Choose Kiln-Dried Firewood

The Complete Guide to the Different Cuts of Firewood

When shopping for premium firewood, it's important to choose the right cut. Not all firewood is cut in a traditional log shape. Some firewood is cut in other shapes and sizes. Aside from aesthetics, the way in which firewood is cut will affect its performance. Smaller cuts, for example, are typically easier to light, whereas larger cuts produce more heat and burn longer. In this post, you'll learn more about the different cuts of firewood.

Standard Cut

Standard-cut oak firewood lives up to namesake by featuring a standard shape and size. Available for sale here at Cutting Edge Firewood, each piece measures about 16 inches long. Standard cut firewood has a traditional log shape, making it an excellent fuel source for a fireplace, wood-burning stove or campfire.

So, how many fires can you build with standard cut firewood? It really depends on how many pieces of standard cut firewood you purchase. A box, for example, offers enough firewood for two to four fires, whereas a rack offers enough firewood for up to 25 fires.

Uncut Rounds

As shown below, uncut rounds also feature a traditional log shape. Unlike standard cut logs, though, they aren't split. Uncut rounds are technically still cut. After all, a tree must be cut into several pieces before it can be sold as firewood. The term "uncut rounds" simply means the firewood isn't split, resulting in the presence of bark across the exterior. Split firewood logs only have bark on one side, whereas uncut rounds have bark covering their entire exterior (except for the top and bottom, of course).

Because uncut rounds still have their bark, some homeowners are hesitant to use them in their fireplace or wood-burning stove, believing they'll contribute to creosote buildup. Assuming you use kiln dried uncut rounds, though, you don't have to worry about creosote or other harmful emissions. The bark, as well as the wood core, will burn cleanly to produce lots of heat.

The uncut rounds sold here at Cutting Edge Firewood are approximately 24 inches long and 4 to 8 inches in diameter. With a larger diameter than standard cut firewood, uncut rounds typically burn longer. It's not uncommon for uncut rounds to burn for three to five hours -- all while radiating heat throughout the surrounding environment. Just remember to choose kiln dried uncut rounds for the best performance.

Uncut Rounds

Longer Length

Longer length firewood is longer than most other cuts of firewood, including standard cut firewood. As previously mentioned, standard cut firewood is about 16 inches log. This is because firewood is often sold by face cord, which measures 4 feet tall, 8 feet wide and 16 inches deep. As a result, 16 inches has become the universal length for standard cut firewood. Some people, however, prefer using bigger, longer pieces of firewood.

If you have an oversized fireplace, for instance, standard cut firewood may not provide a sufficient amount of heat, in which case you may want to use longer length firewood. How big is longer length firewood exactly? You can find longer length firewood available in several sizes, including 24 inches and 30 inches. At 30 inches, longer length firewood is nearly twice as long as standard cut firewood. And conventional wisdom should lead you to believe that it's longer length will result in a longer burn time as well as more heat.

Extended Burn

Another common cut of firewood is extended burn. As the name suggests, this cut is designed specifically to burn for a very long time. It's frustrating when you invest your time and energy into building a fire, only for it to burn to ash just an hour or so later. Granted, you can always add more firewood to keep the fire going, but a better idea is to choose extended burn firewood.

Extended length firewood features the same length as standard cut firewood (16 inches). However, it's about three to four times thicker than standard cut firewood. With a larger diameter, extended burn firewood naturally burns for a longer period of time than its standard cut counterpart. Keep in mind that extended burn firewood is more difficult to light than standard cut firewood. But once you get it lit, these premium wide logs will burn for a very long time.

Chiminea

Do you have a chiminea on your patio or outdoor living space? If so, you may want to choose chiminea firewood. Measuring 4 to 14 inches long, it's the perfect length for a chiminea. Unlike other cuts of firewood, you can easily fit them inside your chiminea.

Because they are smaller than most traditional fireplaces and fire pits, chimineas aren't always capable of supporting standard cut firewood. As a result, you'll need to choose a shorter cut of firewood, such as chiminea firewood. Chiminea firewood's short length makes it an ideal fuel source for this purpose. Just add a couple logs to your chiminea, at which point you're good to go! In addition to its convenient size, chiminea firewood is easy to light and produces a bright, hot flame. The downside is that it burns for a shorter period of time than other, bigger cuts of firewood. If you're looking to build a fire inside a chiminea, though, there's no substitution for chiminea firewood.

Pizza Cut

Pizza cut firewood offers an unparalleled level of performance for cooking pizza in a wood-fired oven. If you enjoy cooking homemade pizza in a wood-fired oven, you probably know the importance of using the right wood. The wood must burn at a temperature that creates a crispy golden-brown crust -- but without burning it. At the same time, the flavor of the wood must complement that of the pizza and its toppings.

Pizza cut firewood is made exclusively out of oak, which is largely considered to be one of the most flavorful varieties of wood. Furthermore, pizza cut firewood features the perfect size and shape to achieve an ideal cooking temperature. You can always use other types of premium kiln dried firewood to cook pizza. Being that pizza cut firewood is designed specifically for this purpose, though, it's a smart investment for home chefs who enjoy cooking homemade pizza.

Cooking Chunks

Finally, wood chunks for smoking are a unique cut of firewood that's characterized by block-like shape. Also known as smoking chunks, they consist of rectangular-shaped blocks of hardwood. Each cooking chunk measures about two inches long, which is significantly shorter than all other cuts of firewood. But don't let its small size fool you into thinking its a subpar cut of firewood. When smoking meats or veggies, cooking chunks actually perform better than all other cuts of firewood. Their small size allows them to burn fast and efficiently.

To use cooking chunks, place them inside your grill's or smoker's main fuel compartment and light them using tinder or kindling. Once lit, the cooking chunks will burn to release flavorful smoke. Keep in mind that you can use cooking chunks either with or without charcoal. Some pitmasters prefer using a combination of charcoal and cooking chunks. The charcoal produces the heat needed to cook their food, whereas cooking chunks enhance the flavor of their food. Regardless, you can't go wrong with cooking chunks when smoking meats or veggies.

Check out these and other cuts of premium firewood by visiting our online store today.


About The Author

Leroy Hite

Leroy Hite is the founder and CEO of Cutting Edge Firewood, an ultra-premium firewood and cooking wood company located in Atlanta, Georgia. Leroy's mission is to give people the experience of the perfect fire because some of life’s best memories are made in the warmth of a fire’s glow. He founded Cutting Edge Firewood in 2013 with a goal to provide unmatched quality wood and unparalleled customer service nationwide. The company offers premium kiln-dried firewood, cooking wood, and pizza wood in a wide variety of species and cuts to customers around the country.