#letssplitthis 10 minute hand splitting challenge

A 10 minute hand splitting challenge to try and help bring awareness to men’s mental health. Anyone that splits wood, whether by hand or by log splitter, can probably agree that it does a mans mental health good. If you are interested, try it out and try to help bring awareness to men’s mental health. If you have a YouTube channel you can post the video. And if not I can post it on my channel if you like. The challenge is hand splitting only and 10 minutes. The number doesn’t have to be high. It can be 3 rounds or 100 rounds. God bless, my friends! The full version is on my channel if you are interested.

https://youtube.com/shorts/KKr1UW3xEx8?feature=share

 

I split this load by hand & yes I believe splitting wood by hand is cathartic experience even if my shoulders & elbows occasionally don’t agree.

 

Hand splitting is only done out of necessity here. If the rounds are too big, they get split down to manageable size or noodled. I feel good, mental health wise, when I get all of my stacks filled with split wood.

 

Only hand splitting I usually do is for smoker wood. I'm out.

 

I enjoy hand splitting but have no desire to set any speed records. My ideal splitting situation is a couple hours on a cool afternoon, sun shining, taking my time with maybe a couple beers during the process.

 

Does hand-loading it into a splitter count?

I’ve had a close call or two when hand splitting when I haven’t taken my time. I like to push myself to move quickly in other ways, but not with splitting. I’d rather take my time hand splitting and achieve a zen-like calm during the process.

That said, I like the angle you’re bringing to the group. It’s good to have different perspectives and opinions.

 

I'm all for good mental health and agree that an occasional small amount of hand splitting is satisfying and fun. BUT, entering into a hand splitting challenge with my 70 year old body would make a very definite negative statement about my mental health, especially with a perfectly good hydro sitting ready in the garage! Incidentally, my back is out right now and I am in a negative mood about any splitting even with the hydro!

 

The picture of that truck with those beautiful splits put me in a mellow mood.

 

Going to decline. After I climb and rig down a tree, help buck rounds and load and unload the truck the last thing I want to do is prove my manhood by using an ax when I have a 20 ton hydraulic splitter.

 

I hand split just about all of my wood, but I avoid having my photo taken and definitely don't want to see a video of my fat a$$

 

I'm happy to watch.

 

I worked on my mill building the last couple days. I don't know how I used to frame 8-10 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. It's a young mans game for sure.

Getting old sucks. I'll pass on this challenge.

 

I used to hand split everything with no physical effects then last year after doing a face of cherry my shoulders and wrists were killing me the next day. Now its hydro 99% of the time. Im not sure if its the splitting thats good for mental health or just being outside getting some fresh air and your mind off everything else.

 

I was a 100% hand splitter for years. Once i turned hydro there was really no going back. If i cut just for my own use id still hand split. 90% of my wood is hydro split. Not good at video posting either.

 

Splitting by hand is like driving stick. Kind of a must-do. Using a splitter is great and sometimes necessary for people with physical issue (I get it) but if able bodied I think every person who splits wood should do some hand splitting and every person who drives should know how to drive stick. It's just the next level of the experience.

 

What about men's mental health? I don't see how splitting wood by hand is going to bring awareness to mens mental health. It's like walking for an aids cure....all it does is make a few people feel good that they did something to help when they really didn't do anything except get some exercise(and line someone's pockets). I think a youtube ad or a spot on the news would do much more than a few country bumpkins splitting a few rounds with a maul/axe and then burning the fruits of their labors. I feel better when I turn off the youtube/facebook and get out and do something. I love being outside and I believe that being outside is great for all aspects of health.

I have 2 hydro splitters that work well, and I don't plan on splitting firewood by hand unless fuel/electricity are not available. I split some cooking wood by hand and a little kindling, but that's it. I work hard enough, there is no sense making it harder.

 

So it was about 15-20 minutes. I have a great high end splitter, but when I have nice straight rounds this is quicker. Burns some calories is a major reason.

 

Are those fresh pieces of hickory on the right? Looks great!

 

Hickory, maple, in there too. Cleaning up numerous logs today.

 

That’s a great load of wood there my friend! Keep up the good work!