When I got my chainsaw, the plan was to speed up how fast I could work my way through the various bits of wood we’ve accumulated. Long bits need to be broken into shorter sections (about 7-8″ is a good length for our burner) and thicker ones need to be split to help them dry out quicker.

It has done the job very well. This afternoon I finished almost all of the backlog. What I’ve got left now is mainly a collection of shorter or more uneven bits but the corner that had been jammed with sticks and logs for a year or more (probably more – every time I cleared a bit, more would be added) is now clear. The chainsaw will help with some of those, where I can safely secure them for cutting and the rest will be back to hand tools.

That means we’ve got a decent stock of wood seasoning for next winter and space to take opportunities to get more.