A few recent splitting tool topics have gone in this direction, and there's been a ton of good info there. Plus it seems like there's a lot of injuries happening lately. So I thought this could be a good topic. For me its more about accuracy than power. I'll try to 'read' the round to get an idea about what the grain is doing. If its nice and straight you can hit it wherever you want, but if it curves or branches its best to find the 'seams' and split along those. First round I popped open this year - cherry of course... There's a seam in these crotch pieces, basically right down the heart center. So I find its actually much easier to split the "pants" in half, even in a larger example than this one. This applies to any size knot as well. I like to attack from the smallest branch on the branched side.
I like your take on this "reading" of the round, Shawn Curry I approach splitting with hydraulics the same way in order to make cleaner splits No more axe/maul/wedges for me...
If you cut the round shorter as needed to get that knot near an end then split from that end it makes it go much easier. It does take thinking ahead when you are bucking to avoid wasting a lot of wood that way. In your example picture, if you wanted smaller splits you could take off the part that is away from the knot to reduce it even further. In your picture that would be a 1/3, 2/3 splitting location.
Yep, it all starts with cutting it up the right way too. Its takes a lot more power if you don't saw through the "armpit". The first pic is a little misleading - it's actually a crotch with the branches pointing down - the knot was insignificant.
+1 :: hydraulics I read the round & split as if I was using a maul The straighter the splits, the better it stacks .
Whew....doze off for a second after queuing up this thread, but having just come from this one.... Whet Deep Thinkers Retired Men Really Are.................... Yikes. I still feel a little woozy
To avoid injury I always make sure I stand in a wide stance so my feet and shins are clear of a glancing hit, or if a split pops much easier than expected and the maul comes down in the dirt. Reading the round as mentioned above is key. It is very satisfying to bust a big knot straight down the middle by hand. Accuracy is very helpful too. If you are having trouble with a round try flipping it over, or even lay it down on it's side. My new favourite kindling cracking method is the chopping the wood chunks while they are laying on their sides. Much easier than hitting a small target on an upright split.
I'm not sure I follow because a round is the same width standing up or laying down, less chance of a glancing blow standing
Not rounds, splits. Whenever I feel like cracking kindling I just grab a pile of straight grain splits, lay them down on their sides, and chop chop chop. Makes lots of nice little sticks and splinters. Fill up a banana box with the new wood shrapnel and stow it inside so it gets real dry.
Okay I understand I make many of kindling laying flat on the Stump, gotta be careful though they may fly up and smack you in the head, don't ask me how I know
Been doing a bunch of the same, just took a break from the internet. Still been acquiring and CSS wood. Got a nice garden going too, started working occasionally with a tree service so I can really get some wood and my personal fav WOOD CHIPS!! I am practicing the Back To Eden style gardening and using thick layers of wood chips. A-MAZING results so far, I highly recommend it. Wood is gooder!
