How To Split Firewood

For anyone who lives in the countryside and has a wood burning fire or stove, knowing how to split firewood is an essential skill.

Whether you get the wood delivered or fell it yourself you need to know how to split it into a usable size.

Any task that involves a tool as dangerous as an axe should be approached with caution, but more importantly also with the knowledge of how to do the task safely and easily.



Follow this simple guide and you'll soon know how to split firewood and have a full woodshed ready for winter.

Step 1.

Select a level block or stand, such as a tree stump, on which to split the firewood.

It is extremely important that the stand be around knee height.

This ensures that there is something to absorb the blow of the axe as it passes through the firewood and that the down swing doesn't continue towards your legs.

Making sure you don't swing the axe towards your legs is the most important aspect of how to split firewood safely.

Also an added bonus is that having a block around this height will stop you bending over to far and exerting too much strain on the back muscles.

Splitting firewood is a physical task, but need not be an overly strenuous one.



Step 2.

Position your feet hip width apart and slightly staggered, one in front of the other.

This gives a good strong stance from which to swing the axe.

Make sure the area you are working in is even floored and has no trip hazards, such as previously split firewood lying around.

The last thing that you want to do with a tool as dangerous as an axe is trip over on top of it.

You may also wish to consider wearing safety goggles in case of flying wood splinters and gloves in case of blisters.

It's a fact that most injuries occurring while splitting firewood result from the user being careless with the axe, not from the act of splitting the wood itself.



Step 3.

Hold the axe, which should be the length of your arm, by the bottom of the handle with both hands.

Swing the axe above the head and then downwards, letting the weight of the axe do the work and the arms acting to guide rather than propel it.

Aim for nice even and easy strokes.

Splitting firewood is a repetitive task and the action needs to be fluid if you intend to spend much time doing it.



Step 4.

If cutting large rounds of wood then try and aim just outside the core of the wood for an easy split.

Aim to cut even sections for maximum burning time and ease of stacking.

Ensure you stack the split wood neatly, keeping the splitting area tidy and safe.

If you start feeling tired take a break, it's never a good idea to be swinging an axe if you're too tired to aim properly or if your grip is uncertain.

After following this simple guide you should be able to get out there and know how to split firewood safely and easily.

Go get some practice in.



Image By Ollie Crafoord