Also, flattered that you remember the post. I really enjoyed the feedback I got from it and how friendly the responses were. It’s nice to see such a large group of people that love firewood and have a lot of knowledge to share.
I’m at about 80% hydro, 20% hand. Some of the easier stuff is faster to split with a maul and I enjoy hand splitting…to a point.
There’s the splitter I bought. It was from a neighbor who lived behind me. I know it’s far from the ones people have nowadays. It has no racks, a single wedge and no log lift. Not to mention the wedge moves very slow. I would split a piece and it would fall apart and I would catch one part and the other part would hit the ground so I would have to walk around and get it. I know a rack would take care of that. But then there was the lifting, and that hurt my back. Hand splitting for me doesn’t hurt my back at all. Honestly I feel if you do it right it helps your back muscles. So I ended up selling the splitter about a week later. I was very disappointed with it but not surprised. I do know that the newer ones are much faster and better. But then there’s where I get the wood from. I get it from another mans property who had the place logged out. 200 acres of mainly red and white oak. Some poplar, maple and walnut as well. And the place is hard to get in and out of so times. So I would have to leave a splitter there or pull it with me every time. For me it works best to go in, cut the wood, split it, load it and deliver it. But I am in no way trying to say log splitters are bad. I knew preferred hand splitters were far less common. I think the last thread I posted a couple years ago the hand splitters lost by 70 percent or so. But I enjoyed the responses and conversations. And I completely understand from a business standpoint why someone would want a hydro. Without a doubt you can do more with a fast one and they are consistent. But for me, I love what I do and make a living I am happy with doing it. And I thank God for it.
Started out with a little Saturn vue that wasn’t 4x4 and a 5x10 trailer. I was happy to finally get a 4x4. There were a lot of deliveries that were made far harder without the 4x4 lol
Good job buddy! I have a maul similar to that as well. They are heavy and great for knotted rounds. I still prefer my axe for hitting all the different angles though. Thanks for sharing!
As Chud said, and many others here that have "gone before you" would agree I'm sure, time will adjust your opinion for you. Don't get me wrong, its great exercise, and its not so much about your muscles...pretty good for them as long as you use good technique and don't "bite off more than you can chew", but more so what I'm getting at is that hand splitting is hard on your joints...they are a little like parts on your truck, only good for so many cycles before their worn out. Not sure how old you are, 30's is my guess, but just from experience, things can start to hurt a little in your early 40's, and a good bit more by your 50's...I feel like I have seen as much increase in "aches and pains" in the last 3 years as I did the previous 10...and I have a physically demanding job and stay pretty active, so its not just "getting soft" that makes things hurt more. If you are happy hand splitting, go for it, you don't have to justify anything to us, but you asked, so... we answered. Just a friendly word of advice...and worth at least what you paid for it
I still enjoy some hand splitting, but hoarding as much as i do it needs to get split ASAP and hand splitting has caught up with my aging body. If i cut just for my own use id still 100% hand split. Hats off to you for hand splitting it all. It is very rewarding IMO
Im hanging on to the splitter for volume jobs, at home. And maybe one day when I get logs sropped off, I can cut and the young bucks can run the machine. Presently, my scores haven't been big enough to justify hauling the splitter out. So, of the 15 or so cord I've put up for myself and one other, 12 has been done by hand. My kiddo splits by hand, so we can clean up a job a bit more quickly with two of us running mauls, then two of us on the hydro. We catch wood before it dries out any. And the last 2 loads have been 20" logs. Ash. Zero difference noted over the 14" ones. I'm thinking there will be a day when splitting by hand will be less attractive. That in mind, I'm trying to get ahead and stay ahead so I can split a years worth each year ather than multiple years worth each year. Sca
I love hand splitting as well. All my wood is hand split and noodled. I chop 16 cords a year by hand. I set up my wood similar to you when I chop. One difference is I set up all the rounds next to each other in sort of a big circle filled into the middle. All rounds are right next to each other . Bigger rounds towards the outside. Since the rounds are all next to each other they won't tip over when you split them. Make the rounds in the middle into toothpicks if you want to. Never bend over during chopping. Takes some setup time but that's basically what you are already doing. Hopefully you can understand my explanation.
I respect the hand splitters - but I split about 90% with my hydro. I only split by hand if I'm feeling froggy. I can swing a maul with the best of them. But I like to sip a beer and solve the world's problems when I split. Hydro time is good decompression time for me. I prefer to sweat on the saw, at work and in the gym. I did two hours of hydro splitting today before the rain started falling. I'm pretty sure I figured out the whole Russia/Ukraine chit show. That's a 23" long Lodgepole Pine round from today. My stove will take a 24" long split or round. The hydro sure makes the long ones easier to process.
Dang, that's a big stove. Mine will fit 24" left to right but I doubt I could stuff that log in there. What kind of stove do you have?
Splitter for me because 90% of what I burn is elm because it is what we have. I still go bang on a wedge occasionally when the boss or the wife has pizzed me off. I must be maturing though, cause the older I get, the faster I get unpizzed. Lol
Got it. I cut 14" long for a friend and his mini wood stove. Presently cutting wood for myself 20" long, where I used to cut to 16". 16 are easy to handle for everyone here, and if someone else needs some, thats a good length to have handy. But, the Jotul will take a 24, so putting up a year's supply in 20' just to see how it heats and handles.
