OWB, What size splits?

[msmith]

We've had an OWB since 1991. Started out with a Taylor 750. We have since moved and now use a Central Boiler Classic 6048. Started out using 18' splits because I also cut wood for my MIL and her King. I just cut one size and divided it as needed. I just adjusted to tending the stove more often in the colder weather, which was OK because I was young and full of vinegar.

Since my MIL doesn't use her wood burner much any more, I have increased the length to 2' and it has worked well. I like to have a diverse size of splits ranging from, "can barely lift it" to splinters. I like this so that I can mix match species and sizes according to the weather and I only have to tend to it, even in the colder temps, once every 24 hours. This year, I am going to be heating my garage and am going to increase the length to 30" since I can go longer but not higher in the firebox. I guess I could just stay at 2' and tend to it more often, but I really like the convenience of only having to fool with it in the evenings when I am doing my normal chores. My neighbor puts two rows of 15 in his. He does this because his dad is older and it is easier for him to handle the shorter lengths.

All of this got me curious as to what length other people are using for their OWB and why. Everybody has a system that works for them and I was just curious as to what works for you?

 

[Marshy]

If you have wood that needs splitting the 30" lengths are going to be harder to handle up front. The 15" chunks are a good idea, think about it, if you had 12" or a 14" diameter round you can easilly toss in two 15" long rounds into the fire. Try tossing in a 30" long round thats the same diameter. You might need to split the 30" rounds that are that diameter. Less splitting in trade for more cutting, I'd take that anyday.
I should add that I do not own an OWB.

 

[greendohn]

I cut my firewood about 20" long and split it big and small with about a 1/3 of it pretty big.hard to see I guess, 8 to 14 inches?

 

[msmith]

If you have wood that needs splitting the 30" lengths are going to be harder to handle up front. The 15" chunks are a good idea, think about it, if you had 12" or a 14" diameter round you can easilly toss in two 15" long rounds into the fire. Try tossing in a 30" long round thats the same diameter. You might need to split the 30" rounds that are that diameter. Less splitting in trade for more cutting, I'd take that anyday.
I should add that I do not own an OWB.

I'm already using 30" long logs. A little cumbersome, but not bad.

 

[Marshy]

I'm already using 30" long logs. A little cumbersome, but not bad.

When handeling 30" length stuff what diameter can you handle before you have to split it?

 

[Woodomaker]

What ever the wife can lift, if i get sick, etc....

 

[H-Ranch]

My firebox is about 48" deep so I cut and split to about 20" long and 6" in diameter (or generally whatever shape I can pick up with one hand.) This size is reasonable for my wife or neighbor to handle if I'm out of town or otherwise unable to load it. I can put in two rows when the weather calls for it as well as the benefit of less smoke and more heat from the same amount of wood since it seasons better when split and stacked. I also cut 6" and smaller poles and limbs to somewhere around 40" long to make less cutting. The stuff that is too hard to split/shorts/oddball stuff goes into the overnight pile which I usually finish off before the midway point through the burning season.

 

[Tree Feller]

I cut mine to around 20" long and split them to a good size to handle. Ant thing larger that 6" round gets split. My fire box is 3' deep. I never have under stood why people need to cut the wood to fill up the fire box? I don't pack mine and get 10 hours of bun time. Thats when its 20 at night and 35 or so in the day time with the house set to 78. I work with a guy who gets so caught up in packing his fire box all it will hold. Just don't see the need to cut it so big and long thats it breaks your back to get it in the stove. But i'm not built very big either!

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

We do around 2 ft for the shop stove.l, which is max length on the processor. It's not a boiler but the firebox is big. Around 4ftx7ft.
Split size is whatever splits come out, where often on bigger logs would need to resplit for customer firewood. Pretty much as long as it's light enough to put into the stove it's fine so max of maybe 50ish lbs.
When it's cold the stove is filled to the max 3-4 times a day. Each load easily holds a very heaped wheelbarrow full so 4+ wheelbarrow loads a day.

 

[Dogsout]

If I know that I am going to have to split it the decision rest on what will fit on my 35 ton Speeco log splitter. I think the max length is 28" there for I am trying to stay with in the 24" range. So even the ones I don't split 8" and down I just cut the same length so to make stacking more uniform. I am in Tree Fellers camp when it comes to filling the burner, on a really cold day here in Iowa I will fill it about 2/3 up in the morning at 6:00 AM and top it off to 2/3 again at 6:00 PM. I guess I am a little different compared to most OWB owners in that I really look forward to loading the burner morning and night and am not concerned in the least about getting a 24 hour burn. (Even though most days I think I could) To each his own so what ever works best for you that's great seeings how there is no rock solid one way to do it.

 

[H-Ranch]

I guess I am a little different compared to most OWB owners in that I really look forward to loading the burner morning and night and am not concerned in the least about getting a 24 hour burn. (Even though most days I think I could) To each his own so what ever works best for you that's great seeings how there is no rock solid one way to do it.

I'm pretty much the same way. Oh, occasionally I'll have an evening that I'm already comfortable in the house and then realize that I have to go back out to load the OWB - most times I do, but I've also been known to let it go until morning. Either way I end up smiling every time I load it anyway.

 

[AKDoug]

I have a Woodmaster 5500. Its firebox is about 5' deep. We cut to 24" long and split (also the longest length our splitter can handle) We put in two rows when we stoke up. Frankly, it's a lot nicer handling 24" longs stuff than anything bigger.

 

[rancher2]

I run a Garn and we cut most at 22 to 24 inches just because they are easier to handle and stack. Split size vary a little as one guy that helps his splits get a little big as the day goes by and the other guy that helps kind of over splits and the size gets a little small sometimes. Normal we split and stack in trailers and I store the trailers inside and just go from the trailers right to the Garn.

 

[cantoo]

I have a 54" deep boiler. I cut limbwood up to 8" diameter to about 48" long and stack in wooden crates that are 30" wide. Last year I cut my wood to 24" because that's all my splitter would handle. This year I'm building a couple of splitters and plan on a 32" one and a 48" one. I plan to split things a little smaller so it dries faster and my wife can handle the wood easier. We never fill it full anyway, just not enough heat draw to do that anyway.

 

[msmith]

Right now I am experimenting with the 30 inchers. Depending on the species, I go about 8" in diameter before it gets too cumbersome, sometimes a little smaller. Splitting everything by hand right now, but if it works out, since I am in the market for a new splitter, I will pick up either a Timberwolf 36" or a Wallenstein processor that will do the 30". Looking at it from a fiscal standpoint, it will probably be a TW3HD with log lift, 36" if it works out, or the 24" if it doesn't'.

It is interesting that everyone has a way that they like to do it for whatever reasons. I enjoy cutting and splitting firewood and enjoy tending the stove. The one thing that I don't enjoy is going out before work to tend the stove. I come in smelling like a sausage, lol, and need a shower. For convenience sake, I prefer a 24 hour burn just so that I am not as tied to it. This way, if I am out of town working, my wife only has to worry about it once a day, or if we go on a weekend trip, my brother-in-law only has to stop by and check it once a day, and with a little luck and planning, he won't have to add anything the whole weekend, just breeze in and check it.