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Judging length of firewood.

J

JayinNY

Well-known Member
I started 15 years ago with a wood boiler that took 18" long logs 21" at the most, iv upgraded boilers so mine now takes 24" and 28" at the most, I used to get log length wood delivered, I would measure it with a broken tape measure section and mark 24" with spray paint. Now if I cut down a random tree ect I don't bother to measure it, but it seeme I most of the time come up short of 24" by eye, usually around 21". So how do you do cutting for length by eye?
 
measure the length of your bar. From the base of your saw to the tip of the bar. Then use that for your gauge to determine length of cut section.
 
I have done that in the past, but I guess I'm always in such a hurry I forget to use that method. Lol
 
I welded a real thin piece of rod to a bolt and put it thru a hole in my bar,works great,every piece is within a inch
 
My cutting would be too sloppy to sell. I sometimes intentionally cut short to miss a fork or other oddity and as I split by hand I cut the tough ones short, Makes stacking hard
 

Some guys will make a semi rigid whip out of 1/4 nylon rope that attaches to the end of the handle if they are cutting a longer length. It sticks out straight but bends if it gets against any thing.
 
Jay, I'm real fussy about the length of my firewood blocks.
I cut lengths of 3/8" PEX tubeing and tielock and tape it to the handles of my saws. The tubeing bends out of the way and springs back when necessary, and it's weight is no factor.
On ocasion my son comes up with his saw, so I cut a peice for him also. He just tapes it to the handle of his saw with electrical tape, and takes it off at the end of the day to put his saw back into the case. The PEX and a roll of tape fit in the case also for the next time he comes to help with the wood makeing.
Loren
a204142.jpg
 
I walk along the log and mark each place to cut with a quick touch of the saw. It only takes a minute to mark it, then the cuts go fast and accurately.
 
I cut mine to 19 inches--cut a piece of lath to that length and walk down log with a piece of yellow crayon and mark the cut lines
 
Lol! I go buy the "That looks about right" method. Occasionally I get one that is too long. I either cock it side ways or go grab the saw and cut it again.
 
Hey! I do that as well! That way it's only straight pieces for the house, forked, twisted, knotty, or crooked pieces then are picked up for the shop. Cut wood for both at one time.

Ross
 
I always end up short. We get together a few neighbor's at a time and cut and split wood - a cord for each of us at a time. I can fit 26 inch pieces but that is by far the longest. Either we sort firewood or I cut it their length and just take part of the stack. By the time the tired part of the day rolls around I don't care to have only long ones!
 
If I'm cutting it to sell I use a tape measure and a lumber crayon. 16 inch seems to be the easiest to sell. For our own use I cut it all different lengths, the cabin stove is limited to 18 inch but the house is 22, and the splitter only opens up to 22 so that makes it fool proof. My wife likes the shorter, lighter blocks and I use the long heavier ones at bedtime.
 
Greg, I clamp the PEX to 19". My splitter will only swallow 20" wood. When I cut for my central fireplace, I slid it back 2", because my dumb waiter has a 19" opening in the floor, where it comes up from the cellar.
Loren
 
I remember seeing this add on measuring tool a few years ago.

Loren's pex is as simple and inexpensive as it gets.

I'm fussy too, for 2 reasons, first is I use a Lockhart log grip, to move most of the blocks, it only handles, 15"-18" blocks, (they come in 3 sizes) TSC now has a foreign knock off of this tool. 2nd reason is that I stack and some of the stacks are tall single stacks for quicker seasoning, I'm on a hill and I use the wind to my advantage. Each of these stacks hold 2/3 of a cord at 16".

I can eyeball 16" well enough, for smaller diameter wood, I don't fuss as much. I have been laying a tape measure out on top of the larger logs, then mark with the chainsaw, then cut. I have a section of a broken tape measure like you too LOL, good use for one when they break.

One thing I do try and avoid is making short pieces, they are a pain to handle, well I'll have some bins or wood boxes eventually. So when I cut logs for towing or otherwise, I'll measure out to a good place to cut so I get as many 16" 's as I can, and not make shorts by just guessing where to cut.

Picked up my steel for my rear lift top link mast, once this 3 pt lift is done, I can buck/block all logs off the ground at comfortable work heights.
ChainsawRule
 
We have done a lot of pex over the years so lots of scrap pieces. I have an updated photo of the 1070 to show your son!
a204155.jpg

a204156.jpg
 
I measure my large rounds to be split. I can't go much over 15 inches. That is all my stove will handle. I think it was designed for coal. The smaller branches I can usually guess, most end up a little short anyway. The way the weather is changing here in California I need to start on my wood pile soon. Stan
 
Hello JayinNY,
If you can cut the wood consistently at 21" , here is what you do. Make your mark in the wood add the thickness of you chainsaw bar. That will take REAL close to 24" I'm sure. Harbor freight has free 25 feet ruler, just look for the coupon. Yellow or white sidewalk chalk and away you go! I made a rod that screws in the body of the saw and use it as a marker for the small saw.
That was more like a joke for my brother in law. He always came cutting with a ruler and yellow chalk. You can also mark the body of your saw measuring from the tip of the bar. I'm sure you will think of a way.......

Guido.
 
My sugarhouse wood all gets cut 18 to 20 inch, I eyeball it in relationship to the 18 inch bar on my big saw or the whole length of my tophandle saw with 12 inch bar. It burns just fine within an inch or two
 
If you need to worry about the correct length of the wood you cut you will never get very much cut in my woods.
So CUT IT OUT!
 
My stove won't hold over 12" so I'm happy with 10" - 12" pieces.
Stove is a 2 burner cook stove made to use coal or wood.
 
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