Load of oak for my parents

Got a call from dad this past weekend wanting me to saw up an oak tree that was taken down at his friends house. No apts at the shop today so about noon we head out. Nice little load for them. XS365SP made quick work of it…

Dad threw one of his ramps in so we could roll the “big” ones on.




Off loaded that then took some pics of their stack.


Dad says it 5’ high and we used 16”x 5 splits wide.



Not bad! Mom walked out and told us it was time to maybe help my son for a while. We’re almost approaching the road (where it’s stacked).


I also cut up his chunk and ugly pile. Most was total junk.



All in all, a great day spent with pops.

 

Nice oak there. Rolled up a ramp??? You didnt noodle them??? JBYB!
Dad gonna try and burn that in the Fall or have you hoarded enough for him?

 

With 8 cords already split and most ready for next year, he won’t have to use it for a while.
They were borderline for me to lift, so I just used the ramp as he rolled them out of the brush down to me. Sure is nice having someone else there to help!
I did noodle the stump piece.

 

You’re definitely a good son

 

Looks like an awesome day!!

 

It's always good to get time away with family. Nice work!

 

Good day for sure it looks.

 

Ya done good. Dad should be happy and proud.

 

I was thinking abiut the same thing as Brad....about noodling or chunking with the maul before loading. 'Course I say that b/c I've quit moving rounds as a rule (save for positioning to be split).

Nice take for the day.
Also nice to work with family together like that.

 

No hand splitting for this fella. I just don't.

Well, I have to give credit to my parents. I had what I would consider a great upbringing. This is just a small way to pay it back.

 

I have used the ramp method plenty of times before. A lot of leg work goes into it but if you want to move em quick, it's very effective.

 

Have you ever hand split? Why the adversion to a maul? Just curious.

 

Seeing my dads back issues mainly. He hand split everything growing up. Plus, I spent 26 years in printing. Over that time I developed near carpal tunnel w/ my hands and if I over do it, my elbows too. Those all add up to me avoiding swinging a maul over and over. Been using Voltaren 3 times a day during all the splitting I just did and it really helps. I can't imagine gripping a handle for all that. No way it would happen.

 

I had something in my right shoulder get angry when I took my coat off a little more than a week ago. Babied it for a couple days and did some range of motion exercises. Have since swung a little and everything seems good now. There is no way I would want to maul every split. I would if I had no option. My current method seems to work well for me. I get a little shoulder and back exercise from the maul and don't have to over exert lifting rounds to the table. One of the worst times I ever hurt my back was after a vertical split session, so I tend to avoid at all costs now. In fact, I hurt my wrist last time I did any. lol The bad incident had me using my tire and truck bed to pull myself off the ground. <shudder>

 

Yeah, that stinks. I tried vert twice. 1st time my BIL and I had this huge ash base that was already down and we bucked. Once the rounds fell flat, there wasn't an easy way to maneuver them into the splitter. It was a ch1t show. Second time wasn't much different. Had to be bent over to wrestle rounds to position as the ground didn't allow them to move easily. @ that point, it was 2 strikes you're out.
I do think your method is very efficient. I do burn more mix, use more oil, dull more chain and make more waste noodling, but my effort is low. I do love running hot-rod saws so it ends up being more trigger time, which is a win. One of the stipulations before I started burning wood was an agreement w/ my wife that I could buy a hydraulic splitter.

 

Great statement here!

 

I've been using hydro my entire career including the JC Penny branded one my dad had. If I ever get to 'level up' again, I want a lift cradle. I rented a beast unit one time that had it. The effect is profound when running solo. (could stage 5-6 medium rounds on the cradle) That particular unit had detent forward and reverse...which also had a profound effect. I believe they run about 20 grand, so renting is the only way I'll ever get to use one again.

 

RCBS the Easton made has one for about 12k with nice reviews.. cannot justify it for me alone.

where did it rent from?

 

I could only dream of one of those.