Ideally, an ax is used to split firewood because it is convenient and the go-to method by almost everyone. But, it requires a lot of time and also energy to do that.
What if we told you that you can split firewood into just a few simple and easy steps that will save you time and will not require any hard labor at all?
If we are being honest, doesn’t take a genius to know that you can use a chainsaw to split firewood.
If you are tired of splitting wood with an ax and looking for a rather simpler way then let us tell you that you have landed at the right place.
You will be surprised to know that how many people have said goodbye to the old-fashioned method of splitting firewood with an ax and have started to use a chainsaw instead because it is a far better tool for cutting firewood in comparison to an ax.
In this guide, you will learn how to split firewood with a chainsaw and will learn why a chainsaw is a far better method than any other existing methods used by people.
Moreover, you will also get some insights on what type of chainsaw you should go for to split firewood specifically. Quite frankly, chainsaws are a rather riskier option and the chance of injury is slightly higher than an ax.
However, if you take all the precautionary measures then you won’t have anything to worry about.
Table of Contents [hide]
- Chainsaw or Axe? What Is Better for Splitting Firewood?
- Is There a Specific Type of Chainsaw for Splitting Firewood?
- Step-to-Step Guide: How to Split Firewood With a Chainsaw
Chainsaw or Axe? What Is Better for Splitting Firewood?
If you are wondering that is using a chainsaw to split firewood is better than an ax, let us convince you why. Quire frankly, there is no right or wrong method. It is all about what you prefer and what is convenient for you.
An ax is still used to split firewood and has been being used for a long time by many people. But, if you ask us, then we would say that using a chainsaw is much better than using an ax.
Precisely why, you need to learn how to split firewood with a chainsaw. If you have ever split firewood before or have seen anyone split firewood, you would know that it is a painstaking task that can take hours to get done and if you are starting fresh with a new raw log then you will have to split into a lot of pieces to achieve the right size for firewood. Some of the risks of splitting firewood with an ax are that it will take a toll on your back.
It can strain or injure your wrists and you could even experience muscle problems in different areas in your body that could take time to recover or could even last a lifetime.
Once you make the switch to a chainsaw, you will feel there is a huge difference in how easily you get the task done.
You will not only get the task done faster, but you will also be keeping yourself safe from any injuries and you will also enjoy cutting wood with a chainsaw once you get the hang of it.
Is There a Specific Type of Chainsaw for Splitting Firewood?
Chainsaws are built to cut wood, and the firewood size needed for the fireplace is pretty universal. For splitting firewood, you would need a chainsaw that has 16 inches or 18 inches bar with an engine-power of 50cc.
If we are honest, a chainsaw with an 18 inches bar is ideal as it will allow splitting firewood into smaller pieces easily, efficiently, and quickly.
You will not need a chainsaw that has a huge bar because it will be huge for splitting wood into smaller pieces of firewood. A medium-sized chainsaw will be perfect and you will be able to work with it more easily.
Now coming on to the type of chainsaw, it all depends on you. If you want to go for an electrically-powered or gas-powered chainsaw, you can purchase either.
All you have to keep in mind is that the chainsaw is by a trusted manufacturer.
You can also explore your options, there are battery-powered chainsaws too that are very portable and effective in their operations too. The only drawback with cordless chainsaws is that they have short runtime.
Whereas, the advantage of a gas-powered chainsaw is that they have a longer-runtime and offer powerful performance as well.
However, another thing you need to be careful about is whether you will be starting from scratch. If for instance, you have to chop a tree down for firewood then a chainsaw with an 18 inches bar wouldn’t be able to do that.
In that case, you will have to go for a chainsaw that is at least 24 inches and a gas-powered chainsaw should be your go-to option because a battery-powered chainsaw does not come in the 24 inches size.
A rule you can remember when you are using a chainsaw to split wood is that the chainsaw bar should be at least 2 inches longer than the wood itself when.
For example, if a tree has a width of 22 inches then a chainsaw with 24 inches would be perfect for the cutting. If you keep all these factors in mind, you will know what type of chainsaw you need!
Step-to-Step Guide: How to Split Firewood With a Chainsaw
Step 1: Splitting the Wood into Chunks
The first step is obviously to get your chainsaw ready, once you are ready with your chainsaw and have your safety gear on, you will have to start the cutting process.
For instance, if you already have a huge tree trunk in your backyard. You will have to cut the tree trunk into equal parts for easy management.
We will advise you to chop the tree trunk into four equal parts, each chunk should measure about a foot-long. It’s a pretty easy partition task and you will not be needing a measuring tape for it.
Assuming that the tree trunk is laying flat on the ground, you have to chop it ¾ through the trunk in four-parts. You will have to perform this exercise on the entire tree trunk length and will have to turn the tree trunk around to split it into four.
This is the safest method to perform this task as it will prevent any kickbacks from happening, that is a common occurrence when it comes to chainsaws.
Step 2: Chopping Into 16 Inches
Once you are done cutting the huge tree trunk into four-equal parts you will have to chop them into smaller pieces that are approximately 16” in length each. Assuming that the before chopped pieces are laying flat on the ground, you can use the above-mentioned method.
We recommend you to follow the same method because it is easy and convenient. We are sawing the chopped pieces into further smaller pieces because we want the firewood to be conveniently managed and to be easily carried as well.
Step 3: Splitting the Chunks into Firewood
Now that you have 16” wood chunks, you will be splitting the pieces of timber into smaller pieces. Take the timber and place it on the ground. Then using two other pieces of timber, place them on both sides around the timber you will be chopping.
This step is important because you need support before you split it into firewood. Take your chainsaw and directly cut through the log in the middle of its entire length.
When you are cutting, make sure you leave an inch at the bottom of the log. If you do not follow this rule, you will be jeopardizing the chainsaw’s blade when it hits the ground.
For the wood that is left uncut, you will have to rip the timber in half manually using your hands, it will not take a lot of time.
Once you are done splitting all the timber into firewood, the last step will be to chop the halves into smaller quarters as you will achieve thin pieces that can easily be thrown into the fireplace and also will be easy to carry.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned step-to-step guide is an easy and simple way, if you follow it accurately you will have successfully learned how to split firewood with a chainsaw.
Although, we are aware that using a chainsaw is a little riskier in comparison to using an ax to split firewood if you take all the precautionary measures you will not have to worry about a thing. Automatic cutting will still save you a lot of effort and manual labor.
Once you get the hang of it, you will be super glad that took out some time and learned how to split firewood with a chainsaw and will never go back to using an ax!
