daveferg
member
Registered: 02/19/02
Posts: 39677
Loc: Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
|
Just wanted to pass on what I found to be an easy way to split firewood.
First off---won't even argue that a gas splitter is the way to go if you use lots of wood during a season, but if what you have isn't enough to justify renting or buying a splitter, just wanted to confirm what some others may have already found to be a good method.
I had a 30-35 ft. oak tree removed (about 18" in diameter at the base of the trunk. It easily yielded about a cord or more. Previously, I'd used splitting wedges and a sledge hammer. This time, however I bought a splitting maul.
Similar to this----I didn't have time to split the wood when it was green, so knew I was in for some work splitting seasoned wood.
Anyway I'd use the maul on any size that needed splitting. If the maul didn't split the wood the first try or two, I'd then continue to drive the head down with my sledge. This worked much better than the usual wedge splitters and made quick work of it including splitting crouch wood.
Good method for a small batch and certainly cheaper than any rental. web page
--------------------
Dave
|
TDKPE
Poindexter
Registered: 10/15/02
Posts: 9142
Loc: Rochester, NY, USA
|
|
daveferg said:
Good method for a small batch and certainly cheaper than any rental.
Small batches, huh? I spent an entire winter one year splitting wood with an 8 lb maul. All day, every day.
Of course, I was 19 years old at the time, and that spring I built a 10 hp hydraulic log splitter, but I can honestly say I spent an entire winter splitting wood with a maul.
And yes, it's much faster than wedges and a sledge, but sometime you need several wedges for some of the big, gnarly stuff. Or when you get one of them, or the maul, stuck. 
I should add that, due to many seasons of swinging a maul, I had no trouble ringing the bell on a carney testosterone measuring machine, and I was the relatively little guy who embarrassed the puffed-up big dudes with lousy technique.  
--------------------
Tom
And now, back to The Mickey Bitsko Show!
 
|
CLETUS
Popcornist
Registered: 01/02/08
Posts: 11910
Loc: Mid-Michigan
|
|
Who'd a thunk.... a splitting maul will split wood?
--------------------
Mark
It can be done. But, you'll feel bad when it passes up your POS on the road. HerbG to Spokeshave 03/14/13
Nah...I like you, young feller...You remind me of my son... Timberwolf 03/27/12
|
daveferg
member
Registered: 02/19/02
Posts: 39677
Loc: Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
|
Tom---Yeah, I split my first cord for this house 23 years ago. Have to say it went a bit faster than this time. 
Cletus---as usual you add so much to the conversation----  Case you missed it, I was just saying how it worked much better than a sledge and wedge.
Have to say, there are big differences when it comes to the type of wood being split. On TV they always make the maul look so slick as one blow sets two pieces of wood flying----doesn't always work that way with oak and there are worst kinds than oak as well. 
--------------------
Dave
|
ned
Member
Registered: 08/23/02
Posts: 8510
Loc: atlanta GA USA
|
|
daveferg said:
On TV they always make the maul look so slick as one blow sets two pieces of wood flying----doesn't always work that way with oak and there are worst kinds than oak as well. :
Ever split elm?
--------------------
A man has a right to his own opinion, but not to his own facts- Jack Spong
|
CLETUS
Popcornist
Registered: 01/02/08
Posts: 11910
Loc: Mid-Michigan
|
|
Sorry Dave, I forgot that things that are obvious to 75% of the country doesn't apply to all.
If you want to have fun with someone, start splitting white oak, you will look like a pro. When you hand them the maul have a piece of elm setting there for them to split. 
--------------------
Mark
It can be done. But, you'll feel bad when it passes up your POS on the road. HerbG to Spokeshave 03/14/13
Nah...I like you, young feller...You remind me of my son... Timberwolf 03/27/12
|
daveferg
member
Registered: 02/19/02
Posts: 39677
Loc: Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
|
CLETUS said:
Sorry Dave, I forgot that things that are obvious to 75% of the country doesn't apply to all.
If you want to have fun with someone, start splitting white oak, you will look like a pro. When you hand them the maul have a piece of elm setting there for them to split.
One of life's blessings-----when we lived near a large supply of elm, we didn't have a fireplace!!! Out here, we mainly get local white oak and valley oak-----the white oak is pretty easy most times, but the valley oak is a real bear to split.
--------------------
Dave
|
JR_
Honored Veteran
Registered: 03/13/09
Posts: 15399
Loc: Rhode Island
|
|
Red oak can be a bear too... Stringy and a pain even with the gas log splitter.
|
jteneyck
Member
Registered: 01/24/10
Posts: 3094
Loc: Western NY
|
|
Yep, Dave, that's how I split about 10 -12 face cords a year. You think you're a strong man when you hit some nice straight grained ash (my all round favorite firewood)or maple and it splits with one stroke, then you put even a dinky piece of elm or willow on the block and, 10 whacks later, it's still sitting there. Some of those things are tough to split even with a log splitter.
John
|
MGoBlue1984
Member
Registered: 01/28/03
Posts: 20891
Loc: Canton GA
|
|
I will send you some sweet gum.
--------------------
Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to turn I go!
Know what, Bob? You win. CharlieD, 4/21/2008
I salute you. Hail MGoBlue! Hail MGoBlue! Hail MGoBlue!!!! CRR, 2/19/2008
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
PSA: Splitting Firewood
Edit
Reply
Quote
Re: PSA: Splitting Firewood
[Re: