Tips for firewood hoarding? (2024)

Here are some ideas:

https://www.arboristsite.com/threads/measuring.327015/
https://www.arboristsite.com/threads/firewood-prosizer-laser-firewood-measuring-tool.353172/
https://www.arboristsite.com/threads/firewood-measuring-sticks.305553/
The Mingo Marker tool is popular for marking long logs:

http://www.themingomarker.com/

Okie294life said:

I’m a beginner firewood hoarder been running saw for a while, mainly trash cleanup and property maintenance. Any tips on how to cut perfect fireplace length every time? I haven’t done it enough to be calibrated, my dad was legit he could cut 100 sticks and probably only be off 2” me my little woodpile looks like dog crap….and I’m a bit ocd so that doesn’t help….thanks..I have a stihl 261 and a KM pole saw so trying to make the most of those investments…

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measure 16 inches from the end of your saw, might come out at about one of the bar bolts, remember that spot. Then as you go along a log set your saw on top, eyeball from end to 16 inch mark and cut there. A little practice and you will have your blocks all within a half of an inch.

I made a measuring stick. Used a strong magnet from Harbor Freight, drilled a hole through the handle and used a 1/4-20 threaded rod, double nutted it on the handle of the magnet. Painted it fluro Orange. If I were to make another one I'd use 10-32 threaded rod.

Stick it to the bar near the body of the saw, mark the whole piece with a mark on it from the saw, remove and cut to length.

Got a Mingo Marker, if there's snow/ice on the logs it don't work as well if the wheel slips on the bark.

Store the wood up off the ground under a roof of some sorts or the wood will start to rot in the piles.

sliderulacuracy said:

measure 16 inches from the end of your saw, might come out at about one of the bar bolts, remember that spot. Then as you go along a log set your saw on top, eyeball from end to 16 inch mark and cut there. A little practice and you will have your blocks all within a half of an inch.

Click to expand...

Best answer!

take a single strand length of 12 gauge romex/house wire (solid wire, not braided),
leave the insulation on it, and turn an inch of
one end up and use a hose clamp to fasten it to the saw handle - bend the far end around at the
length you want your wood. You can flex the wire so the tip is right near the wood where it should
be cut. If you start doing something where the wire is in the way, just bend it out of the way, do
your thing, then bend it back when you need to use it again.

keep it simple

sliderulacuracy said:

measure 16 inches from the end of your saw, might come out at about one of the bar bolts, remember that spot. Then as you go along a log set your saw on top, eyeball from end to 16 inch mark and cut there. A little practice and you will have your blocks all within a half of an inch.

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I do this. I’ve scratched the saw so it‘s easily located, or with a nice bar that still has letters visible, I’ll remember what letter it is. Consistent lengths maximize use of space.

Same as above but I scribe the bar with a Dremel at my preferred length as a quick check. Always there... no extra time or materials marking it out. Used to use a sharpie or mark in the paint but they wear off.

FWIW - I have gotten pretty good at eyeing it up consistently but sometimes get out of the zone, especially with very large diameters.

I made this out of scrap. Works great, I like the hook at the end, it grabs the last cut OR scratches the log for the next cut. I can buck as fast with this bar as without. Just make sure it's set back enough to let you use your dogs.

Okie294life said:

I’m a beginner firewood hoarder been running saw for a while, mainly trash cleanup and property maintenance. Any tips on how to cut perfect fireplace length every time? I haven’t done it enough to be calibrated, my dad was legit he could cut 100 sticks and probably only be off 2” me my little woodpile looks like dog crap….and I’m a bit ocd so that doesn’t help….thanks..I have a stihl 261 and a KM pole saw so trying to make the most of those investments…

Click to expand...

I made a homemade one with a rare earth magnet and an aluminum arrow. Works great. I usually have it on my smaller saw ti mark logs. I even cut small logs with it on.