Northern weather

[NJPiney]

P.S. Rufus, I worry about you out there flailing away at myriad logs. How long can you still do that in your life? Not that I look askew at such shenanigans, especially since I used to chop down trees for exercise as a teenager, using only a long-handled axe, but at one point, I decided it was not my calling in life and abjured a single other chop, leaving such work to younger, well-muscled, strong-hearted , better equipped dudes. Eh? Huh?

Why? I'm more than capable and it's excellent exercise when done in moderation. And, I'm not going out there this time of year slogging about in the rain and mud,

No flailing about!

I favor a modified pole axe with a slightly shortened handle that I have used for more than 40 years now. Length actually gives me more accuracy with high speed striking. Far better at it than my son who just tried to overpower everything. I have 3 wedges and a moderate weight striking hammer for the more recalcitrant log or one that's just too large for the axe. Some of the pin oak this past Fall required the wedges & hammer until down to a size that the axe worked well. Have a double bit axe, but have never really liked one for splitting, but I do use one for that action when in PA. Again, slightly shorter handle and also a light head that I can apply with good speed and accuracy.

I can't imaging doing much splitting with an axe of any type. Their narrow shape work fine for splitting small pieces but is designed for cutting across the grain, not with it. A splitting maul (it even has the task in its name!) is designed with a wedge shape and it pushes the wood apart as it slices into it. I have one of the original "Monster Mauls" that I bought 40 years ago and has a 15 pound, triangular shaped head. You work to get it over your head, but it's shape and mass go through large sections of most wood with ease. Once I halve or quarter the piece I switch to a smaller maul I can swing with more ease and precision. If the piece is truly large I might use a wedge to halve it but in most cases I learned it is faster to attack it around the edges (parallel to growth rings rather than to the rays) rather than at the center.

[NJPiney]

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[NJPiney]

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[Rufus T. Firefly]

P.S. Rufus, I worry about you out there flailing away at myriad logs. How long can you still do that in your life? Not that I look askew at such shenanigans, especially since I used to chop down trees for exercise as a teenager, using only a long-handled axe, but at one point, I decided it was not my calling in life and abjured a single other chop, leaving such work to younger, well-muscled, strong-hearted , better equipped dudes. Eh? Huh?

Why? I'm more than capable and it's excellent exercise when done in moderation. And, I'm not going out there this time of year slogging about in the rain and mud,

No flailing about!

I favor a modified pole axe with a slightly shortened handle that I have used for more than 40 years now. Length actually gives me more accuracy with high speed striking. Far better at it than my son who just tried to overpower everything. I have 3 wedges and a moderate weight striking hammer for the more recalcitrant log or one that's just too large for the axe. Some of the pin oak this past Fall required the wedges & hammer until down to a size that the axe worked well. Have a double bit axe, but have never really liked one for splitting, but I do use one for that action when in PA. Again, slightly shorter handle and also a light head that I can apply with good speed and accuracy.

I can't imaging doing much splitting with an axe of any type. Their narrow shape work fine for splitting small pieces but is designed for cutting across the grain, not with it.

Guess my training and experience just differs than yours.

[healey36]

I have a common ol' ax which seems to work fine, although it could stand a sharpening. Also, I sometimes wish it had a bit more weight. Haven't split much wood this year, as I haven't been using the fireplace much. Weather's been too damn goofy.

Trees here are heavily encrusted with ice. Managed to get through last night without any broken limbs, despite a steady breeze with 35 mph gusts. They're not so lucky southeast of me...lots of issues down in Howard and Anne Arundel Counties. Temps should get to the mid-40s today, so hopefully all of that ice melts off.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I have a common ol' ax which seems to work fine, although it could stand a sharpening. Also, I sometimes wish it had a bit more weight.

Speed and accuracy in striking beats bludgeoning with weight,

[healey36]

local variety purchased at a farmer's market or local produce stand, goes a long way toward staving off allergy symptoms

Wow!
I got to try this. A honey & PB samwich every day!!

Probably a marketing ploy by the Maryland Association of Bee-Keepers...

[NJPiney]

I guess experience is based on what you've been exposed to. I've discovered tools later in life that made a specific task so much easier that I was upset I was not aware of them earlier. I think the axe thing is partly to be blamed on movies and TV. They've always portrayed what they think looks better or more romantic on-screen, if they even know the difference. We've certainly seen that in the case of trains and railroad operations. There are axes made that are actually called splitting axes, but their heads are heavier and shaped quite differently from felling or general purpose axes.

The other question some debate is hand-splitting vs. hydraulic splitters. I used a hydraulic splitter at the first tree service I worked for, 3-4 days a week in the winter when tree work dropped off. The heavy duty model we used certainly made quick work of knotty or difficult grain pieces. When I eventually started my own tree business, a splitter was a lower priority than my dump truck, chipper, stump grinder etc. I figured I'd split by hand until I could a afford the splitter. I made far more money removing and pruning trees than selling firewood anyway. But I soon found I could split straight-grained wood far faster by hand than I ever did with the splitter, at least when working solo. When I returned from a job the wood was unloaded into two piles, trunkwood without forks or large knots and the more problematic pieces, including gum, sycamore and other species naturally difficult to split. I maintained a list of wood customers who had splitters and would gladly take the second pile for free if they picked it up or for a small delivery fee. Every tree service had their own method, but that is what worked for me. And then I got married, and switched to steadier work, with benefits.

