I got a relatively inexpensive electric/ hydraulic splitter from Lowes because it is much more efficient. Using the chainsaw reduces your cost to gain ratio by wasting fuel and wasting some of your wood. Plus, more wear on expensive chains. That said, this ripping method is good for wood that does not split easy and logs with lots of knots that don't split easily either. Most places that sell you firewood throw the hard to split stuff away so this makes for a little less waste. I just bought a plug-in electric saw made by Oregon to at least save on gasoline when doing this method. Wish me luck. I was going to buy one of the splitting axes with the little ears on the sides to be faster, but I tore something in my shoulder so that is no longer an option. Adding my old age to that, might as well let the machines do the work. Anyway, thanks for the pointers. Very useful.
I generally save the "gas axe" for those most gnarly, knotty logs. Most of the wood i split is faster split with the wedge/hammer/axe sequence. It's anger management, and exercise all at once. It's pretty quick, as well.
Thanks for watching. I agree I mostly use the axe and wedge as well. I just shared this technique for those that can't necessarily swing the axe all day.
Thanks for watching and for the support. Finally someone who agrees with me. A lot of guys are like just split it with an axe. Yeah you can do that but why the wood is fresh it doesn’t slip easy and a saw could help out!
Thanks for watching. Lol I appreciate the positive feedback..I’m sure a skill axe man can do a much better job but some of us just like using our chainsaws!!
@@taylornoble8462 Like I said you may still like the axe better. I know me personally there are times I miss the log etc and get slightly frustrated/tired and swinging the axe. I know with the saw it will cut it every time. As long as the chain is sharp anyway. A log splitter is even better.
@@GReviewz i know. my wife made me an X small enough to hold logs so i can split it down the middle with a flat wooden platform nailed to the bottom so that if it wiggles while cutting i can put my foot on the platform to hold it steady. plus, there's a gap so i know when I've split the wood. same goes when i put the half in place to split it into a quarter
Great work I’d do the first cut then axe the rest should split very easy then. I love stihl and I have a stihl ms251 but my echo cs590 is a beast and that’s my go to saw.
Thanks for watching. That is a good idea. My luck I’ll hit the nail with my chain. I ended up just cutting a V in my splitting log to keep those logs put.
Maximaniac72 thanks for watching. Please consider subscribing. Obviously in my video I am splitting some less harder wood than your elm. Splitting the way I did is kind of dangerous because the wood car easily go right/left. If you take your time it may work for you. Be careful. I’d say if the splitter can’t do it the saw might not be able to either. Hope the video helps.
You guys are wild.. that little sthil dont burn hardly any gas.. a gallon of gas run that saw all day. Easier with a maul?? Yeah maybe, if the peice is perfect for splitting, but most aint... quicker? Same answer.. this saw is also underpowered for this.. if he got him a 261 or something similar , same bar , it would eat thru that wood like a hot knife.... So if your down in the back or have an injury or condition this is for you... Or if you got a PILE of wood to split and no splitter, this is for you. If you wanna maul some, and cut some this is for you... But you clowns talking about wasting wood, being expensive , or claiming swinging a maul half the day is easier than cutting like this, is all the way crazy..
bluelude2001 thank you watching. Thank you the information. I’m sure that would help. I do use the saw for general purpose so not sure if putting on a ripping chain would be good fo cutting down trees as well?
@@danlux4954 While most chainsaw chain is designed to cut across the grain of the wood you're cutting, ripping chain is specially modified to cut along the grain. One of the main differences between ripping chain and crosscut chain is the angle that the teeth are sharpened at.
You must not burn a lot of firewood. It is actually more work splitting with a chainsaw than with a maul plus there is waste because the chips the saw makes reduce the volume of wood available to be firewood. The only time I use a chainsaw to split is when I have a large round that is resistant. Then I make a groove across the diameter about 6 inches deep. After that, I hit the groove with a monster maul and it usually gives up. I did say usually, didn't I?
Thank you for watching. I agree with you on everything. In the hands of a person who knows what they are doing the axle and mail are quicker and produce less waste. You are right I simply use that wood for an exterior fire pit. Thank you for your insight in how you split wood. I was just doing an how to video on using a chainsaw. Thanks again.
