Give her time and she will come around. First year with wood and my wife was the same way. 4 years later with a home that stays at 75 even at below zero temps and her tune changed. Now all she see's is a big pile of money out there.
Question: Where do you plan to stack it? That to me would play a big factor in where to have it dropped. I have watched my neighbor process a few log loads, his method is to go through as time permits and buck all of it. Neatly stacking the rounds into two rows about 5-6' apart. Once done he gets the splitter out and starting farthest away from his stack he splits and makes a decent pile, next night he stacks those splits, rinse and repeat. It works well for him and he is usually done within a month. (Which is mostly evening work.)
Buying a saw this year getting it all cut and renting a spliter is a good idea Saw would be number 1 Show this picture to your wife and keep me posted on your saw
If you use the orange area you can put the logs parallel to your driveway then roll them out and cut on your driveway. Then use your tractor to move the rounds. It will be a little extra work to get the log onto the cutting deck, but cleanup is much easier on a hard surface. Your lawn should have minimal damage.
Well Griz, even though I prefer a 441 or 461, it's hard to beat a good 365 X-Torq for $350. Came with a 24" bar, full chisel chain, new carb, and leaky oiler. I'll post a pic after I get it cleaned up a bit. Should be enough to get through the big stuff. Picked up a set of tamper Torx bits to do the 372 conversion. Offhand, anyone know if I'll need to re-tune after grinding out the transfer port baffle?
On the splitter, I would stay away from the splitter on the tractor and go for a 20 or 22 ton splitter that will go vertically (the best way to split). We have a 20 ton with 5 hp Briggs & Stratton engine and it is well over 20 years old with no problems. I've lost count how many cord we've split but is well over 200 cord. On the place to stack, I'm not sure why you have ruled out a part of the pasture. No doubt there is a little high ground in there and horses would be no problem. Otherwise, yes to the gravel to stack on and it needs to be in an easy spot to unload the logs. Forks on the tractor can come in handy but beware; all forks are not created equal. Our neighbor found out the first time he moved a large white pine log and one fork bent badly. However you decide, good luck.
On that note, when you figure the cord cost/year, don't add the total cost of the splitter or saw. Those things will last for YEARS, and you should calculate by averaging by year or by cords. This will be our 9th year in this house. The splitter came with the house and I imagine it was at least a few years old before we got here. If you do the math, that splitter has only cost Dennis about (guessing here, cause I don't know what he paid for his) $50/year. Peanuts.
First truck load arrived this week and I got them bucked. Started splitting but I have to be honest, doing it by hand is not easy when the axe bounces off some of it. That will end up taking most of my time. Two more truck loads tomorrow - that should kick my a** all weekend. David
That is why most times a splitting maul will work much easier. But if you get one, you don't have to have the heaviest one. I think ours is like a 6lb and that is enough for me.
Sometimes a maul is better. I have a X27 and a couple different mauls. I have a splitter but split for exercise. You can't beat a good bunch of wedges if you don't have a splitter on those nasty pieces. Start on the outside and slab off pieces either way you do it. Seems like once you free up some of the grain the rest usually splits easier.
Definitely. I've only had the chance one time to try an x27 and let's just say I was sadly disappointed. I don't split much by hand any more but most definitely if I was still doing that, I would not rush out to buy one of them. Any old single bit axe will do as well and a splitting maul will work even better. However, don't get one of the really heavy ones, like a 10 pounder. It will certainly split a lot but will wear you out swinging it.
The x 27 has its place, splitting huge rounds in half isn't really where it shines. A maul will work way better for the big stuff. Just do some research on mauls and buy the right one. I am just realizing my cheapo yellow handle maul is crap. Would like to do what others have done and grind the head down a bit and see if it is any better.
If you do grind the head down, do not make the edge sharp like an axe. You don't want it that sharp else you very well could be sticking it in and then having some problems getting it out if the log doesn't split. In other words, keep it a little bit dull. Actually, I like a single bit axe a bit dull too if used for splitting.
