Firewood math problem

[RedMF40]

I’ll be splitting about 6-8 cords of oak that belongs to a nearby neighbor. Logs are stacked, need to be cut and split. It’ll allow me to get some of my toys in play and it’s easy access and less than 3 miles away. I said ok.

I get 60% of the wood. She wants to keep the remaining 40% of whatever I actually cut and split.

Other than just eyeballing the amounts, is there some efficient way of approximating the 60-40 split? I don’t plan to count every stick of wood—or even one for that matter. I’m sure the two of us can come to some reasonable guesstimate of our respective shares. Just seeing if anyone has suggestions and thought it would be a fun mental exercise.

 

[wh]

Maybe if logs are close in size you can decide which logs are your and which are hers before you start.

 

[RedMF40]

Maybe if logs are close in size you can decide which logs are your and which are hers before you start.

I thought about that. They range from around ten inches to 23.” They were two very large trees she had cut down. That approach might still work if agreed on before starting.

 

[wh]

I thought about that. They range from around ten inches to 23.” They were two very large trees she had cut down. That approach might still work if agreed on before starting.

Think you can come up with a decent close assessment of them before you start. Maybe paint the ends of “yours” orange and “hers” blue before you start so she can see the division of them.

 

[cjunrau]

I would cut split and load mine on a trailer or truck. If you have straight sides and you stack hers up the same as your trailer it is an easy way to split. If she wants one row 4 ft high just measure yours the same way on the trailer. The other option is to stack them on pallets 4-6 ft high. I criss cross the rows to keep going straight up. a little tricky but it works. My guess is she will want it stacked and you need to haul yours home anyway. when wood is split and stacked it is the easiest way to have it about the same. Logs are so deceiving I don't think it would work to split first.

 

[IHRedRules]

Easiest way, 2 face cords for you for every face cord for her, that gets it to 66%/33%, from there just add on what you feel gets her to 40%.

 

[wh]

Still say easiest way is to divide logs. Might not be most accurate but it is simplest way. I would cut hers first and stack it or place it in agreed upon place. Then cut and haul the rest. You said 60/40 and i would think dividing logs would get you above 55 percent easy enough.

 

[rustred]

I would do it also by counting the logs. Of course you need to average it out by sizes. Such as lengths and thickness. And nothing saying you have right on the money as it’s an eye ball thing too. Sure beats splitting it all and piling it in cords and then dividing it.

 

[RedMF40]

Thanks for the thoughts so far. I know I won’t be stacking any wood—either hers or mine. She already said to just throw it in a pile and she’d deal with it. Fine by me. We’re talking a lot of wood for one person with a log splitter and chain saw to handle. Not trying to make a career out of it and my piles of firewood are a mess-just thrown together except for the reserve stacks on the porch which are actually pretty neat. If you’ve gone by a firewood supplier with a mountain of split wood, that’s what mine looks like except for smaller mountains.

 

[stevieb49829]

If its all in one pile, do some rough measurements then divide the pile with paint lines, and get her concurrence. Then go to work.

 

[ErnieD]

I’ll be splitting about 6-8 cords of oak that belongs to a nearby neighbor. Logs are stacked, need to be cut and split. It’ll allow me to get some of my toys in play and it’s easy access and less than 3 miles away. I said ok.

I get 60% of the wood. She wants to keep the remaining 40% of whatever I actually cut and split.

Other than just eyeballing the amounts, is there some efficient way of approximating the 60-40 split? I don’t plan to count every stick of wood—or even one for that matter. I’m sure the two of us can come to some reasonable guesstimate of our respective shares. Just seeing if anyone has suggestions and thought it would be a fun mental exercise.

volume of the log
length x PI x r squared all in inches

 

[jhwis]

This seems way too complicated for a little bit of firewood.

 

[Mcrafty1]

You need to take into consideration the fun factor involved in handling/rehandling firewood, you know how valuable that is, then work out from there.

 

[Mule Meat]

 

[Jim.ME]

Have all the fun. Cut it into 4-foot lengths and stack it in cord piles (4' x 4' x 8'), then figure out the 60/40 split.

 

[john in la]

While one log might be 20 inches and another is 10 inches the difference in size over a 10 foot length is minimal.
Mark each log in a 60/40 split.
You take the stump end on one log she gets the stump end on the next log.

If the two of you are going to quibble over 5 percent maybe you shouldn’t take the job.

 

[tom upton]

When I used to do the firewood thing I would set the bucket of tractor close enough to splitter that when splitting tossed into bucket till it was full, then dump in a pile. If you did it this way just count the buckets and you would be pretty close. Maybe give her an extra bucket? I used to count the buckets anyway just to see how many I could do in a day. It was less labour intensive than trying to throw split wood away from the splitter. If you got the bucket close enough it literally would fall into the bucket on the one side.

 

[RedMF40]

When I used to do the firewood thing I would set the bucket of tractor close enough to splitter that when splitting tossed into bucket till it was full, then dump in a pile. If you did it this way just count the buckets and you would be pretty close. Maybe give her an extra bucket? I used to count the buckets anyway just to see how many I could do in a day. It was less labour intensive than trying to throw split wood away from the splitter. If you got the bucket close enough it literally would fall into the bucket on the one side.

I’ve done it the opposite way—big rounds in the bucket, then roll them onto the splitter. Split pieces go into my truck or more likely a wagon if it’s on my property. I’ve been using those IBC metal cages as well but need more of them. Easy to handle as I can move them with my 3 pt lift.

 

[RedMF40]

This was more of a conversation-starter than anything else. If the final tallies are way out of whack we can make some adjustments. I’m more interested in seeing if my 25-ton TSC splitter is up for the job. As long as nothing breaks—it or me—I’ll be happy. And it’ll force me to do some maintenance beforehand. I’ll be pulling the logs off the pile with my receiver-mount winch. I like the idea of marking the logs ahead of time then making any adjustments if needed. I have enough wood for this winter, always want more.

 

[Gambles]

If the ratio is 60-40, I would just put 6 pieces of wood on your pile and 4 pieces of wood on her pile, while you are cutting.
You will have two separate piles of wood that will allow you to have her inspect before you haul the wood away. If she thinks there is too much wood on your pile, throw her a few crumbs from your pile until she is happy.
If in the end, you think her pile is too big, don’t come back and let somebody else cut her firewood.