Could have been better with a Husky :) Love the firewood passion. Check out Rocky Mountain Firewood for all things firewood! Thanks everyone keep on firewoodin'
Thanks. I still use my axe and maul. I was providing an example of another method maybe for people that can’t swing an axe that much. My neighbor is elderly and can’t swing an axe. Lol he ended up with a gas log splitter but still. He used this method for a few years.
@@GReviewz I just bought the same chainsaw, mine doesn’t cut wood like yours. Is yours a green chainsaw on a green chain or did you modify? Ace Hardware says I’m not supposed to splitting wood with my 251 CBE???? Awesome video by the way!
@@GReviewz I never said that you said that it was faster ;) I only shared my opinion of that method vs and axe. I'm sure this has plenty of reasons why it might be better for someone. I was simply comparing it's set back to another technique. Have a wonderful day. Friend :)
Thanks for watching. I’m glad you found this technique useful. A lot of people were bagging on me for being a puss that I couldnt split wood. But I was just showing another way!
@@GReviewz splitting wood is also hard when it's already seasoned, it should be done before that. I seem to only split pine/spruce so I definitely don't need to chainsaw split haha
I don't mean to dampen your enthusiasm, but that's an expensive way to split firewood, especially when a maul or splitting axe would do it much quicker and cheaper.
Thanks for watching. I understand! I was just demonstrating another way to split wood. I could do a cord of wood this way and not be soar as compared to swinging an axe. But I normally use a wedge and mini sledge! I guess this would be good maybe for someone alil older that can’t swing an axe anymore..
Small pieces like that I use my 6 1/2 ton electric splitter, but I have a bunch of 27" rounds that I cut this way to make them small enough for me to lift onto the splitter plus the shavings I get make a really big pile that I will be using in the beds around the outside of my house,
Steve C thanks for watching. I guess you can do it a number of ways. I feel good doing the way I did on the video. I like the most amount of surface area touching my splitting log for control.
I dont like it rolling either however if you stand the wood up vertically like you would normally do when splitting with an axe it would fall a lot easier when hit with Chainsaw
Yo he's not using any proper stand support that wood. There's nothing preventing it from Rolling. I would consider this a bad video it's just not safe that way
Lol I didn’t say that is the best way I was just doing a vid on how to.. yes using an axe is the quickest way however I know a lot of people with bad backs... etc that have trouble swinging axes...I mean I was not going 100% in the vid anyway...
My neighbor is elderly. I learned this from him. He has bad shoulders and back and he can’t swing an axe let alone take the impact. He uses this technique every year.
I agree I was just demonstrating another way to split wood if you can’t swing an axe or the wood isn’t ready to split.. yeah some wood gets wasted but saw dust and shaving can be used for other stuff as well.
@@GReviewz Yes, proud owner of my first MS 170 since yesterday ...looking forward to start cutting those huge (24"+) logs 6" or so and finish them with them wedges.... Will see how it goes !
Pi Mc awesome I am glad you decided on a STIHL... can’t beat em. A lot of people tried to convince me to go with a pro saw fir twice or more$$ I was like no I don’t cut wood that often..
Brad Jackson lol. No problem. people have told me the same thing. No one has told me specifically what is bad on the saw. I mean it’s only job is to cut through wood.
@@GReviewz people in general are just too anti hard work :D I use a chainsaw all the time to split wood. As economically I don't have the funds for a splitter. And usually just clean up whatever wood my neighbors have or find along side the road after the county cuts up downed trees.
@@GReviewz Chances are, people who can't swing an axe won't be able to run a chainsaw either. I realize that you never said it was faster, but to me it was just another useless amateur video.
Thanks for watching. I have an axe and a splitting wedge. I made the video as a way to split wood if you maybe are weaker and or maybe elderly and can’t swing the axe too much anymore. It won’t wear the chain out...I’ve watched my grandfather use this technique for years. It won’t wear it down much faster than normal.
@@GReviewz in the video that saw look brand new. If you heated with wood all winter it would wear out a saw ripping wood like that. And time? Swinging an axe is a whole lot faster and more affordable
