It is difficult and time consuming to cut firewood with an axe. But it is quick and simple to cut firewood with a chainsaw. You’ve come to the right page if you’ve ever wanted to see how to cut firewood with a chainsaw.
I will show you in this guide how to cut firewood with a chainsaw so that you can get through it without damaging your back or spending hours out in the field.
How to Split Firewood with a Chainsaw
Step 1: Choose the Right Size Chainsaw
You first have to make sure that you have the right chainsaw size to get the task completed before you head out and start slicing and cut the firewood.
An 18-inch chainsaw is an ideal length for cutting firewood for most individuals. For indoor fireplaces, when all is set, you want a firewood piece of 16-inches.
If you start with large size tree, then you may want to get through the thickness of the wood with a 20 or 24-inch chainsaw. To get done the work perfectly.
Here the guiding rule of thumb is to pick a length of chainsaw that is two inches larger than the wood that you are about to cut. That way, you can prevent the nose from getting nicked or pinched and experiencing a chainsaw kickback.
Find out my other article with reviews of the best chainsaw for cutting firewood and read more about how to pick the best style chain saw for cutting firewood. It covers chainsaws in 18 to 24-inch lengths of each form (gas, electric, and battery-powered).
I also have on my best chainsaws page a more general list of highly-rated chainsaws.
Step 2: Protect Yourself
Safety still has to come first if you’re using a chainsaw. Particularly when it comes to defending yourself from injury. Often wear the right protective protection to remain healthy before beginning the process of cutting firewood with a chainsaw.
Check Here for – Chainsaw safety gear and equipment list
Those items include:
- Chainsaw chaps or thick jeans
- Cut-resistant gloves
- Eye protection or face mask
- Hearing protection
- Helmet
Step 3: Cut Tree Trunks into Usable Logs
The next move is to start chunking the tree materials into functional logs until you have the correct size chainsaw and all of your safety gear on.
To do that, you need to split the trunk into equal sections, about 4-foot lengths, that can be handled more easily. When using a forest tape measure and a marking spray, you can either eyeball this measure or be exact.
In my cuts, I like to be accurate, so with the forest tape measure, I measure every 4-foot segment and mark it with marking spray.
Next, if the trunk is lying on the ground, use your chainsaw to remove all of the marks 3/4 of the way into the trunk. Then turn the bark over with a felling lever, so you can hack from the other side and finish off the cuts.
You wouldn’t want to cut through a trunk lying on the ground all the way, and once you strike the dirt with your chainsaw chain, it would dull your teeth instantly. This is why you want to slash through one foot, roll over the trunk, and finish off the other side with the cut.
If you’re working on a sawhorse, then you can cut all the way through the trunk without any problems.
Step 4: Cut Logs into 16-inch Lengths
The next move is to turn those bits into correct firewood length of 16 inches until you have your trunk separated into 4-foot lengths.
Place your 4-foot log pieces on a sawhorse or begin working on the field in order to do this. In the last tip, just follow the same instructions about cutting through the logs without harming the chain.
Step 5: Cut the Firewood Size Logs in Half
Now comes the enjoyable section of making the logs into bits of firewood.
First, put the log on the ground or a tree stump in order to cut the firewood in half. Then to serve as a brace, put a piece of wood from either side of the log so that the log does not roll left or right.
Next, take your chainsaw and cut straight down the middle through the entire length of the log.
For this method, it’s better to dig the bucking spikes into the log at the base of your chainsaw and then pivot the blade down into the break.
Do not cut all the way into the wood, much as when you cut the logs on the ground, as you can hit the ground and dull the chain. Trim until you have about 1-inch of wood left on the log, instead.
Set down your chainsaw, then raise the wood with your hands. Turn it over and set it on one of other bits of wood you you’ve used as a supporting wedge or a tree stump.
The sudden force will complete the break and snap your log into two parts. Use a chopping down wedge and mallet to end the break and if it is.
Step 6: Cut the Firewood Halves into Quarters
This phase is identical to the last one.
Turn over the newly cut part of the firewood so that the field or tree stump is on the flat end.
Then, with the chainsaw, cut into the entire length of the wood.
Stop 1 inch or so before the end of the cut.
Set down the chainsaw, pick up the piece of wood, turn it over and lower it to finish off the break on a supportive wedge piece or the stump.
You should now have perfectly sized pieces of firewood until this phase is finished.
To complete off the other half of the log, repeat this step.
Then go back to step 5 and repeat the procedure until all the firewood has finished splitting.
Enjoy Your Freshly Split Firewood
Well you’ve got it there.
The full steps on how to use a chainsaw to cut firewood.
You now know how to cut firewood rapidly and reliably with a chainsaw.
Just note that for this work, it’s necessary to be using the right size chainsaw. Since an injury is more likely to occur, you don’t need to use a chainsaw that is too long or short for the job.
If you’re not using the right chainsaw size for this task, take a look at the best firewood cutting chainsaw to find the correct instrument for your needs. It covers chainsaws in 18 to 24-inch lengths of each form (gas, electric, and battery-powered).
Or see my best chainsaws page if you just want to search through a more general list of high-quality chainsaws.
I hope this step-by-step guide helped.