Gotta get a sledge and a couple wedges. I have a hydralic splitter but I still occasionally drive a wedge in something when I'm out cutting wood.
You say this was going to be your first year burning. Are you not burning this year now?
Yeah I need one soon. Have to find the best, reasonably priced sledge/maul.
Nope, I'm waiting until next year.
Everything was kind of last minute. In-laws bought us this tiny, shallow little insert as a house warming gift. They came over last weekend or the one before, can't remember. We installed the insert ghetto style. It's not totally in the firebox, there's no decorative plate or whatever you call it to hide the firebox, a short length of pipe is connected from the insert to the flue, and we fabricated our own block off plate. Chimney is internal but not lined. Poplar and wood I split is probably wet. I can go on lol.
Anyway, decided I should learn about what I'm doing it before jumping in head first. I have kids, a wife, and a retarded dog living in this house so I owe it to them to be responsible. Being responsible kind of sucks at times.