[NJPiney]

local variety purchased at a farmer's market or local produce stand, goes a long way toward staving off allergy symptoms

Wow!
I got to try this. A honey & PB samwich every day!!

Probably a marketing ploy by the Maryland Association of Bee-Keepers...

The benefits of local honey are widely touted, beyond trade associations. But touted and proven are two different things.Being a honey lover, I looked into it a little while back. The only thing I found was a study by the University of Connecticut that found no link between local honey and allergy relief. On the other hand, no one study is the end-all answer. Remember when butter was bad and margarine was good? Then it flip flopped. Now healthier oil-based spreads are being touted again. I pay less attention to food studies these days and just try to use common sense. I try to eat local, in season, and in moderation (expect for holidays and super bowl parties!)

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I guess experience is based on what you've been exposed to. I've discovered tools later in life that made a specific task so much easier that I was upset I was not aware of them earlier. I think the axe thing is partly to be blamed on movies and TV. They've always portrayed what they think looks better or more romantic on-screen, if they even know the difference. We've certainly seen that in the case of trains and railroad operations. There are axes made that are actually called splitting axes, but their heads are heavier and shaped quite differently from felling or general purpose axes.

Maybe, but that's what I was taught to use and to use correctly. There is technique involved. I'd wager most don't know how to use an axe w/o thinking that they were the next Paul Bunyan. I've watched a few guys try to split wood and they are a hazard to everyone within 10 yards including themselves.

The other question some debate is hand-splitting vs. hydraulic splitters. I used a hydraulic splitter at the first tree service I worked for, 3-4 days a week in the winter when tree work dropped off. The heavy duty model we used certainly made quick work of knotty or difficult grain pieces. When I eventually started my own tree business, a splitter was a lower priority than my dump truck, chipper, stump grinder etc. I figured I'd split by hand until I could a afford the splitter. I made far more money removing and pruning trees than selling firewood anyway. But I soon found I could split straight-grained wood far faster by hand than I ever did with the splitter, at least when working solo. When I returned from a job the wood was unloaded into two piles, trunkwood without forks or large knots and the more problematic pieces, including gum, sycamore and other species naturally difficult to split. I maintained a list of wood customers who had splitters and would gladly take the second pile for free if they picked it up or for a small delivery fee. Every tree service had their own method, but that is what worked for me. And then I got married, and switched to steadier work, with benefits.

1st job I ever had was splitting wood - $10/cord loaded on the truck. We had a hydraulic splitter for that and 2 chain saws; 16" and a 48". It was great for the difficult stuff, like elm.....nasty stringy junk that would not burn until aged 3-4 years. That stuff went to customers that the owner disliked. He'd ask us to give him a truck load of elm and then we knew we were in for hard work. Now splitting red oak, poplar, maple was a breeze. That sort of stuff I can enjoy splitting by hand today. The pile of pin oak out back that will wait until next Fall is annoying. At my place in PA, it's black locust, Tree trimmers round here will give me the wood rather than take to sell as firewood later - glut on the market. One guy told me he had acres of piles of logs for firewood and was glad to have his crew carry it around back to my back lot.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

local variety purchased at a farmer's market or local produce stand, goes a long way toward staving off allergy symptoms

Wow!
I got to try this. A honey & PB samwich every day!!

Probably a marketing ploy by the Maryland Association of Bee-Keepers...

The benefits of local honey are widely touted, beyond trade associations.

Lots of studies about honey, but I don't recall any related allergies. Warming in moderately hot water to reverse from crystalized state is generally advised. Not sure, but I do recall studies that honey doesn't go bad either.

[healey36]

At my place in PA, it's black locust,

Locust must be hell. I've had fence posts I couldn't even drive a nail into.

[NJPiney]

At my place in PA, it's black locust,

Locust must be hell. I've had fence posts I couldn't even drive a nail into.

It is tough wood, but splits fairly easy. One of my favorites for throwing heat

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Probably a marketing ploy by the Maryland Association of Bee-Keepers...

The benefits of local honey are widely touted, beyond trade associations.

Lots of studies about honey, but I don't recall any related allergies. Warming in moderately hot water to reverse from crystalized state is generally advised. Not sure, but I do recall studies that honey doesn't go bad either.

I had heard that a long time ago, which is why I wanted the benefit of the advice this forum can often provide so nicely. Myriad backgrounds. Myriad experiences. It was just that the flavor of the honey on that oatmeal was not what I had expected nor recalled, notwithstanding that it has been, perhaps, even a decade since I last had any...
Ancora Imparo.
Thank you for the discussion and interest thus far, gentlemen.
Murph

[MurphOnMillerAve]

I have a common ol' ax which seems to work fine, although it could stand a sharpening. Also, I sometimes wish it had a bit more weight.

Speed and accuracy in striking beats bludgeoning with weight,

I hope somebody is wearing some sort of eye protection when all that splitting of logs is occurring, no matter the method. Right? I would imagine there must be a veritable potential shower upwards and outwards of splinters from the wacked-at logs, eh?