In the past 12 months (Oct-2019-present) I have gone from 2 cords of wood to 40 or so, trimmed to length, 90% split by hand, and stacked. Mostly by myself, but every once in a while I'll have a friend or neighbor help out and they take some wood away with them (whatever they split). I've taken down a swing set, dug out 40 cubic yards of soil that was full of rocks and roots, built 4 (of 6) raised garden beds from pallets, removed boards and nails from probably 3 dozen pallets, chipped I don't know how many branches/chips/debris, split kindling with a hatchet that filled (4) 275-gallon IBC totes, bucked some downed trees, made 3 huge piles of compost, been to the dump numerous times to dump rotten wood and take nice rounds, used the splitter for the knotty/crotchy/nasty pieces, and yesterday I cleaned up the rest of the tree that had snapped off into the brooke. I've also dropped off wood for a bunch of friends a bunch of times, sometimes 20 miles away..... I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff....... But in other words, I've been busy. I also am a stay-at-home dad so I have a lot of time on my hands to get things done. 3 hours it takes for me to dig the soil and fill a 4 x 8 x 11" raised garden bed with 50/50 soil/compost....Hopefully I will reap the rewards of that experiment next fall! I'm gonna have to check out those Showas. I don't like gloves that are too thin or too thick....My initial guess is that they are too thin for me.
I am absolutely infatuated with my Red Wing 4404 steel toed boots. They are waterproof, insulated, and electrical hazard proof. 6" boot and I liked them so much that I beat the living daylights out of my pair I bought a year ago.....and just last week brought them in to get resoled.....and bought another pair so that I can rotate the usage........but also because I can't be without them for 2 weeks........Best fitting boots I've ever had......and I use them in conjunction with "Heel That Pain" insoles with super high arch support (which still isn't high enough but will suffice for now). DynaForce® | Red Wing
I also absolutely love these metatarsal guards. I bought the one with the straps....and use only the top strap and feed the laces through the bottom part of the guard. They have saved the top of my foot many times since I learned just how much a split can hurt the top of the foot, even with expensive boots on. I also wear soft soccer shin guards when I'm chainsawing and/or doing a lot of splitting/stacking.
I may have the exact model, but I’ve worn red wings most of my life. They discontinued my favorite model. I grew up in Minnesota, my dad wore red wings, and they are one of the few boot manufacturers that make b width boots.I wear them all day everyday. The soles will wear out several times before the boot is shot. They are spendy but well worth it.
Generic latex coated stretch gloves. Got 15 pair for $10 at big box store and have a few pairs left. Not the greatest for protection but great grip on saw, ax and splits etc. Dont wear too well either. Not good in the cold though. I use a similar type only insulated. Ive tried leather fleece lined and hate them...got as a gift. Been using the cheap ones for years. I used to use the ones yooper Dave pictured many years ago but they lack dexterity which i like when working.
Try mine! The dexterity is the best part. $9 a pair so it ain't cheap cheap...but it's also not $30. Very thin and very comfortable. The large is tight on my hands but I don't have big hands.....
Ms. buZZsaw's nickname for me! I thought she was doing bird imitations! My gloves are also used on the roof and nothing wears well when doing that. Ive tried "expensive" gloves and nada. Ill stick with my "cheap, cheap" gloves. Years back i used to buy 160 pair at a time.
I was getting greenhouse gloves (rubbery, stretchy covered with grit) hecho en china for free from a greenhouse salesman but they were NFG for firewood use. Plus some of them stunk. Bad.
Atlas Showa all the way. Blue ones in the fall, gray ones in winter. the gray ones only keep my hands warm to about 20 F. I’m going to try putting hand warmers in this winter if I’m going to be working in the cold for awhile. I haven’t found any glove that keeps my hands warm in real cold weather.
Ironton Nitrile-Coated Work Gloves https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200732137_200732137 Pick these up at Northern Tool. Dozen pair for $9.99. Yes, I could be called CHEAP.
Those are similar to the ones i use and paid around $10 for 15 pair...Lowe's i think. I bought others that had a textured grip but it wore off way to fast for firewood making. My current ones hold up rather well for the price.
I bought a pack of 12 Grease Monkey gloves for $9.99 from BJ's the first pair holding up well. Not bad for cheap.
Yep, same as what these guys do. I get them for about $1 a pair at Lowes, in a pkg of 5 pairs. I wear out the right hand faster than the left, so sometimes I do a little duct-tape McGyvering on the right gloves.
Like others have said, longer than they should. Hard for me to say how long, but a few weeks sounds close. I looked at it this way, less than a buck a pair, what do I have to loose.
Another vote for Showa Atlas gloves. They’re the only ones that hold up handling wood. That’s what were always used at the lumber mill I worked at back in the 80’s for handling lumber also. It takes quite awhile to wear a pair out.
