For the hottest, cleanest fire, burn hardwoods rather than softwoods. Apple, beech, oak and silver birch produce the most heat. For a pleasing scent, throw a pine log or two onto the fire.
Brittle frozen logs are the easiest to split. But don't use a frozen axe; the steel may crack.
Use a forked branch as a prop if you have trouble keeping a log upright on the chopping block.
If you have a lot of wood to split, save time and muscle by renting a power saw; they're available at low daily rates and do the job in a fraction of the time.
If you don't have a woodshed, stack the split wood in layers alternating in direction. Store the wood bark side up so that it sheds rain.
Save money by buying bark cuttings and warped boards from a timber yard.
Tightly roll a stack of newspapers to log size and tie the roll with string. (Avoid colour pages; the ink may release chemicals.) These 'logs' may lack the romance of glowing embers, but they burn cleanly and last almost as long as hardwood.
