Advice on chopping logs for wood stove

Sobraon

The sharpener I have is a "Silverline Chainsaw Blade Sharpener" (search on ebay) I choose it because it has simple but effective indexing mechanism for the chain, but there is quite a range available. I also make sure I have at least one spare sharp chain with me when cutting, these can also be bought on ebay at reasonable costs.

I know the OP is dealing with smaller stuff but to split big logs then I am afraid a big sledge hammer is needed particularly if the wood is not straight grained.

A large sledge hammer is normally a 2 handed tool with about a 36" handle and mine is old, circa 1965 I guess, so its a bit heavier than a modern 16lb hammer. However, if more power is needed to split than you can get from a standard 6 or 7 lb axe then you really do need a big hammer to drive the wedges and not a puny 5lb one.

Oh, by the way, IMO Stihl chainsaws are the best so you have got a great saw and as Mervynn11 says the Stihl should go through your wood like butter and should be a real pleasure to use.

ridethelightning

Whats wrong with an axe?? Get a log splitting axe and once you get into the swing of it you will get through all the wood alot faster than a log grenade.

celerity

Sobraon wrote: »

The sharpener I have is a "Silverline Chainsaw Blade Sharpener" (search on ebay)

Thanks for this, I've found it on Amazon (a bit cheaper than eBay) here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001C85V3A/ref=asc_df_B001C85V3A3370806?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&!!!!!googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B001C85V3A

The user reviews suggest I'll have to cut a slot in my workbench though - is that right?

/\dam

celerity

I found a useful link on chainsaw maintenance (focused on Stihl models, but still of general use to all). I'm listing it here as it could be helpful to others reading this thread:

Sharp Advice For Chainsaw Owners (PDF)

From reading that, it looks like my overheating problem could well be caused by using motoring oil instead of Stihl approved oil. I'll order some from Amazon...

/\dam

celerity

OK, I have just spent 15 minutes playing with my new toys, and have to say that the maul is the tool of choice, hands down.

I'm by no means a strong guy (although I do know how to swing an axe) but the 8lb maul is just a delight to use. It smashes through sawn logs as if they weren't there.

I also tried the log grenade, and although it seems to work my initial impression is that it will prove to be a waste of money. By the time you fanny around pounding it into the log face and then whacking it several times with a sledge, I reckon you could have split two or three logs with a maul. Also, thus far it's only split the log into two, whereas the design is supposed to split it into four.

More crucially though, the grenade feels like work, whereas the maul is satisfyingly laden with testosterone .

Just for fun :


This is what's left of the pile that I'm definitely going to tackle this year.


This is the current leylandii logpile.



This is the pile stacked behind a shed, that I'll get round to at some point (it's deeper than it looks).




These are the bigger trunk sections which I'm just using as "features" in our chicken run. Some may eventually get burned, but I quite like them here, and so do the chickens .

/\dam

zeupater

Hi

Hardly anything worth splitting there apart what you're leaving for the hens to play with. Splitting leylandii wood too much will increase the surface area and the fire will burn hotter & faster and you'll be feeding the burner every hour .... once seasoned the logs will burn well at the diameters you already have.

HTH
Z