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Fresh
wood contains about 45 % water. Before the wood is put into the fire
the percentage of water must come down to about 25% or less, which it
normally has after a summer’s drying. The bark slows the drying of the
wood. Therefore split wood dries more easily than unsplit wood. It also
means that split wood does not get moldy or rotten as easily, and of
course, is much better to make a fire with.
If you think the stick or branch firewood is too thin to split, you
can debark a string along it and the wood will dry quicker. Hardwoods
such as oak, maple and hickory have greater energy content than softwoods
such as pine, fir and aspen.
An old Swedish way, not very common today, is to fell the tree with
its leaves on – especially directly after leafing – and put off the
limbing until the leaves have withered. Then much of the water has evaporated
through the leaves and the wood dries quickly after splitting. Apart
from this old method, winter is regarded as the best time of year for
felling.
Felling and working with a chain saw will always be a dangerous task.
It is important to learn how to use a chain saw and good felling techniques.
Always use good protective equipment when felling and cutting with a
chain saw. Saw the log to suitable lengths of wood, “rounds”, with a
bow saw or a chain saw.
Split the rounds at once – the more it dries the tougher and more
difficult it is to split.
It is rather easy to split even newly felled thick rounds, yet very
difficult to split after a year. Frozen wood is “brittle” and easy to
split.
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If you think the stick or branch
firewood
is too thin to split,
you can debark a string along it
and the wood will dry quicker.
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