Beyond stories

Hoe lang moet brandhout drogen voor je het stookt? Per houtsoort een richttijd, hoe je het sneller droog krijgt en hoe je merkt dat het klaar is.

Dry, straight and without branches: how to choose wood that splits well and catches fire quickly.

Choosing a log splitter without hassle. Fixed spot or portable, how thick your wood is and how much you split: these are the questions that matter.

A terrace is not just a summer thing. With the right basis you are out there in October too. Or January.Warmth as the centreA fire bowl or outdoor fireplace changes everything: people pull up a chair, stay longer and the evening gets a focal point. Make sure you have a supply of split wood within reach.Keep the light lowAvoid bright white light. Candles, a string of warm lights and the glow of the fire are enough.Make it easyThe less hassle, the more often you sit outside. A wood bag by the door, blankets in a basket, and the fire is lit within five minutes.You can make that supply of kindling yourself in a few minutes with a log splitter. No axe, no swinging.

Wood that hisses, smokes and will not burn: everyone knows it. The difference almost always comes down to two things: dryness and size.Dry is everythingFresh wood contains up to 50% moisture. Good firewood is below 20%. Buy dried wood, or let it lie under a roof for at least a year.Split smaller than you thinkMost people burn blocks that are too big. For lighting a fire you want pieces 2 to 3 cm thick. Those catch fire immediately and get the fire going.Split safelyAn axe takes space, experience and nerve. A log splitter does not: block in, lever over, done. That way anyone, including children under supervision, can safely make kindling.Want to see how that works? On the log splitters page the two models are side by side. They do the same job, the difference is where you put it.