm sure you're getting bored by now.
I know I shouldn't, but can I assume you hand split? Lotsa work there, and I may have started doing that when this whole wood burning thing took over my life, but the house came with a logsplitter, so I use that.

Hi Dave, you are correct, only axe and maul here. I do have a question, in your experience how fast does a log splitter work for you? Forgive me for saying this as I've never used one, but I think I could split a chunk/round 4-6 times, faster than any splitter. Granted, that's my back, arms, legs and muscles doing the work, I'm just using actual "time" as a measuring device.

Robert

Robert, just to give you one more example on the log splitting using the two methods. A couple of months ago I took our splitter to a neighbor's place. The man is very physical and is a good splitter. Both he and his wife stood there smug while I backed the splitter up to the pile. They had made a comment similar to what you are saying.

When running our splitter I rarely run the engine at full throttle and this day I had it about 3/4 throttle. I grabbed the first log and in seconds I had 4 splits....with only two pushes of the wedge. I did this 3 times and looked at them and their eyes were about the size of bowling balls! They were amazed as they had never seen wood split as fast as that. Technique, not strength. What I did was push the wedge into the log only a couple of inches, raise the wedge and turn the whole log and drop the wedge again, only a couple of inches. Bingo! 4 splits using only 2 strokes. There are few who could do that with an axe or maul.

This is just to give you a good example of what can be done.

 

[Crash11]

I did all my wood collecting by myself this past spring, and I'd say on an average day I was able to do 1/2 cord from start to finish (cut, buck, split, and stack).

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Curious what you all cut and split on an average day. Assume the tree is readily accessible, 20%-30% moisture content and you have 8 hours to cut and split.
Stacking doesn't factor in to my question. I know the species could throw a wrench in the equation. And I mean split by hand, no log splitters, just a chainsaw and an axe and/or maul.

Robert

It depends. My truck holds a cord. If I can get my truck right next to the wood I can have it full in under 2 hours. I usually do not split while sawing but I can get through a cord of Douglas Fir (God's own wood) in an hour or so. Hemlock takes a bit more time and effort.

If I have to yard the logs or in some other way wrest them from the brush it can be several hours filling my truck.

 

[quads]

Curious what you all cut and split on an average day. Assume the tree is readily accessible, 20%-30% moisture content and you have 8 hours to cut and split.
Stacking doesn't factor in to my question. I know the species could throw a wrench in the equation. And I mean split by hand, no log splitters, just a chainsaw and an axe and/or maul.

Robert

Standing dead oak, no bark/recently tipped over: I easily cut, split, haul, and stack 1/6 of a full cord in 45 minutes, from start to finish. That includes taking pictures and watching the birds and general goofing around. So, in 8 hours, I could leisurely cut, split, haul, and stack over a full cord. But I never do that amount in one day. I couldn't anyway, since I have cows to milk and other chores to do.

The reason I use 1/6 of a full cord as a guide is that is what my little wood hauler trailer behind my ATV holds. I split by hand with my trusty old 6# maul, and have been doing so for 40 years. Where I cut wood is up to one mile away, so that's often how far I haul it.

 

[Jags]

but I think I could split a chunk/round 4-6 times, faster than any splitter.

I'll give you a cord of piss elm, and me a cord of piss elm. You an axe, me with my splitter. I'll have my feet propped up and a 6 pack down before you finish your pile.....let me restate that....If you finish your pile.

I'm not trying to pick a fight or anything, but I used to hand split everything - for years. I will give you the point that if you have straight grained stuff that pops apart with a stern look, you may be able to keep up - for awhile. But after a few hours, I still maintain the same productivity level. Most manual splitters cannot (maybe your an iron man..dunno).

From dropping, bucking, hauling home and splitting, one cord is all I really care to do.

 

[smokinj]

but I think I could split a chunk/round 4-6 times, faster than any splitter.

I'll give you a cord of piss elm, and me a cord of piss elm. You an axe, me with my splitter. I'll have my feet propped up and a 6 pack down before you finish your pile.....let me restate that....If you finish your pile.

I'm not trying to pick a fight or anything, but I used to hand split everything - for years. I will give you the point that if you have straight grained stuff that pops apart with a stern look, you may be able to keep up - for awhile. But after a few hours, I still maintain the same productivity level. Most manual splitters cannot (maybe your an iron man..dunno).

From dropping, bucking, hauling home and splitting, one cord is all I really care to do.

2 people 1-1/2 still a pretty good day I would not want to do a cord by myself that a hudge day....

 

[Jags]

but I think I could split a chunk/round 4-6 times, faster than any splitter.

