If I've got a large pile of rounds to process, to me it's worth firing up my splitter. Or if it's all large diameter rounds, I'll set my splitter up vertically and go to town. Or if it's knotty pine, spruce, the dreaded-by-some elm, or anything else that gives me grief, the County Line takes care of it. If all I've got is a few rounds from a quick grab and go, then most likely I'll use the maul. I still enjoy swinging a maul when it makes sense to do so, but when I need to use hydraulics, I'm grateful I have the option.
Hand splitting is my favorite part of the whole process. I only do 2 to 4 cords a year so I don't have to kill myself. Pieces that are too difficult either get noodled or turned into shorts.
Much of what you say is true but you are doing more damage to youself by lifting those logs the way you do. You could do yourself a favor by getting a good pair of log tongs. And don't get a cheap pair. Get the Husky brand.
After watching part of your video I fail to see how lifting wood onto a log spliiter would be much different from you lifting and carrying the logs to where you plan on splitting. Why are you doing that anyway? Wouldn't it make more sense to just stand the log up where it is at rather than moving it?
100% hydraulic. I sell every piece I split. It's strictly a side gig for me, mostly on Saturdays and occasionally an evening or 2 during the week. At this point, gas is still cheaper than a chiropractor visit (I just started 2 years ago and I'm 53-no axe/maul experience whatsoever).
Used to hand split everything and as foolish as it sounds, I thought I would hand split forever also! I had an OWB which enabled me to leave the chunks larger than one would typically split the size to. One year, I bought a truckload of "cull wood" from a log yard. It was just too large, twisted, knotty, gnarled, crotchy (?) and hand splitting really took the wind out of my sails! This was also going on with a full time job and a minumum 10 hour day....summers were minumum 12 hours days. Thats when I began looking for hydraulics. Many of those pieces were nothing but just whittled down a bit by the maul. That was in my 50's. Now-a-days, when I go into the woods for a load, I will always bring the maul along but that is to just split the pieces so I can lift them easier. Once you get older, and if you ever get into some bad pieces, you learn to appreciate hydraulics. It seems you are blessed with ideal pieces for hand splitting for now. Waiting to hear from you in 20-25 years or so......
Hand splitting can be enjoyable. Using hydraulics can be enjoyable. Working hard can be enjoyable. Working easier can be enjoyable and also allow you to do more other than the hard work. Regardless of which way one prefers to split firewood, it is a job which needs done and over time hard work will take a toll on the body. To clarify my own method, I have worked with firewood most of my life and began when my age was measures with a single digit. I was also born and raised on a large dairy farm and again worked from an early age. Later I worked logging and then in a mill. Started as off-bearer and gradually went to carriage rider then to sawyer. Following that I went from farm to farm grinding feed for cows, hogs, chickens, etc and we still used shovels for moving the corn. During my 40's I had an accident and that made a tremendous change in my life. I found I could no longer split wood using axe or maul. Finally I broke down and bought a log splitter (and still have the same one). Rather than finding it a bore or a difficult task, I tried different ways of working with it and loved it. Even though I turn 80 in 2 months I can still use the log splitter and still enjoy doing it. Do I hurt? Well, does a bear... Is the Pope Catholic? But I can still do it little by little and want to continue. Also, I have endured many surgeries (16) but still continue. What I get most from your posts is what you stress most is not method but just to state how hard you work and enjoy that. It has very little to do with splitting wood; just working hard. There are still many who do still enjoy working hard and that is good. It also does not matter if that work is with firewood or some other occupation. Continue doing your thing and what you enjoy but do not assume you will never change to something better.
I'll take scores where I can set the trailer within a few feet of the score. Logs cut, rounds stood on end and made to fire wood. If I had to hustle, I might just quarter and load. A friend is a good help, I'll split and throw towards the trailer, he'll cover the last few feet into the trailer. Once the trailer can't get fairly close, I loose interest....there is usually more wood elsewhere. I agree with the above, moving the wood the minimum number of feet, moving smaller pieces only, is the name of the game. And, I dont push too hard. The Ash roadkill score has taken us 3 days so far, 1 load a day. If someone else grabs some, thats cool. Nice n easy, relaxed, slower and steady. And peeps to assist when possible.
