When kids get older it is time to get mechanized. I didn't get a snowblower, tiller, logsplitter until the kids were ready to go off to college
Very true, although im always alone when making firewood. Over the course of our conversation he cursed out his wifes complaining. He was Portugese and had a heavy accent so i didnt fully understand what he was saying. I took it as she complained he was too old or hoarding wood or both! Fiskars X27 ax...$50 Stihl Ms250 chain saw...$300 Making firewood alone...priceless!
That young fella in the picture, splits those big rounds the same way I do. I only noodle in enough to get a wedge to bite. He noodles in a lot deeper. It works for him. Dilly Dilly!
Shoot, I've done that many times with a 16" bar. Not a problem at all. 30" is just about max though for a 16" bar although I once did a 32".
The thought crossed my mind to buck the big logs for him, but i didnt have the big saw with me. He seemed like a stubborn old type who would've gotten PO'd if i did. Sometimes if you tell them they're old they dont like it. My late father and uncles were the same way. If he was really struggling then i would have of course, but knew what he was doing for the most part.
He may not have wanted your help as it would have gotten he job done quicker and then have to go home and put up with his wife.
Don't tell him he old (he knows that) ask him.. Hey if I cut these to length for could you take 5 minutes and teach me xxx.. Then his experience has value.
The benefit of a forum... I would have never heard of that book if not for this thread. I ordered, thanks!
In the first pic, showing the gent and the big round... it looks like he has noodled down halfway through and now he is taking a wedge to it to halve it? If so, it would save wear and tear on the saw. Is this what he is doing? If so, what type of wedge, felling wedge or splitting wedge? The old gent is my hero, lol, I am soon 66 and did six hours today in the woods, harvesting two blowdowns and I'm beat. This is hard work! I could not get my truck up to them, had to park about 50 yards away. Ugh. Loaded my trailer with rounds of oak, will go back tomorrow.
I think i asked him "what are you going to do when you get old"? One of my favorite lines to say to someone getting on in years. He jokingly replied "i already am"! Got a good smile out of him!
I had an old timer a couple of houses up, was 87 and shoveling the foot plus of snow that fell. I tried to help him and he got pizzed. After that he became my idol, I thought I had an in with him when he gave me a respectful nod when he was watching me split and stack but he was too hardcore to waste his time befriending someone half his age. He wore camo every day and went by Gunny, obviously a marine. Your guy reminds me of him and I totally get the not wanting help mentality but it never hurts to ask. Old timers are awesome, the stuff they know is amazing, lifetime of experience when men were men and all. No offense meant by that to the female hoarders that are also hardcore.
