Safety Disclaimer

FirewoodGearHQ reviews firewood processing and wood heating equipment. The information on this site is general and educational. It is not safety training, it is not an installation guide, and it does not replace the manufacturer’s instructions for any product. You are responsible for how you use any equipment.

Chainsaws

• Wear cut-resistant chaps or trousers, a helmet with a face screen and hearing protection, gloves and sturdy boots, every time the saw runs.
• Know where the kickback zone is (the upper quarter of the bar tip), keep the chain brake working and the chain sharp and correctly tensioned.
• Never cut alone in the woods. Tell someone where you are working and when you will be back.
• Felling trees is hazardous work. Hire a professional arborist or logger for large trees, leaning trees, storm-damaged trees under tension, and anything near buildings or power lines. We do not publish felling instructions.
• See OSHA logging safety for chain saw operators.

Log splitters

• One operator only. A second person loading logs is how hands end up at the wedge.
• Keep hands clear of the wedge and ram, and never reach in to clear a jammed log while the ram can move.
• Wear eye protection and gloves, and set the splitter on stable, level ground with the wheels chocked.
• Keep children and pets well away from the work area.
• Run gas splitters outdoors only. Check the hydraulic fluid and hoses before each season, and never check a hydraulic leak with your hand.

Axes, mauls and wedges

• Clear the swing area, including overhead branches and lines, and keep bystanders well back.
• Split on a solid chopping block at a comfortable height, with your feet apart and the block in front of you.
• Wear eye protection when striking wedges, since steel can chip. Replace cracked or loose handles and grind off mushroomed wedge heads.

Firewood handling and storage

• Lift with your legs, get help or a mechanical aid for big rounds, and respect each tool’s rated capacity.
• Stack wood on stable, level ground, no higher than a rack is rated for, and keep large stacks away from the house.
• Keep only a few days’ worth of wood indoors, outside the stove’s clearance zone.

Wood stoves, inserts and fireplaces

• Install stoves, inserts and chimneys to the manufacturer’s instructions and your local building code, usually by a certified installer, with a permit and inspection where your jurisdiction requires them. We do not publish installation instructions.
• Keep the clearances to combustibles stated in the stove’s manual, and use the floor protection it calls for.
• Install working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, and check them monthly with the alarm button. See the CPSC Carbon Monoxide Information Center.
• Have the chimney inspected every year and cleaned when needed to prevent creosote fires. See the Chimney Safety Institute of America and NFPA heating safety.
• Burn only seasoned wood, ideally under 20% moisture. Never burn trash, treated or painted wood, or use gasoline or other accelerants to start a fire.
• Store ashes in a metal container with a tight lid, outdoors and away from the house, for several days before disposal.
• Check local burn regulations and air quality alerts. See EPA Burn Wise.

Electricity and fuel

• Run electric splitters and saws on the circuit and extension cord gauge the manual specifies, and keep cords out of standing water.
• Store gasoline and bar oil in approved containers, away from the stove and other ignition sources. Refuel with the engine off and cool.

No liability

Using any product discussed here is at your own risk. FirewoodGearHQ is not liable for injury, loss or damage arising from the use of information on this site or of any product discussed on it. When in doubt, ask a qualified professional.