Wood Scavenging

Is your brother-in-law's sister going let you have dibs on the wood ?

 

That is a good question. My sister told me that they had offered the wood to others; I don't know if they came and got some of the smaller stuff or they just never came at all. BIL sister really wants the wood out that is in front of the house and I can't blame them for that. This is a drawback to not having a truck; sister's truck had been having issues with the switch for some time; and the security thing would kick in and she would have to wait 10 minutes before trying again. Maybe I can stress that I really want the wood and that I depend on wood for heating (even though this will be a few years out before use).

 

Just promise them you will get it all out of there , that's what I do with CL finds , most of the time , they let me have dibs and they take the add off CL

 

I went to my sister's today and BIL was working on the truck replacing the switch. I helped by holding a light. He had to take the steering wheel off to get to the switch; which was expensive but what isn't on a car these days. After we got it all back together, it would start because the security is in the switch, not the key. We had to go through a reprogramming sequence that involved key on for 10 minutes, key off, wait 10 seconds and then attempt to start. Supposedly you do three times but after the third no go. I told BIL let's try it one more time and that did it. We started the truck several times so hopefully it is repaired and I can continue to get the wood. My pulled muscle is still sore. It was sunny today but I was unsure of swinging that heavy splitting maul. Maybe tomorrow.

By the way, for those that might have been confused by my earlier declaration of the truck, it is a GM Colorado.

 

I talked to my sister today about the wood. The only thing left at the house are the two large sections; minus the small at the top which I cut that day; everything else you see in the photo I cut and brought home. BIL said he might could drag them into the field. It might be after the 15th before I can return to the wood.
I went out today and took one of the largest rounds and using my maul tried to split. The maul just bounced off, even trying at the edge. Either I don't know how, or don't have the strength, but that maul has always seemed useless to me. This is the maul I have; or one exactly like it as that is a web photo.



I don't have any splitting wedges. Dad had some but I have not seen them in years; probably lost when we had to move. I wanted to see if it was going to be possible to split these large rounds in the field so I made a rough wooden wedge out of a piece of sweet gum I had (not the best wood to use but this was just going to be a test). I took the Beast and cut a grove across the face of the log and using my rough wedge I did manage to split it. Willow oak has a good straight grain so with the proper splitting wedges I should be good to go. I may try making some splitting wedges out of some of the hickory; with them out of wood, I could use the saw if necessary without worry of damaging the chain.

 

Get thee some splitting wedges posthaste, and a 6 or 8 pound sledgehammer, if you don't already have one. Steel wedges are easy to find online, Walmart even has them. You need at least three, ideally a small, medium, and large, of the classic straight variety. I split only with wedges, never a maul, and I can split huge rounds without much trouble. If you study the checks and the grain of a particular round, you can strategize your attack. These are my wedges, mostly estate-sale and flea market finds.

 

Free is good

 

I know that Dad had some metal wedges that he used for splitting but I don't recall a sledge hammer; that might have gotten lost as well. I was going to head to the Fleamarket this year but I had just got the car repaired and fuel prices went up due to Harvey.
What about these wedges? Are they good or a gimmick?

 

Of course there will be the problem of me being able to hit the wedge on the head . When I use an axe to try to split it seems I can never hit in the same spot twice

 

I prefer the flat wedges over those 4-way. Like using a saw, you'll get better hitting the wedge with practise

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I never tried the diamond shaped wedges, didn't want to buy something I didn't like. Hitting the wedge isn't hard, and if you miss, it's no big deal. I tend to choke up on the sledge handle, and that gives me more control.

 

I have one of those it works okay but is nothing special.
I have a couple normal wedges but, The best two wedges I have are my Twisted wedge and the Estwing 5 lb. Sure Split Wedge

 

That does look pretty nice. I might have to get one.

 

Well Kim, if you don't have any wedges or a sledgehammer and the maul doesn't work, just go ahead and noodle them

 

I got one of those Estwing wedges on the way home. My first try was on a couple rounds of oak, one green, one 2 years old. My first impression was that the enamel finish doesn't bite into the wood as well as bare steel for the first few whacks. Once the round is opened up, though, the wings on the wedge pop the stringy bits holding the split together in a very satisfying manner. I'm thinking I will use the Estwing as a second wedge, after I open up a check in the round with a small bare steel starter wedge. Thanks for the recommendation, HDRock!

 

I am going to have to wait on these; seems I have pulled some muscles or the old pectoral injury I did a few years ago is acting up. A few years ago I used some shears over my head for a few hours and seems I over did it. I could barely take a breath; deep breaths hurt so bad that I couldn't do them and the bad thing is that you have to take a deep breath every so often. My brother is a respiratory therapist and he said that it is not fully understood why. Last year it occurred again although not as bad. Going on holiday next week and I don't want to be in pain. I was feeling sore yesterday morning but wanted to get some wood cut.
Sister told me today that the big sections down at the house were dragged into the field so there is not the push now to return.

 

Boy, you don't mess around do ya
They are a little harder to get started, sometimes I zip a shallow kerf on the top with the saw to help, and sometimes when the wings hit the wood it will pop back up, just have to whack it real good

 

Well you have to be careful you don't want things to get worse.

 

You make me remember that I have a saw now, which can be a help with splitting! I'm used to thinking of cutting wood and splitting wood as two separate operations. I have some horrible chunks of oak where limbs were cut off at an angle to the trunk, that I think I'll try to noodle.