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How to Process Firewood With a Saw — Bushcraft Tips for Splitting Without an Axe
How to Process Firewood With a Saw — Bushcraft Tips for Splitting Without an Axe
Two simple saw techniques for bucking and splitting firewood in camp — no axe required.
With the winter chill in full force, we're more reliant on firewood in camp. Once you've found a good piece of dry standing wood or a well-seasoned log, you'll want to "buck," or split it to size — breaking it down into pieces that fit your fireplace or wood stove.
Many people reach straight for the axe, but you can do the vast majority of this job with a few well-placed saw cuts and a solid surface to work on.
Method 1 — Creating a Half-Round
1 Select Your Log
Cut a piece that you can hold and swing in a controlled way. At 6ft 2, I wouldn't go any larger than 1.5m with a diameter of around 10cm. Find the side with the fewest knots — this becomes the bottom.
2 Make the Stop Cuts
Create a series of stop cuts at the length you want your firewood to be — this determines the size of the section you'll split off. The stop cuts should go about ⅓ to ½ of the way into the log.
3 Swing & Split
Take your log and, with the cuts facing upward, swing it as you would an axe against a hard surface such as a stump or chopping block.
Start with a few gentle strikes, letting the weight of the log do the work, and listen for any cracking. Gradually increase the force.
Beware of bark and small pieces flying off — turn your head slightly or wear eye protection to avoid injury.
4 Separate & Repeat
The impact should create a crack along the length of the branch, separating the bottom section from the top. Repeat the swinging process until the sections fall off or can be more easily removed by hand.
You should be left with a series of shorter half-rounds, along with a full-length half-round (assuming it hasn't snapped while swinging) that can now be cut into smaller sections.
Method 2 — The Inverted Bow Technique
If you want to cut short pieces with a bow saw but don't have a suitable saw horse or tree stump, you can try the inverted bow technique.
1 Set Up the Saw
Place a thin, flexible green branch between the bow and the blade. Step on this branch with the saw teeth facing outward. You may want to do this on soft ground so the saw braces properly.
2 Secure & Cut
Clamp the top of the bow, just behind the teeth, between your legs. Once you're sure the saw is secure, hold the piece of wood with both hands and pull it up and down over the teeth until you've cut through.
As with any new skill, make sure you have suitable safety measures in place — gloves and eye protection are worth considering.
Watch Both Techniques in Action
This video walks through both the half-round and inverted bow techniques — well worth a watch before you head out to try them:
Saw Tips & Tricks for Processing Firewood
Both techniques demonstrated step by step in the field.
Watch on YouTubeIf you found this useful, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more bushcraft how-to videos — we're adding new content regularly.
Have a great week.
Cheers,
Chris & the FF Team
