If you had a choice - what size tree would you choose to cut

[mainewoods]

I am fortunate enough to own a 50+ acre, heavily forested woodlot. I can pick and choose whatever diameter tree I prefer, so my choices are limitless. Most of the trees I cut are smaller (8-12") just to thin out the woods and promote growth of the larger trees. I find that the smaller wood is easier and faster to process, splitting is faster ( less splits) and handling is a lot less strain than bigger diameter wood. Over half of the wood I cut does not require splitting at all and stays as rounds. Everyone has their preference, but I find smaller wood adds up just as fast as as really large wood by the time you have wrestled those huge chunks around and split them multiple times. Add noodling to the mix and you have increased the time taken to process even more. So, if you had a choice , what size would YOU really choose?

 

[cre73]

I have been getting into some 18-20in silver maple and ash lately that is as straight as could be. It has me spoiled now, don't want to cut anything else.

 

[autoimage]

I like splitting and lifting logs so its 20" for me

 

[davidbradley360]

I am fortunate enough to own a 50+ acre, heavily forested woodlot. I can pick and choose whatever diameter tree I prefer, so my choices are limitless. Most of the trees I cut are smaller (8-12") just to thin out the woods and promote growth of the larger trees. I find that the smaller wood is easier and faster to process, splitting is faster ( less splits) and handling is a lot less strain than bigger diameter wood. Over half of the wood I cut does not require splitting at all and stays as rounds. Everyone has their preference, but I find smaller wood adds up just as fast as as really large wood by the time you have wrestled those huge chunks around and split them multiple times. Add noodling to the mix and you have increased the time taken to process even more. So, if you had a choice , what size would YOU really choose?

I would measure the opening in my wood stove door, and cut all the dead standing trees that were the size or smaller, so I didn't have to split them to burn it. Also cut all the leaners and dead fallen trees that size first, if they aren't rotted.

Then go up in diameter from there, having to split it as you go.

Leave the biggest ones for last.

 

[Locust Cutter]

10-20" is the most fun. Anymore or less and there's a lot of extra work (still worth it though).

 

[Fred Wright]

24" and under works fine for me. I'd prefer not noodling rounds but sometime ya got no choice. Can't bear to leave good wood lay just because it's too big or too heavy to lift.

Have found that with smaller trees - say, 8" to 12" - ya do a lot more cutting to get your wood. I've taken several smaller ones, ugly leaners and other junk trees just to make the woods look better. But my preference is bigger trees. More splits versus the number of bucking cuts.

 

[zogger]

Since I got larger saws, around 30 inches. Works good with a 3 foot bar. Get plenty of small stuff from the branches, and medium sized stuff. I like one tree, multiple cords.

It doesn't matter a lot though, I was a one saw plan, 30 cc class for like years and years and took mostly all small stuff, kept warm fine.

 

[cre10]

On my farm I have a **** ton of 6" locust trees that are terrific to cut because you don't have to split them.

 

[cnice_37]

12" for the splitter and 1 pass on the 4-way
20" so I can still lift it without noodling and get plenty of nice splits with the ole Fiskars (my exercise)

Found a great use for my neighbors horrible ability to cut similar lengths - the shorties (10" and under) I have my 4 yr old daughter split into kindling by me holding a hatchet and her using a dead blow hammer. Couple of chunks here and there and she's interested and has fun and we make some kindling for next year. This is straight pine, so easy enough, any knots go for the firepit.

 

[MountainHigh]

10-20" is the most fun. Anymore or less and there's a lot of extra work (still worth it though).

The older I get the more I prefer cutting 10" to 20" max as well. Without wishing to stray too far off topic on this thread, does anyone feel the 562xp is overkill for 10 to 20" wood cutting?

 

[sunfish]

I also get to chose what I cut, & for firewood I like 10-20" Oak. Only big stuff we cut is dead, the smaller stuff is green cut for thinning and improving the timber stand.

 

[sunfish]

The older I get the more I prefer cutting 10" to 20" max as well. Without wishing to stray too far off topic on this thread, does anyone feel the 562xp is overkill for 10 to 20" wood cutting?

The 562xp is nice for 18" and up, but the 346xp handles everything under 20" for me...

 

[mainewoods]

Not in the least- damn good firewood saw IMO.

 

[mainewoods]

I do cut a lot of wood bigger than 12" also. I like 8" because it doesn't need to be split and I have a lot of it.

 

[mainewoods]

I can buck up a lot of 8-12" wood in the time it takes to wrestle and split 24" and up rounds.

 

[sunfish]

I do cut a lot of wood bigger than 12" also. I like 8" because it doesn't need to be split and I have a lot of it.

A 8" round wont fit in my stove!

 

[ash man]

For years I have only cut small ash trees.(24" and under). I've got some bigger saws and a 23 ton splitter and the last 2 years I have taken on more huge trees than ever. I take what I can get, but rolling those huge rounds under the splitter has been taking its toll on my back. I think I will have to invest into a lift for the splitter. Enclosed is a pic of one of the big ones I cut and split recently.

 

[Locust Cutter]

In all actuality, any size is fine with me as long as a: I'm not paying for the wood, b: it's not rotten and c: it;s at LEAST as hard as a Silver Maple... Luckily I'm fortunate to have access to somewhere between 3-7K acres between Family and friends which has everything from Piss Elm to Hedge and mostly on the harder end of things... The biggest problem is finding the time.

 

[Locust Cutter]

A 8" round wont fit in my stove!

A 8" round won't fit in the black bear?

 

[Whitespider]

I like 'em BIG‼
The bigger they are the more firewood ya' make before ya' haf'ta load/move/unload tools and equipment or clear new felling and work areas.
If I can spend the whole weekend, or two, or even three working in the same spot I figure I'm time way ahead in the game.
Because I do everything except stacking right at/in the felling area (bucking, splitting and loading), big works best for me (plus, ya' haul less bark and end up with a ton of bark-less splits).
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