How should I chop up this wood?

[twinky]

A nice neighbour along the road had a large tree chopped down earlier today and the tree surgeon left the trunk chopped up roughly into pieces. My neighbour has offered me the wood for my woodburner. I know I need to season it before use but I'm not sure how to cut it up into the correct size to fit the stove. Any ideas on what kind of equipment I'd need? I think it's too large for an ordinary saw or axe to cope with. Thanks for any advise.

We had a tree surgeon and we currently have people here doing ours with axes/log splitters. I wouldn't like to do it myself tbh - seems a pretty strenuous job! Getting them to do it works out a bit cheaper than buying the same amount of wood, but not much.

If they are really large heavy pieces then you might need a chain saw to break them down into manageable pieces, then use an axe/mitre saw or similar. If you go into a tool hire shop and have a chat with them they will probably be able to guide you quite well.

God please don't hire a chainsaw. PLEASE don't.

Call in a tree surgeon!

Is it the right length? If not then the lengths will need to be shortened with a chain saw.

Then you need to split it with an axe or a wood splitter by standing each piece on its end and splitting. Then leave it for about a year to 18 months to dry out. It will burn after about 4-6 months but won't kick out much heat since all the energy will be used up trying to burn the damp wood.

Ooh replies! Thanks ladies. They are already the correct length so no need for a chainsaw thankfully and I'm not going to pay for a tree surgeon.However, DH has an axe and he brought home the Aldi specials leaflet tonight which has a log splitting machine thingummy in it. So may try that. Thanks everybody.

All you need then is an axe and something to rest the upright log on then (generally a large round of wood)

They say wood warms you twice, once when you chop it and again when you burn it!

Safety goggles needed, and keepers and children away from the flying wood chips.

We get all our wood from nature strips so have invested in the chainsaw, log holder, axe and splitter. I see you're not using a chainsaw, and DH never uses ours unless I am there.

use an axe it is great exercise and a splitter

Yup, an axe. Don't forget to store them for a year (at least) to dry them out.

That should say "keep pets", away, this is what comes of using iPad, lying sideways, in the dark, in the small hours.:o

DH is currently chopping ours up with an axe after we had a huge tree felled this summer. It's hard work but gets easier as the wood dries. We probably have enough to keep us going for the next 5 or 6 years!