I understand where you are coming from completely. You have much more experience than I do and I appreciate the advice. I do believe it will get harder as I age but I also believe the hand splitting has great benefits for men as they age. I am actually 30 exactly. I look older than I am. Don’t let the gray hairs fool you lol. I appreciate your all’s advice and enjoy hearing from you all. Would love to see some footage of how you all do it. I love the firewood business and just everything to do with firewood in general.
I appreciate the advice my friend and would love to see some footage of the hand splitting if you ever get the chance!
I have had to cut some rounds at 24 inches in length for some of the customers that have outside wood burners. They prefer the bigger stuff I’ve found. And it is definitely more of a challenge to hand split than 16 inch rounds. I have done quite a few this way though and will likely be doing more this year. The outside wood burners seem to burn through the wood pretty quick but warm the whole house very well from what I hear.
Very interesting story of your past sir. I enjoyed hearing about that. And I agree with you. Very well said. I believe hand splitting and log splitters are both honest respectable jobs and both are hard work. And I very well may go to a log splitter entirely when I grow older. There’s no telling what time will bring to my body, lord willing. I just turned 30 in February so I’ll be 31 before long. My dad told me when he hit around 45 he could tell his body didn’t recover the way it used to and that he was in more pain. So once I get there I may change my mind entirely. But that’s not the plan. If I live to be 80 I’d like to hand split at 80 if I’m able. But I know that my change completely when I hit 50. No telling what time and this kind of work will do to my body lol
I use my hydro only. I get all the exercise I need felling, moving wood (three year plan in 3 locations) and stacking. I also run all the slash through my chipper which is a workout in and of itself. I do about 7 cords a year at 24" long. Much of the red oak I drop is over 2' wide at the base as well. As to the comment about hurting yourself lifting (and a multitude of other issues you had with your brief hydro ownership), that's because you left the splitter in horizontal. I split exclusively in vertical. Sure, I lift small pieces into place on the foot but the larger stuff gets easily rolled into position and then stood up. On the big stuff, I bring the splitter and ATV trailer to the tree and roll the pieces to the splitter. On smaller stuff, I park the splitter behind the barn near my stacks and trailer the rounds to it.
I have had my brother help me before and that definitely helps a lot having an extra hand. I would cut the rounds and he would stack and split. Once I got a lot cut I would give him a break and I would start splitting and once he rested he would start loading what I split. It goes much fast with two people but also needs to because you have to pay them. It’s still well worth it having an extra hand. I have two sons but they are both little still. One is 9 and one is 5. But the 9 year old goes with me already and when he gets a little older I plan to teach him to hand split. He is already loading and stacking and knows about the whole process. But once I have them both helping that will make a world of a difference!
I did try to stand the splitter up but some of the rounds were too big to fit under it. I agree. All of the rest of the work before and after the splitting is a lot of exercise as it is! 7 cords at 24 inches is quite a bit of wood! Do you have an outside wood burner?
I have an inside wood furnace. Max Caddy by PSG which is no longer made after the 2020 EPA regs. It is front load and takes up to 25".
I used to hand split everything when I was younger. Logs were cut to approximately 18" then too, or what ever length depending on how it looked. Lots of knots = shorter log. Nice and straight Goldilocks wood = 18" or longer. Stack the long logs on the bottom of the row, shorter pieces on top. My 621 Daka wood furnace will take approximately a 24" long log I believe. Practically impossible to split a log that long tho! Now, I cut almost all logs to 16" and use a hydro and enjoy the view of the nicer, more uniform stacks. However, I do hand split a few logs when the stresses of the world and the day job start to get to me. It is great exercise as long as one does not overdo it. I do think that the wood now a days has gotten a lot more difficult to split as I have gotten older tho!
