Just considering my options for easy stacking of my wood. Anybody have any thoughts or experiences using a pick pole?
Ive got a pickaroon but don't use it much. First week I had it, it glanced and got me in the foot. I was lucky and only limped around for a week. I usually cut green wood and the oaks, hickorys and ash are too hard to stab. Sometimes I use it to help rake wood out of my truck when Im unloading. Never used a pick pole and it looks like it would have a better chance penetrating the wood.
We call that a Pike pole. And yes I have and do sometimes. My current pike pole is a bit too heavy duty for moving splits and small rounds. I have used them for years on the salt water rafting and booming and towing logs and log rafts. The pike pole is 2nd only to good sharp corks for working logs on the bay.
My bet is that it would be more tiring on the arms and will work nicely...so long as it grabs. But let several pieces fall off before reaching the pile and it won't be liked so well. Also, if it grabs good, that should mean that getting it loose takes a bit too. All in all, maybe not a saving of human energy. But if it works....
Pike poles work very well for moving splits and small rounds. I've loaded my heavy welded aluminium work skiff with splits when things hadn't gone according to how I had hoped they would . And the tide came in on the wood I had split on the beach. Just like pewing fish ! But, the pike needs to be sharpened just right so it sticks enough but not too much. Trial and error. I could haul 1/2 measured cord of Sitka spruce or yellow cedar in the bow of my 14' sled skiff.
