Putting up some fir lately...

I thought I had posted these last week, but I think the posts got sucked in the vortex of changing servers. So, why not post 'em again? I heard you guys like pictures of firewood!

Here's my stacks currently...Lots of Doug Fir, some of that standing dead Big Leaf Maple I was working on last year, some Alder and a bit of Madrone.






And the stuff I'm putting up currently. This is last week, so that fence line is filling up quickly now. This is a Doug Fir covered in burls, and with a lot of branches, so it's been giving me and the x27 a workout. One of these days I'll get one of those fancy splittin' machines like the rest of you guys. In the mean time, I'll just pick away at the piles...





And it wouldn't be complete without my helpers. Here's the rest of the crew, note the safety fur PPE eye covers in the lead foreman.

 

I am waffling on getting a X27. Have you split all that with it and if so what shape is the x27 in and why should I buy one and why should I not buy one.

 

I'll take this one. Yes you should buy it. I've split 10 cords so far with it this year, and only had to sharpen it once. I would have busted the heads off at least 3 more lowes/home depot axes by now if I hadn't bought one. Plus if it breaks you get a new one. Can't ask for much more than that - they're not gonna swing it for you!

NW Walker - stacks look awesome buddy! I like how you used them as the foundation for your house!

 

R there any downsides to the x27. I hear praises but there must be some downsides.

 

I can't really think of any. You can't drive a wedge with it. It had everything I was looking for. It's lighter (6.3lbs) than the 8lb home depot axes I was using before. It's the first axe I've actually needed to sharpen, because the rest of them broke, and I use them as wedges now. And I didn't really *need* to sharpen it, it just seems to slice through stringier woods better when it's sharp.

 

Thanks guys. I absolutely love the Fiskars splitting axes, so you won't get an unbiased review from me, but.....I haven't found a downside. It has a lifetime guarantee, so I don't worry about damaging it. I actually split in a tire so I'll often intentionally overshoot the piece in front to split the one in back, and the handle just keeps on taking it. It also has never given my wrist the "handle ring" or whatever you call it when you overshoot and the handle transfers the shock to your wrists. It's very easy on me in that regard. I've split all that wood you see there with it, and at least 10 cord more in the last couple seasons, and it's not showing any signs of giving up. It's nowhere near as sharp as it was when it was new, but that doesn't bother me. I actually don't worry about keeping it very sharp, although I know that some do. It just keeps knocking 'em apart for me, even though I don't treat it very well. I suppose if there was going to be a downside it's that you don't want to use it with a wedge. I have a heavy maul for when I need to drive wedges though, and to be honest the Fiskars is so efficient at knocking the big rounds apart that I don't use wedges but once in a blue moon. I am on the West coast, so I'm mostly splitting soft wood like the fir above. I've heard differing opinions from you guys who split lots of hard wood, both good and bad reviews, but I personally will never go back to a heavy splitter. It's pretty amazing, you pick the thing up and think "no way" since it's so light and all my experience said the heavier the better, but I'll be danged if it doesn't just work amazingly well.


Ha! I was typing this as Shawn posted, and it looks like we said the same thing regarding wedges and sharpening. My long lost brother! Right on man!

 

Good looking job there Walker

 

Thanks. I have a box store 8 lb maul that I have been using and it splits ok but after a couple hours I start to feel it. Just nervous that lightening up would also mean more swings to do the same amount of work. Right now most of my wood is ash and maybe 10% cottonwood.

 

The design of the fiskars head is good, and the lighter weight means faster swings and less fatigue. I split for a long time with a normal axe, and similarly to you, debated getting an x27 for awhile. I finally did when the axe handle broke, and don't regret it one bit. It really is a superior and excellent tool. Very ergonomic and comfortable to swing and use. Splitting ash and cottonwood with one will be a breeze. Much better than a maul for easy splitting wood

 

Thanks so much! Yep, cooked outside all summer, and just did some ribs out there over the weekend. I built a new set up to add to the outdoor area. I still use the one in my avatar for long cooks, and for hanging out. I built another rig to test some new construction ideas and to house a permanent oven and lower temp burner. It's neat, I can have the oven going at pizza temps and have a smoker or the canner sitting on the low temp burner, all from one small fire in the below ground firebox. Extra heat still heats the seating area for nighttime warmth. The way it is configured there is now heated seating for 10 or so, which got a workout a few times this summer/fall. Loving it.

Here's the new cooker....



Making cookies in this pic, the sticks coming out of the hole in the ground are the fire. The ends of them are engulfed in a raging fire in this photo. The firebox is below ground...



Here's a shot of the temp probe, high is in the oven, low is in the smoker which is on the burner where the tea kettle is in the pics above....



And, since you guys like fire, here's the other set up, running full tilt into the diffuser at the bottom of the BBQ....

 

That thing is SWEET!!! Is that like a "rocket" stove? Don't wanna derail your thread, but I'd love to see the how-to..

 

Nice stacks !
Some nice sized rounds
Fun to split those

 

Thanks man! Well, I'll derail just a bit more...yep, it's a rocket. And here's the how-to on stage one. This eventually became the thing in the pictures above. I started with this build from the video, then added another barrel for the second burner, and some half barrels for the bench flue run. Then I just build a Hardi-backer surround and infilled with mud, and cast some concrete tops. The hardi-backer is just plastered with clay/sand plaster. I can start a new thread in the cooking section if you need more detail, but this will give you the gist of it.

 

Awesome. I want to build something like that for processing maple syrup. Would give me something do do with the smaller diameter stuff that's too small to bother with for the wood stove. Could be handy for cooking other stuff too.

 

The only thing I don't like the X27 for is the small stuff too big for a hatchet that i usually split by holding the axe in one hand near the head and the wood in the other with the head resting on the wood and then pound the whole thing on the splitting block until the head "bites" and sticks in the wood then swing the whole thing with the wood stuck to the head till the wood splits. I find a regular axe head bites into the wood and sticks better, the x27 head wants to pop back out of the wood.

 

Dave, that stuff is perfect fodder for the tire technique. Load up 10 of those small guys in a tire and go to town. You'll have 30 pieces in no time, and no bending over 20 times, trying to do a balancing act with a single stick.

 

Dennis, every time I go out there and move those stupid plywood sheets I have for covers, I think of you and that you told me the same thing last year! Nope, I don't take it as anything other than a friend being helpful, and I appreciate it. I, just, well, I have no excuse. I need to go sort those out, that's not the worst spot, although thanks to you it's better than it was. Thanks my friend.