A sharp chain is everything.
A good saw definitely makes things easier but can get expensive. A sharp chain and keeping it sharp will really speed things up. Know where your bar is and keep the chain out of the dirt. The dirt and little sand and rocks will round your corners and slow down your cutting time. Depending on how you need to cut the wood (bucking, noodling or ripping) will also have an impact on chain wear. I like to sharpen my chain after burning through a full gas tank. I always find something that needs touch-up. It took practice to get the angles and technique down.
Can pine be burned in an inside fireplace?
The answer is YES.
However, it may not be that simple. Basically, make sure it is seasoned for about a year. This will keep the moisture and resin levels lower. Pine lights quickly so it is great for outdoors pits, but can also be mixed with your hardwoods in your fireplace for a quick start and hot flame fire. In fact, all the fatwood fire starters you see in your local hardware store are resin drenched pine from the stumps and roots.
The worry about pine is the creosote build-up in your chimney which could lead to a chimney fire. The truth is creosote builds up from all wood types especially when the wood is not seasoned long enough. Clean your chimney.
There are plenty of articles online that discuss the pros and cons. Here is one that I found informative. Link
You are gonna want one of these!
Council Axes are my favorite.
These axes are better than most big box store bought ones. I go for the regular unfinished axes. They are cheaper and still have great hickory handles. The heads are not polished up but that is perfect for me. I abuse these things and put them through a ton of knotty wood in all weather conditions.
If you want to split your own wood you will need a few different types and sizes. The most versatile axe is their 2.25lbs Boy’s Axe 28in. curved wooden handle. It is great for chopping, limbing and splitting. I have taken out some pretty big rounds with this thing. It’s my favorite and light enough to work with all day.
Although, if you are just looking to get the job done, I would use bigger splitters. Council has some great ones.
Start a fire in a wet pit
Scotch Pine Fatwood will work to get that fire lit even if it is damp or wet (not drenched). I start with getting some small pieces of the fatwood to conserve my fire starter, but you can always use bigger pieces. Long flakes actually work best but burn up quick. Get some pieces lit on a flat piece of wood (the one in the vid was wet but still works). Get it to burn for a bit and then slowly add small pieces of your pit wood. Add your bigger pieces of wood slowly to get it burning hot. Start small and build up to avoid smothering the flame or cooling it down with wet wood.
Start slow when you have wet conditions.