I'll give you a cord of piss elm, and me a cord of piss elm. You an axe, me with my splitter. I'll have my feet propped up and a 6 pack down before you finish your pile.....let me restate that....If you finish your pile.

I'm not trying to pick a fight or anything, but I used to hand split everything - for years. I will give you the point that if you have straight grained stuff that pops apart with a stern look, you may be able to keep up - for awhile. But after a few hours, I still maintain the same productivity level. Most manual splitters cannot (maybe your an iron man..dunno).

From dropping, bucking, hauling home and splitting, one cord is all I really care to do.

2 people 1-1/2 still a pretty good day I would not want to do a cord by myself that a hudge day....

Yep, that is pretty much my extreme limit. I try not to work at it that hard, but once in a while everything just clicks and I can't make myself stop. I will admit that my wood source is easy access, my trailer handles 1 cord nicely. The saw will buzz through a cord in short order, and my old home built splitter makes easy work of the splitting, even with bigger stuff because of the log lift/output table. I will split directly off of the trailer that I locate as close to the splitter as reasonable. It really is a pretty slick one man operation for home/personal use.

 

[Lumber-Jack]

I have never cut much more than a truckload (just over a cord) in a day, and the only splitting I'll do on the same day is to split the bigger rounds up so I can fit more wood on the truck. With the back and forth driving involved it usually takes about 4 hours to get that cord of wood from the bush to home. But I generally never work alone either, so it's hard to gauge the time it would take me to do things on my own.

As far as the hydraulic splitter versus splitting maul goes, I think that takes a little more quantifying too. It's already been mentioned that some people are not up to the task of splitting wood manually with a splitting maul, and a hydraulic splitter might be the better choice for them, but by the same token not all hydraulic splitters are not up to the task either. I'll take a flabby office worker on a splitting maul over a slow, underpowered hydraulic splitter any day, at least the office worker will finally be getting some healthy exercise. A slow, underpowered hydraulic splitter is nothing but pure frustration.

Right now, with two strong young boys at home, we can take care of the splitting chore with splitting mauls pretty expediently , and enjoyably I might add, but when the time comes for me to purchase (or build) a hydraulic splitter you can be sure it will be a overpowered beast. :coolgrin:

 

[Jags]

but when the time comes for me to purchase (or build) a hydraulic splitter you can be sure it will be a overpowered beast. :coolgrin:

Splitters that get "stuck" tick me off. Thats why I built what I built. It stops for nothing. Period.

 

[smokinj]

but I think I could split a chunk/round 4-6 times, faster than any splitter.

I'll give you a cord of piss elm, and me a cord of piss elm. You an axe, me with my splitter. I'll have my feet propped up and a 6 pack down before you finish your pile.....let me restate that....If you finish your pile.

I'm not trying to pick a fight or anything, but I used to hand split everything - for years. I will give you the point that if you have straight grained stuff that pops apart with a stern look, you may be able to keep up - for awhile. But after a few hours, I still maintain the same productivity level. Most manual splitters cannot (maybe your an iron man..dunno).

From dropping, bucking, hauling home and splitting, one cord is all I really care to do.

2 people 1-1/2 still a pretty good day I would not want to do a cord by myself that a hudge day....

Yep, that is pretty much my extreme limit. I try not to work at it that hard, but once in a while everything just clicks and I can't make myself stop. I will admit that my wood source is easy access, my trailer handles 1 cord nicely. The saw will buzz through a cord in short order, and my old home built splitter makes easy work of the splitting, even with bigger stuff because of the log lift/output table. I will split directly off of the trailer that I locate as close to the splitter as reasonable. It really is a pretty slick one man operation for home/personal use.

yep my saw will cut much more than I want to pick up. One hour=3 hours of heavy lifting.lol Couple of weeks ago we had 4 people 2-361 1-460 and a splitter one saw could feed the whole process

 

[CTburning]

Late last summer I dropped a fairly large (28") White Oak on my property. I dropped it on a Saturday, and made a couple cuts in the trunk, We'll say 5. Using my old Poulan saw with a very crappy chain I bucked up the tree, rolled the rounds by hand downhill to my shed and splitting station. My neighboor let me borrow her splitter for the afternoon. In about 6-7 hours I bucked and split about 1 to 1.5 cords of wood and left it in a pile. The saw sucked but the splitter saved me hours. The only issue was that you had to lift all the rounds onto the splitter, no vertical splitting. That killed me as these rounds weighed a ton. Could I have done it as fast by hand, no way. At least double the time it took with the splitter.

 

[RAY_PA]

one tank of gas thru the 290 and then I split/stack everything and call it a good day. I used to do 2 tanks, but I am to fat and lazy for that much, anymore.