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BS: wood splitting thing
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Subject: BS: wood splitting thing From: john f weldon Date: 29 Oct 07 - 02:12 PM Many years ago I purchased an odd device for splitting wood. It consists of a blade that sits on the ground facing UP, and a frame to hold the wood. You rest the wood on the blade, and whack the top of the log with a sledgehammer. It works FAR better than any axe, maul, or wedge that I've tried. You can't get "stuck" in the wood, and if one whack doesn't do it, just keep whacking! Mudcatters are surely a healthy, wood-splitting lot. Does anyone else have one of these? And, even more important, does it have a name? |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: Ebbie Date: 29 Oct 07 - 03:04 PM Sounds efficient. In Alaska many people use wood burning stoves. If you find a name for it, let us know, OK? |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: bobad Date: 29 Oct 07 - 03:17 PM Where did you find that john? I've never seen one. I have been heating with wood for many years and used to split mine with axe and maul with the aid of sledge and wedge when necessary like with stubborn elm. The last few years I have had access to a borrowed hydraulic splitter but had to rent one for the first time last spring. I go through about three full (4x4x8ft.)cords a season. Could you post a pic? |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: john f weldon Date: 29 Oct 07 - 03:28 PM I was actually about to post a comical video that starts with me splitting wood on the thing, and I decided I should refer to it by name. Otherwise it looks like I'm a nutcase, trying to split wood with a hammer. Then I realized I didn't know what the damn thing was called! And I've never seen another! Very useful device! I'll be heartbroken when it finally wears out. But it wouldn't be too hard to build one. |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: gnu Date: 29 Oct 07 - 03:36 PM Yes... a pic please. In my minds eye, if the frame holds the wood, what stops the wood from getting fetched up in the frame when split? Also, is the frame adjustable? Not all trees come made to measure. Which leads to another question... yeah, a pic would be greatly appreciated. I have a 42", 6 1/2 pound splitting axe. When the frost is on, ain't nuthin I can't split. Even gnarley old beech or large silver birch with thick bark (2 foot butt). Hhehehe. Minds me of the two Newfs off to Toronto and ran outta money in New Brunswick. Stopped into a farm house and asked for work. Old lady pointed to the woodpile. Newfs went at it and, while she was gettin ready for her bridge club, she seen Garge jumpin all around and doin all kinds a warmup exercisin. She went right out and asked buddy if his pal could put on a demonstration of such calistenics for her bridge club. Buddy answers, "Maid, ye kin ask Garge, but I don't know if he kin take another crack in the nuts with the axe like that." (I changed it from "splinter" to axe as many people these days don't know the term.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: john f weldon Date: 29 Oct 07 - 03:57 PM The one I have is too small to split a whole log; the wood I get is already in halves or quarters and I split it to eighths or less for my little decorative fireplace. Still, it would be easy to improve on the design; a better blade, a bigger or adjustable frame. The "frame" is really just a thing the wood leans against to balance on the blade. But it's very efficient. And I prefer being hit in the nuts with a hammer than an axe. The video will be up in a couple of days, just needs a minor edit. |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: Bill D Date: 29 Oct 07 - 04:52 PM gnu spake: "·.When the frost is on, ain't nuthin I can't split." I got this stump of Live Oak I'd LOVE to slip into your wood pile. |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: Bill D Date: 29 Oct 07 - 04:58 PM there's this thing, which has no frame...but maybe the frame was homemade? and here's a variation on that. The text says..."An old ATV tire is fastened with wood screws to the top of a chopping block. Wood to be split is placed inside the tire." |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: Liz the Squeak Date: 29 Oct 07 - 07:22 PM My grandfer had a thing like that but his had two spikes to hold the log in, and the log was hit with a 5lb lump hammer rather than any other variety. I'm told that being hit in the nuts with any kind of hammer is a tad painful but if it were me, I'd avoid using a claw hammer. That way madness and possibly castration lies. Granfer just called it 'the spikes'. LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: number 6 Date: 29 Oct 07 - 07:33 PM My cousin has one. He called it a "wood splitter". It's a handy device when cutting wood for the winter. biLL |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: john f weldon Date: 29 Oct 07 - 07:47 PM I guess "wood splitter" is what it is. But that word is used for many different types of device, so I'd hoped it had a special name, like "Arboreal Bifurcator" or something. |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: pdq Date: 29 Oct 07 - 08:08 PM This guy seems to offer a selection of wood splitters |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Oct 07 - 08:23 PM Don't tell Little Hawk--it looks like this guy splits dachshunds also. Handy looking device. Takes one of the warmings out of the wood though. You know--1. when you cut it 2. when you split it 3. when you burn it. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: john f weldon Date: 29 Oct 07 - 09:20 PM Or just moving it from place to place; seems I have to restack the stuff about five times before it gets to the fireplace. But splitting wood is one of those odd pleasures; one might not want to analyse it too deeply.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: Rowan Date: 29 Oct 07 - 10:36 PM Sounds like it's an upside down wood splitter. Things must be different north of the equator; the only firewood I've found difficult to "split" with a standard Kelly axe (in the days when I had to) was good old mallee roots. Being lignotubers, there was no grain that ran for more than 0.5cm. But we had an advantage, I suppose; if you couldn't split a pencil line (along rather than across its length) drawn on the top of the block by the time you were 14 you were regarded as an incompetent axeman. It was a mark of superiority to split any woood, even 3' diameter lumps from the base of the tree trunk. And most of us ended up with at least one scar to demonstrate. Chees, Rowan |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: GUEST,,gargoyle Date: 29 Oct 07 - 10:53 PM Federal (USA) forest land may be salvaged for a small fee.
The trees are marked or fall wood.
If you have already secured a customer-base....this is an excellent way to earn spare cash.....or work yourself through school.
My choice for machinery:
Sincerely, |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: JohnInKansas Date: 30 Oct 07 - 02:46 AM I would expect that the setup described would be best for smaller pieces of log, and as is indicated the main use is for splitting half-splits to small "loglets" for a decorative burner. One of the 3-way or 4-way wedges already linked would likely offer easier "stable mounting" of the wedge, and as described at one link a few old tires would make a usable "cage," or - as the original tool is described - a simple back-board to lean the log on would likely suffice. For a reasonably compact manual splitter for smaller logs, something like the AGMA Smart-Splitter might be worth consideration when the existing setup wears out. The "slide-hammer" construction gives significantly better control for most people who haven't grown up driving rail spikes for train track, and is considerably easier on the whole body if one is not in shape for swinging a maul. I would be concerned somewhat about the picture at this link, since forceably driving bare knuckles past the exposed end of the guide pipe makes me cringe a bit. Broken knuckles are not a friend of the musician. I believe I would look at putting at least a rubber crutch tip or bicycle handlebar grip on the end of the support pipe, and would likely wear a pair of White Mules for the splinters. