Editorial Policy
FirewoodGearHQ earns money from affiliate commissions. That creates an obvious pull toward saying nice things about expensive equipment, and this page sets out the rules we work to so that pull does not decide what you read.
Independence
No brand, retailer or affiliate network can pay to appear on this site, to rank higher in a roundup, to receive a better Woodlot Score, or to have a criticism removed or softened. We do not accept sponsored posts, paid guest posts or paid link placements.
Commission rates differ between retailers, brand programs and products. We do not let that difference influence a ranking. If two products are close and one pays us more, that is not a reason to prefer it.
Sourcing and accuracy
Every specification, figure and claim on this site must be traceable to a source. We do not estimate a splitter’s tonnage, invent a stove’s heating area or round a bar length in a flattering direction. When a figure comes from the manufacturer rather than an independent body, we label it manufacturer rated.
How articles are produced
Every article starts from primary sources: the product listing, its published specifications, the manufacturer’s stated ratings and certifications, and the warranty terms. We build the comparison from what those sources actually state, not from the marketing copy around them.
We use AI tools to help collect listing data and draft articles. A draft is a starting point, not a finished article. Before anything is published, every specification, model number and figure in it is checked against the source listing it came from, and anything that cannot be traced to a source is removed. Scores are assigned against the published weights on our How We Pick page, not generated.
Final responsibility for everything published here rests with FirewoodGearHQ’s owner and editor in chief, who sets the standards on this page and decides what is published. If something on this site is wrong, that responsibility sits with us.
Balance
Every product we cover gets its strengths and its drawbacks stated. Every guide names who should skip a product, whether that is someone splitting knotty elm with a small electric splitter, someone with a small house looking at an oversized stove, someone without a 240V circuit, or someone for whom a maul and a few wedges would do the same job.
A roundup in which every product is excellent is an advertisement, and we treat it as a failure of the process.
Safety content
- Safety notes appear in the article where they apply, not only in a footer.
- We point to authoritative sources such as OSHA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, EPA Burn Wise, the National Fire Protection Association and the Chimney Safety Institute of America rather than writing our own rules.
- We do not publish tree-felling tutorials or stove and chimney installation instructions. We point readers to certified professionals and official sources for that work.
- We do not describe a stove as EPA certified or a product as UL listed unless the listing states it.
Affiliate disclosure
Our affiliate relationship is disclosed near the top of every article, before the first affiliate link, in line with Federal Trade Commission guidance, and in full on the Affiliate Disclosure page.
Product data and prices
Product images and specification data displayed on this site are collected from retailer listings and may be out of date. We do not write prices into article text because they change constantly. Always confirm the current price, specification and availability on the retailer page before you buy.
Corrections
We correct errors rather than quietly deleting them. When a correction changes the substance of an article, we update it, change the last updated date, and note what was corrected. To report an error, write to [email protected] with the article and the specific claim.