splitting wood

[low_delta]

Last year we got the new fireplace, so I started working my way through the firewood that we got when we cut a tree down ten years earlier. Most of it was too thick to burn conveniently, so I got a nice splitting axe and split it smaller. The summer before last, I got more firewood from my neighbor, that wasn't split at all. So I've been splitting it.

The other stuff was very dry maple. This is not-so-dry ash. Much tougher than the maple. I really don't want to spend too much effort splitting it, but I want to get rid of this pile this year, and there's too little of it to rent a splitter.

It's kinda fun, though, when it's not too tough - when I aim the axe well, and it flies apart. Then, it's an easy task and I feel productive. But some of these logs are really tough, and I work forever to get them split. And I don't even try some of them. If they're too long, I can't get through them. Or if they have branches, they're not going to split. And some of them weren't cut well enough to stand up.

But this summer I think I'll be getting several more trees, so I'll have to rent a splitter.

Comments

[sunshine-two.livejournal.com]

That'll work out those back muscles.

[northernsnokat.livejournal.com]

That should keep you busy in your spare time!

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

OR... you could buy an inexpensive splitting wedge, and sledgehammer it down the log to split it. Splitting wood by hand is better than going to the gym!

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

And since we haven't had much snow, this is about all the exercise I've been getting.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

It's just about all I got done on Saturday. :-)

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I screwed up my back carrying the wood to the house. :-(

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

I cut up two smallish trees with a pull saw today, and felt good about my cardio. It probably would have been easier with an ax, but I am not sure about my accuracy any longer with the RA in my hands. I know I can manage the hand saw.

[northernsnokat.livejournal.com]

Chopping wood is hard work. I never did it at the cabin but I was the one who filled up the wheel barrow at the lake & stacked the wood. Was not my favorite job!

splitting wood

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

Great work! I'm appreciative of your work. I tried splitting wood once & realized v. quickly that, yup, I was as uncoordinated as I thought & it was best to stop before I hurt myself.

Re: splitting wood

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

When I saw my dad on Monday, and this subject came up (Cyn posted lots of photos on fb) he said he could offer me some pointers on my technique (based on what he saw in the photos). I didn't feel like I was doing anything wrong, but he did split a lot of wood when he was young. Whatever.