Firewood - How to chop, store and light?

If you are going down the chainsaw route please consider getting (and wearing) the appropriate protective gear and familiarising yourself with the causes of chainsaw accidents.

Unless handled carefully, even a £60 one can rip your throat out.

Electric saw have their advantages. They are quiet, cheap to run and they always start. I have an electric Makita chainsaw that I use at home (so that I don't p!ss off my neighbours) and it is more than adequate.

This one...

Makita UC3530

I bought the Makita after looking at a lot of other makes, based on it's build quality and the fact that spares, from a washer to a motor armature, are readily available from normal Makita service centres. It's a 'proper' tool.

It really is nice to use and will cut through oak rounds up to about 10" diameter with no problems at all. It may well cut thicker with no problems at all but I've never had the need to try.

There are a few vids on Youtube showing it being used. Some reviews complain about the power cord being thick and stiff but that only applies to the US 120v versions. The UK 240v saws come complete with a 30' long pliable mains cable attached.

i was thinking of using this

If the supplied logs are too long then you'll need a bow saw or chain saw to cut them to length. You'll be weeks trying to cut one across the grain with any form of axe and you'll reduce a significant proportion of your wood to chips in the process.

Splitting them lengthways is easy enough with a maul or a felling axe (long handled job). Hand axes (the little foot long ones) are only really of use for splitting down for kindling etc. Keep them sharp, store them oiled in a rag to keep them from rusting, and observe some sensible basic safety measures. The wood you are chopping/splitting needs to be on a firm stable surface - a tree stump makes a good block. You'll need strong footwear (steel toe caps ideally) in case you miss. Your stance when chopping needs to keep as much of you out of the way as possible - i.e. legs sufficiently apart that if you swing through and it comes on towards you it goes between your legs not into your shin! Eye protection is always sensible as flying chips (whilst rare) will do nasty damage.

If you split them first and then size them with a sharp hand bow saw it won't be that bad. Alternatively have a word with the supplier and ask if they can do you a load cut shorter. If you get a regular thing going they can probably oblige.