Producing BBQ Smokin' Wood...

[Wood Doctor]

Normally I just sell this by the bundle in small lots. A lady called up and wants a whole truckload of ash an mulberry in short lengths (8 to 10 inches) and a girth of about the size of your wrist. I tried to explain to her that there would be enough in a truckload to last for years, but she doesn't care.

I have a 3-cross saw buck that should be ideal for cutting my existing 16" to 18" firewood logs or rounds in half and then those would have to be split down to size. The question I have is would it be better to buck the big rounds to length before splitting, or should I split the 16" to 18" dia. rounds down first and then buck cut the small splits in half afterwards, cutting several at once in the saw buck? i.e., Should I split first and then cut to length or buck cut to length first and then split the short lengths?

I figure I might end up with 800 short chunks in the truck, so I think it's best to establish the better of the two procedures. TIA.

 

[cuinrearview]

I say buck then split. I've used my mitre saw on small splits before to make chunks for my smoker but it wasn't fun

 

[4seasons]

I find 16-18" logs hard to cut without a way to secure them. If they are bigger around it may make them easier to cut, but then you are left with having to split them twice. If you have a good way too secure them I would think split first, cut second would be faster.

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[Wood Doctor]

You guys are torn apart just like I am. I think it may turn out that I'll have to experiment, and I will also likely end up doing it both ways. I have quite a few mulberry logs already split down to firewood size and length, but they need to be split again and buck cut in half. But once again, I'm not sure which should come first.

My gut feeling is to buck cut first and split second, regardless of log size or round size. The end result is then tossed inside the pickup truck, one or two at a time. Regardless, I have feeling this project is going to eventually drive me into the nut house.

Oh, and I also have a Kindling Cracker that LOML gave me last year. I may have to give it a pound or two.

 

[NSMaple1]

Which way would have less handling? Thinking splitting first would? If you can split it right where it is now. Not sure tho.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Which way would have less handling? Thinking splitting first would? If you can split it right where it is now. Not sure tho.

There is yet another variable: splitting shorts is easier than longs, especially if crotch is involved. And you can stack the shorts two up in the splitter and get four out in one pass.

 

[NSMaple1]

I don't know how much it applies, but in Europe a pretty common practice is to split in double long lengths, stack/season, then cut in half to length. I couldn't quite get my head around doing it that way - but it would seem they must have settled on doing it that way for a reason?

 

[svk]

I say cut first then split

 

[svk]

I don't know how much it applies, but in Europe a pretty common practice is to split in double long lengths, stack/season, then cut in half to length. I couldn't quite get my head around doing it that way - but it would seem they must have settled on doing it that way for a reason?

They usually cut small diameter cord wood and split it in half to quarter where North Americans are usually cutting larger wood and splitting it into many more pieces per round. At least what I’ve seen.

 

[sb47]

I split wood for bagged wood and I buck to size first then split. I have used my miter saw to cut longer splits down to length but it's not a safe way to do it.
I had to build a hold down to make using the miter saw safer. Odd shaped splits can and will jam in the miter saw and it's instantaneous, and can suck the work piece and your hand into the saw faster then you can blink.
Besides being unsafe it's time consuming and cost money to run the saw.

Example: miter saw hold down

I cut my rounds at 14'' then split. This is what my premium heartwood looks like.
There 14'' long and about 3''x3'' average.

 

[farmer steve]

There is yet another variable: splitting shorts is easier than longs, especially if crotch is involved. And you can stack the shorts two up in the splitter and get four out in one pass.

I always end up with shorts and I do like you say and lay a couple on the splitter and run the wedge through them. I have had to cut long splits down that people have given me and I think it is a PITA. I hope you quoted the lady a good price for all the extra work. PS the mulberry is super good smoking wood.

 

[Wood Doctor]

I always end up with shorts and I do like you say and lay a couple on the splitter and run the wedge through them. I have had to cut long splits down that people have given me and I think it is a PITA. I hope you quoted the lady a good price for all the extra work. PS the mulberry is super good smoking wood.

I bumped it $20 over my typical price to her for mixed fireplace hardwoods. I also said I would throw it into the truck in a random pile. Heck, there would be about nine rows otherwise and take forever to fill. I agree that mulberry is fabulous smokin' wood and some like it better than oak. Around here we can't even find hickory. The only other major nut tree is walnut and she ruled that out. I hope she doesn't expect me to stack those short sticks.

BTW, that Kindling Cracker works. And, both oak and mulberry split rather easily, especially short logs -- one or two strikes is about all it takes with a 4-lb dead blow hammer.

 

[blades]

Over length splits - I run them through my band saw trim to size also works great for spliting those 2-3" dia pieces

 

[Wood Doctor]

Over length splits - I run them through my band saw trim to size also works great for splitting those 2-3" dia. pieces.

That's what I did last year for my smokin' wood bundles that I was selling. I saved small, full-length splits of oak and then cut them in half with my band saw. Next, I split the shorts in half or thirds with my Kindlng Cracker and bagged them up. But, I never processed 900 to 1,000 logs. This is a while new ball game.

Why would any small lady want a thousand small logs for a BBQ smoker in her back yard patio? That truly amazes me.

 

[VW Splitter]

I have a friend that I trade Hickory culinary cooking / smoking wood for smoked / pulled pork. I have found that the bigger the wood the easier it is to cut. small splits are hard to hold together and cut. I usually cut the logs 12" long them split them down to size.

 

[Wood Doctor]

I have a friend that I trade Hickory culinary cooking / smoking wood for smoked / pulled pork. I have found that the bigger the wood the easier it is to cut. small splits are hard to hold together and cut. I usually cut the logs 12" long them split them down to size.

Another vote for buck cut first with the saw and then split second. I have a few really large rounds that I may have to split in half first, buck cut the large splits in half, and then split down to final small girth. So, a combination attack may be needed now and then. You guys have been very helpful. Procedural planning is always important.

 

[rancher2]

I am lucky I have a self contained buzz saw and in the past when I have had this problem I would run it threw the splitter and then cut it to length on the buzz saw and load it. I used to sell a fair amount of smoker wood but most wanted fruit wood. Haven't sold any wood in years.

 

[Brad Burnette]

I'm fixing to start selling wood and debating on what size to cut. I'm going to be bagging a lot of it so depending on what size the bag will take. I've been looking at commercial built smokers at Lowes, Wal mart etc and most of the fireboxes are around 15" to 16 " wide so I'm gonna try to cut most of my wood 14" to compensate. I'm also gonna sell fire pit wood by the tote with all my shorts and what not. Gonna start collecting totes out the trash and from thrift stores and what not and if the people bring me an old tote I'll knock off a buck.

 

[JohnnyBlade]

I say buck then split. Lighter wood to handle. Splits easier. Ull be handling twice as much wood but it wont be as strenuous which is a plus for ur back. And the mulberry has me smiling and mouth watering

 

[Wood Doctor]

My problem more than anything was that I had already cut all the big rounds into 16" to 18" lengths for fireplace and stove wood. So, cutting those rounds in half gets you down to 8" to 9" lengths, and those splits will not stack inside a typical log holder that needs at least 14" lengths.

The solution was to show the customer a typical split before cutting it in half. Customer agreed to buy all my splits at standard 16" to 18" lengths and then use an electric Sawzall (reciprocating saw) to cut a few long ones in half whenever necessary -- a rather simple task. I also said I would supply about 20% of the split logs in shorter lengths that would fit in his smoker's firebox without any further cuttting.

Storing lots of really short split logs is not exactly easy and nobody wants a big pile of short splits that cannot be stacked lying on a patio. Sometime compromise is the best solution.