Kindling

Not the most exciting wood to split, but it’s needed!

Had a large maple branch fall during the summer, and a Beech that snapped finally blew down with recent winds. So all scrounged for the VT property.

I was low on oil, so I used some Klotz in the saw. Smelled wonderful whilst cutting!

Once cut, the Kindling Cracker and a small sledge made things go pretty quickly.

 

Ive never tried a kindling cracker. Does it work well for small logs/splits?

It would be ideal when I resize splits for my bundle wood rather than splitting the conventional way I do now.

 

Very true! Luckily, I have an existing stash that’s been drying for a few months. This will be backup.

 

I find it works very well on existing splits. The stuff I was splitting can get a little interesting if you have a knot or a twist in the grain. I had a number of pieces that weren’t even because of that. With an existing split, the cracker goes along the grain easily.

 

I have given up using kindling. I have had no trouble getting a fire going when I use one of my homemade fire starters. I make them using drier lint, wax and egg cartons. Dry wood is a must.

 

I still make and use kindling. There have been several times I I asked myself why, When I run out the homemade starters work just fine without. Old habits die hard!

 

Fortunately I always have plenty of kindling. A good friend has a saw mill and a wood shop that he makes wooden candle boxes and other crafts for a lady that sells them. Mostly made from poplar boards. He saves me a couple feed bags full of scraps every year. Truthfully though I can start with some splits and a couple pieces of super cedar but kindling is quicker

 

I simply walk around the property and play pick-up-sticks. They get piled up to be accessible all heating season. I break them down to fit in a bucket next to my deck rack.
It's worked for decades, for us. No reason to fix what's not broken.

 

Our Kindling Cracker is the original, lagged to a splitting stump. It's great for busting up lumber cut-offs. It's perfect for boards 12" or less, which works well for our stove. I think the legs are too short to ensure 16" long resplits would clear. It would be easy stack a couple of 2x4s under the legs & screw it all down with 4 Ledger Locks to gain enough clearance to get the wood through. A Kindling Cracker beats the bejesus out of a hatchet & I have the scars to show for it. A box from the happy store filled with kindling is a thoughtful thing to leave on a wood burning neighbor's porch!

 

I just use splitter scraps or left over pallet wood.

 

I just scrounge and burn a lot of elm. Plenty of built in kindling. Throw in four of these guys and a match and done.

 

1. I love my kindling cracker. It's mounted on a round next to my woodshed and I process a cartload of kindling from time to time as needed. I feel like as much as I process I never have enough.
2. I get damaged pallets from my work and cut up the slats with a top-handle saw. That way I'll have loads of super dry, 14"-ish long slats. Sometimes I split them more with the cracker; if I'm lazy then the whole piece goes in. Works great, especially with a good mix of soft and hard wood pallets.
3. Last year I scrounged a bit of red-cedar in hopes of splitting it up into kindling. I've burned it before and I'm not a fan of how much it sparks and pops, but it sure does burn hot.