Well....yesterday, I didn't have work to do in that area. I do now! But, that's not gonna happen for a few months. Would need to Split the big rounds Halve the pieces into about a quarter round Move and toss the pieces over the stone wall Split, move, and stack. Not during the summer months for me. Besides, I don't gave anywhere to put it. I'm close to opening up another area next to my current rack area. Maybe a cords worth.
With the hellascious heat and humidity this summer, we finally had a bit of a break in both temps and humidity. But, it'll be coming back. So, I took out the saw, sledge, wedges, and the x27 for about an hour each of the past two mornings, and hammered away at a few more of the big rounds. There's still lots more, but it felt good noodling in a groove, and hammering away to get the rounds split into chunks small enough to lift and toss. Sweat was dripping into my glasses, and I had had enough. Guessing about 3-4 splits from each chunk, and about 7 chunks per round. Not to rush the summer, but it'll feel better when the temps are in the 50-60's, to get after it daily. As I said, there's still plenty left to deal with, just to get down into chunks.
Ok, I get it, you like splitting wood, but let me tell you, a 62 yr old body does not! There are lots of splitters with lots of features. I think if you get one and run it like Backwoods Savage does, you won't tire out so easily and you still be able to move about for the next time. Done ranting, Just my 2 cents.
No rant. 2 cents is ALWAYS welcomed. I don't mind manually splitting, and am looking forward to the cooler months when I can get out there and split for a few hours at a time. It's something I've always and continue to enjoy. When the time comes that I physically can no longer split, or, that I no longer enjoy it, then sure, that's the time for me to get a splitter. I may have jumped the gun on "splitting season", this week, but what the heck.
I f my back would let me I would still be splitting by hand. I'm glad I can still get out and run most of the time , so I do. It might be just 2+ miles a day but it still beats sitting on the couch doing nothing which is real easy to do. I'll do that when it is all I can do. Those days are coming fast enough.
Almost 2.5 Started out riding a bike to try to lose a little weight, that became trying to get 15,000 steps a day walking which became see how many of the steps can be running. Now I'm working on more consistent 9 minute miles instead of 10 minute miles. So I guess I'm hoarding miles and steps.
With coolish temps I was able to clear an area for some new-to-me racks, level them off a bit, then get to putting splits on them, to keep them from floating away. So, I split some oak rounds yesterday, them move and stack, and split a bit more this morning. About 6 yard-wagon loads. Enough to fill one rack, and start another The sun and vampires came out, so it's time for water and a shower A couple of aerial shots from the deck That nearest rack, with the roofing rubber, has some swamp maple that was blown down last February. I'm hoping to use it for shoulder season, next spring. Each rack is about 1/3 cord.
That’s a lot of nice looking wood Mike! My hats off to you for splitting it all by hand. Personally I’m in the same camp as savemoney and I agree 100% on the vertical position.
Yeah, I've tried splitting horizontal, but the x27 actually laughs at me. I still find it very satisfying, almost cathartic, to take a good sized piece of oak and with a few swings, have it reduced to splits. Especially with the red oak that I have.
Thanks. At this point, I think I'm on the 4yr plan. BUT, those empty racks just look so awful. Plus, my SIL has a number of trees she wants down because they are shading her yard and has moss on areas. Who am I to refuse her request? And, she said I could leave the logs there until I'm ready to take them! She's in town, about a 10min ride over back roads.
I got rid of moss in one shady area by planting a grass seed that likes shade. It's dark green and doesn't mow well but it stays green and the moss doesn't get a chance.
Well... M2theB has rebuilt another Huqvarna saw that he rebuilt, and was looking to give it a good run through. I'm not good with model numbers, but it has a 24in bar. He showed up this misty, drizzly morning and went at it. The skies soon cleared. We worked together in cutting up the trunks of the tress I had taken down, into smaller rounds and some gnarly crotch chunks.cut it freen, I used the rope puller I had a rope tied off on the missing round below. Once M2theBwas able to make a couple of cuts, I used the rope puller to move it out of the way. Then, it was just cut another rouns free, roll it out of the way, and move on down the log. Rounds were cut to 16in length M2theB's saws, sitting atop the carnage they wrought Not snow - wood chips
A few more. We ended up relieving about 10 rounds from being attached together, gaining access to two rounds that I couldn't get to, and cut up some ugly crotch pieces that have noodling in their future There's still a good length left to cut. I need to lift it off the ground, and/or scratch away under it to remove forest detrius, to keep a chain out of the dirt. The gnarly crotch pieces are on the right. I'll split as much as I can off them, before using the noodle machine. Another HUGE thanks to M2theB for making the hour's ride to cut red oak logs. He was pleased with the operation of his rebuilt saw. So, another Win-Win for FHC!! But now..... I have work to do, getting those rounds into pieces that'll fit in the woodstove in 3-4 yrs. A fine problem to have, I assure you.
Great work! Hard to beat the feeling of looking at your piles knowing you split it by hand I am a huge fan of the X27's. I have 2. And a 25. And a small hatchet! Seeing all this makes me want to turn off the TV. Get off the couch and start swinging. I have a big pile of blocked Oak needing split. Hmmmmmm.
You will get many many splits out of each of those rounds. Knowing that they are 16" long puts their bulk in perspective. Great to have a big saw and experienced operator come to help. Hope the snow holds off for awhile!
