A chainsaw – be it electric or petrol powered – remains an essential tool for cutting firewood.
With a chainsaw you can cut huge piles of firewood in a very short space of time. However, have you considered alternatives to cutting wood in case of breakdowns with your chainsaw?
Maybe you’re in a remote location, camping out in the woods and have no chainsaw to hand.
So, today, I wanted to go a little off-topic to what would normally be covered here on Garden Power Tools.
After all, as the name implies most of the information on the site is related to power tools to help you make short work of most jobs.
If you’ve never thought of cutting firewood with no chainsaw perhaps you should give the issue a little bit of thought, so you’re always prepared.
Let’s explore the various ways of cutting firewood other than using a powered chainsaw.
#1 Use Force
You can break old, drying or decaying wood using your hands. Presuming firewood proves too strong to break by the use of your hands, place it on a flat surface, and use your feet to break by exerting force.
It might look like you’re doing some kind of karate kid move from the 80’s, just most likely with a lot less finesse and poise…Don’t worry, no one is judging.
Alternatively, look for a hard and raised surface then place the firewood against an edge. One end of the wood should touch the lower part surface while the other one touches an edge of the raised part; then, step on the wood for it to break.
#2 Axe It
#2 Axe ItWhile deemed a somewhat archaic tool, an axe comes in handy in the absence of a chainsaw.
An axe presents some downsides like blisters. Using an axe for extended periods is not only tiresome but also inflicts painful blisters.
However, it’s also a very good workout so you’ll not only get some firewood but also bigger biceps and some serious man points.
Remember, don’t do it topless unless there are no people around or you have the physique of a lumber jack.
There are lots of excellent axes available on the market at the moment, especially across the pond in the states.
You can even cut down a tree using an axe to break logs into smaller and portable pieces.
#3 Cross-cut Saw
Similar to a regular saw, the cross-cut saw, bears a sturdy handle attached to a blade. Cross-cut saws 
come in varying types of teeth patterns suited for specific purposes.
For instance, the best suited cross-cut saws for cutting felled trees into firewood logs bear heavy and stiff blades.
Also, if you wish to cut down a tree, a lightweight and flexible cross-cut saw best suits the purpose. The decision to buy a cross-cut saw for cutting firewood hinges on individual needs.
#4 Jigsaw
#4 JigsawEven though a jigsaw is too weak to fell a tree or cut down large tree logs, you can use it to cut scrap wood like straight planks or pallets into firewood.
The jigsaw comprises an electric motor and a reciprocating blade thus the better choice compared to using your hands or feet.
Although if you’re out in the middle of the woods you’ll be a bit stuck without electricity, unless you have a cordless battery powered one.
#5 Wire Saw
The most portable of all saws on this list, the wire saw, is a great alternative yet reliable firewood cutting tool.
The wire saw fits right into your pocket. In the absence of a chainsaw, the wire saw may save you a lot of trouble owing to its capability to cut branches despite its minuscule size.
Conclusion
Despite its effectiveness in cutting firewood, you may not always have access to a chainsaw. In such moments you need to get a little bit creative and figure out ways to cut your firewood either by hand or using more manual tools.
After reading this piece, you can’t cite failure to light a bonfire being down to lack of a chainsaw alternative.
Except for logs, cutting down branches shouldn’t pose a big challenge once you understand the numerous options you’ve at your disposal.
