Hey folks,
Been using a Fiskers splitting axe. What do you folks use other than a splitting axe to speed up the job? Wedges? Anything else?
Thanks!
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Hey folks,
Been using a Fiskers splitting axe. What do you folks use other than a splitting axe to speed up the job? Wedges? Anything else?
Thanks!
Gasoline! It's wonderful I pour it in the fuel tank and turn the key on and push the start button and push the lever forward and the hydraulic ram goes forward and presto a split pc of wood. I also own a fiskars splitting axe I believe it's a x27 it's a great axe nice and light and designed very well but I try to only splitt kindling
I agree once you hit 40 gasoline is your best friend. . Lol Dutch
no cash for a gas powered machine... they arent cheap... this young buck like to do this the hard (cheap) way!
Well you're my buck we were all young at one time. As my father inlaw told me "if I knew I was going to have this body for life I would have taken better care of it" in other words just cause you are good and strong now and don't hurt after splitting wood for the afternoon wait a few years and let me know how you feel.
Best to wait till cold weather to split when it's frozen whole lot easier on the body and the rounds split easier.
Split yourself up some extra to sell and save up to buy a used splitter during the off season. Don't need to be pretty it just needs to work. The axe is faster for the first 10 mins then the splitter keeps going at the same pace and the man slows down as the axe feels heavier every swing
Start looking for a used splitter. Depending on how much you have to split and how well organized you are, you can rent one for pretty cheap for a day. I built my own as I knew I'd need it around for when I had time... not running into town to get a splitter for a day.
If you watch Kijiji you can find the odd deal, but be prepared for them to go quick.
I agree with others, use a gas powered wood splitter. If you are organized, you can split all the wood you'll need in a day.
Being another "older" guy, this is the only way I split wood now. I am lucky that I have an elderly neighbour with a wood splitter. In exchange for it's use I do the annual oil changes and maintain it for her. I also bring it back to her with a full tank of gas, with fuel stabilizer.
There you go that is a great deal! Even if you have to splitt some wood for the neighbor in order to use it.Quote:
Originally Posted by JMatthews
Thanks guys.. i'm one of those guys who thinks he's younger than he really is! I just looked at the prices and thought no way am I gonna drop thousands for a splitter... the thing is, we don't use as much wood as some people do... so i figured I could do it myself... Every time I watch the Shinning, I get the urge to split my own wood!
Should listen to your elders lol.
I am only 33 now but i can already feel the past abuse on my body. Its just starting to kick in now arthritis is setting in lol. .
That being said i cut and slit a fallen tree this spring by hand. I dont have a wood stove only out door burn for me.
But if i was going to be burning wood all winter the splitter is the way to go.
how much you splitting a year?
Paid $75 for my last splitter to save it from the scrap dealer. Just needed a power source....
I consider it a good workout. Cheaper than going to a gym. I don't consider it "abuse" to your body. A good heavy splitting maul, or a wedge and sledge hammer are my friends for the big stuff.
Just wait twenty years or so......while it feels good at the time the forces involved on your shoulders are not natural unless you spend a lot of time swinging from branches...Quote:
Originally Posted by LowbanksArcher
Quote:
Originally Posted by patvetzal
Love it! Just toss a few bananas for lunch and should have a few cord by night fall
If you only need a wood splitter for a day or two out of the year, it's cheaper to rent one, with the added bonus of not having to store it for next year.
I tend to split when I get the chance, have helpers and decent weather. Not when the rental is open and they have a splitter free. I often only split for an hour at a time, then get it piled during the next week or so and split some more. Been splitting 8-10 bush cords that way for years....
My many years of cutting, chopping with an axe then over to a log splitter days are over. What a waist of time ! I hunt and fish for pleasure and work out to keep in shape overall. Cutting wood no matter how you do it is hard on the body period. Thank god for natural gas heat ! lol
x2 for sure, thermostat works for me, lolQuote:
Originally Posted by yellow dog
I believe we're born with only so many miles in our bodies. Manually splitting wood at middle or older age uses up those miles real quick.
Fiskars makes one of the nicest axes around, does the job in a smart way instead of using brute force with an 8 lb maul.
Sledge and a steel wedge along with safety glasses. Very little effort with a sledgehammer.
Your not working on my maple and oak.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Fisherman
I beg to differ, just did about a 12 maple logs yesterday anywhere from 8 inches to 14 inches in diameter, 3-4 wacks with the sledge and they pop apart. I follow the check lines in the wood, and never on the same line as a knot. Knots face down to follow the grain of the wood.
I heat the family cottage with wood, and after having worked many years as an arborist, I'll offer the following thought. If you're splitting wood by hand because you enjoy it, and it only costs you time, that's one thing... but what else could you be doing with that time?
A dual stroke splitter can split an impressive amount of wood with 2 or 3 people on it for a day. I think it comes down to how much wood you need to split vs how much you value your time for other activities. If you have a small amount of wood, plug away at it by all means, but for large amounts do you want to spend all your time splitting and stacking wood when that time could be used for working/hunting/playing etc.
If you ARE going to split by hand, I'll offer the following thought - on larger rounds (12" diameter or larger) your first hit should be parallel to the direction of the tree rings about 2-3" in from the side. this will usually spall off a flat peice making it easier to work your way around the round rather than trying to halve/quarter it.
.......and keep the knots on the bottom so your axe has a chance to penetrate.
Our next lesson in this series will be given by Greatwhite. The topic will be, "How to Pile your Firewood"
thats what the kids (yours/neighbors/whoevers) are for :PQuote:
Originally Posted by sawbill
Awesome!!!! I knew the topic would live again!Quote:
Originally Posted by sawbill
John
Followed by Bodywork 101.....
Bodywork 102 - Pickup Truck Rear Window Replacement
Bodywork 103 - Pickup Truck Rear Window Protection Methods
Perhaps someone could cover the topic of 'how to appease the wife after killing her car' or 'Divource 101'.
For 95% of the splitting, Fiskers splitting axe is the best IMO. Sometime an heavier axe would do a faster job but it's harder on the body.Quote:
Originally Posted by Splaker
For an entertaining evening go to Wranglerstar on utube and learn about old style saws, axes and how to use them. He shows a Fiskars in action and the trip to the emergency dept....