When best to split logs ?

[RogerS]

Just felled a very sizable fir.

Some of the logs will need splitting. When is it best to split them? Now or later when they've dried out a bit (but more importantly when the house is finished) ?

 

[Tusses]

depends what you have to split them , and how quick you will need them.
They will dry loads quicker if split now.
splitting wet logs can be a pain if you are using a log grenade or similar, as it can get stuck in the log !
if you have an hydraulic splitter, I'd def say split them wet.

 

[RogerS]

I have both log grenade and hydraulic splitter.

Many of the logs are 8" or more diameter and a bit too large for the log splitter which is happiest splitting 6" or less. So probably will use the grenade on a lot of them. Not stuck yet but I know what you mean.

 

[Tusses]

chain saw ?
if so , easiest green
as wood be the band saw (with the right blade)

hmmmm ... that got me thinking .. a band saw with a chain saw blade would be useful !

 

[Tusses]

I have both log grenade and hydraulic splitter.

Many of the logs are 8" or more diameter and a bit too large for the log splitter which is happiest splitting 6" or less. So probably will use the grenade on a lot of them. Not stuck yet but I know what you mean.

8" should be fine. .. I've got them stuck in 24" size logs .. a pain to get out ! :lol:

 

[AndyP]

I split a load of wet beech earlier in the year, upto 50cm long but most shorter and upto about 12-14" diam. I used a splitting wedge, the type that has twist, and the combination of maul and lump hammer. Never got the wedge stuck.

 

[Doug]

Depends on how quickly you want to burn them, as as Rich says they dry quicker when split.

A mate of mine with 2 log burners who doesn't like too much hard work cuts the logs to length, stacks them very openly in one of those cheap poly tunnels open at both ends.
A good hot summer & the logs will do half the job for him, though that type of summer might not be available in your locality

 

[RogerS]

Don't need to burn them that quickly as we have plenty already seasoned. Will never need to buy logs again for the fire, that's for sure.

I did end up splitting some with the grenade and some with the log splitter but then I got bored. No idea how to divide up these big boys. I still have another 6 on the grass.

 

[Tusses]

with the big trunk ones, I find it better to chip chunks of the edge, about 4" at a time, and work your way in.

 

[TrimTheKing]

What's a grenade?

Mark


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[RogerS]

What's a grenade?

Mark


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[AndyP]

Does that have a twist in it like this one which I use.

[youtube]pfZ_LWgkJm4[/youtube]

 

[RogerS]

Malheureusement, non, mon ami.

 

[Rod]

That's a might hammer he's wielding!

Rod

 

[TrimTheKing]

Thanks chaps. Looks like a handy tool. Not sure about the weird gobbledegook the fella on the video was talking but ho hum!

[emoji6][emoji23]

Cheers
Mark


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[Tusses]

nope .. mine's like the one in Rog's photo. slight twist .. but not like the red one.

 

[chataigner]

Just a thought, but burning pine logs produces all sorts of evil deposits in the chimney. Best have it swept frequently to avoid risk of chmney fires.
Ideally burn only dry, non-resinous wood such as oak or ash, best of all in my experience is hornbeam.

 

[Tusses]

Just a thought, but burning pine logs produces all sorts of evil deposits in the chimney. Best have it swept frequently to avoid risk of chmney fires.

I sweep my own .. so I can do it as needed.

but .. if you do get a chimney fire , with an open fire .. I've heard chucking a bucket of water on the fire might be effective, as the steam goes up the chimney and starves the oxygen, putting the fire out.

Never tried it .. but worth a try IMO , whilst waiting for the fire brigade !

 

[AndyP]

Just a thought, but burning pine logs produces all sorts of evil deposits in the chimney. Best have it swept frequently to avoid risk of chmney fires.

I sweep my own .. so I can do it as needed.

but .. if you do get a chimney fire , with an open fire .. I've heard chucking a bucket of water on the fire might be effective, as the steam goes up the chimney and starves the oxygen, putting the fire out.

Never tried it .. but worth a try IMO , whilst waiting for the fire brigade !

House insurance here demands chimney swept twice a year by a certified sweep.

 

[Tusses]

Just a thought, but burning pine logs produces all sorts of evil deposits in the chimney. Best have it swept frequently to avoid risk of chmney fires.

I sweep my own .. so I can do it as needed.

but .. if you do get a chimney fire , with an open fire .. I've heard chucking a bucket of water on the fire might be effective, as the steam goes up the chimney and starves the oxygen, putting the fire out.

Never tried it .. but worth a try IMO , whilst waiting for the fire brigade !

House insurance here demands chimney swept twice a year by a certified sweep.

I do mine at least 3 times .. but it's the way it's going with everything .. you are not being allowed to do anything yourself these days :evil:

I dread the day when it comes to car servicing !

 

[9fingers]

House insurance here demands chimney swept twice a year by a certified sweep.

Is that departmental code Andy? Does not seem to be the case down here in 82 (with stainless steel liner) if that makes any odds?

Bob

 

[AndyP]

No idea Bob, maybe I should have said OUR house insurance demands swept twice a year.....
We also have a stainless insert.
We are with MAIF have a read, or translate, here:
https://www.maif.fr/conseils-prevention ... aison.html

A savoir !
Un ramonage annuel est obligatoire, deux ou plus en cas d’usage intensif.

It is very clear on our policy document too.

Just had our preseason sweep done at the weekend €51. Small price to pay for peace of mind. On the advise of our sweep we also give the fire a weekly dose of this stuff https://www.leroymerlin.fr/v3/p/produit ... -gr-e98955.
he assures us that it keeps soot in the chimney powdery rather than like hard shiny creosote.

 

[RogerS]

.....
.... On the advise of our sweep we also give the fire a weekly dose of this stuff https://www.leroymerlin.fr/v3/p/produit ... -gr-e98955.
he assures us that it keeps soot in the chimney powdery rather than like hard shiny creosote.

Not wishing to rain on your parade, Andy, but this stuff looks like what we tried at the last place. It made diddly squat difference !

 

[AndyP]

No problem Roger, I did wonder whether it was snake oil. The chemicals in that stuff burn a nice coppery blue with hints of red. I tried to read up on at the time but everything was written with a manufacturers bias. If you have an unbiased reports on the stuff I'd be interested.
Our sweep was not trying to flog the stuff so had nothing to gain.

Edit: active ingredients in french
Chlorure d'ammonium, sufate de cuivre, sufate ferreux heptahrdrate
I think Ammonium chloride, copper sufate, ferrous sufate heptahrdrate

 

[RogerS]

Here you go

http://www.fluesystems.com/shop/Chimney ... g_Log.html

looks like I need to have a rethink. Just not sure. That test looks as if it was done on a flue pipe whereas we have a large open flue. Possibly the closeness of the flue pipe ensures the stuff from the log stands a reasonable chance of adhering to the sides where the creosote is.

 

[AndyP]

Those logs are available here too but I thought expensive compared to the one dose a week of the powder I use.

 

[RogerS]

Those logs are available here too but I thought expensive compared to the one dose a week of the powder I use.

Wonder if the ingredients are the same?

 

[AndyP]

The log contents
Ammonium sulphate, Diphosphorous pentoxide (phosphorous pentoxide) , Copper sulphate pentahydrate,
Amorphous silica

So similar.

 

[Tusses]

I find it best to split them whilst the tree is not still standing

there are 2 cars under this .. you can just see one of them

good news is it looks like it slowly laid over and hasn't done much damage that I can see so far.
The volvo is ok .. the porsche is still covered.
I'm taking limbs from the top down, so as to not put any more weight on the car.

 

[TrimTheKing]

[emoji33]


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[AndyP]

Ouch!. Glad it wasn't worse.

 

[Tusses]

that washing line is bolted pretty securely to the kitchen extension the other end (pre-me) :lol: .. it got pulled tight .. but luckily the split was just above it . I imagine it would have pulled the top of the wall off under the flat roof

so , lucky all round really !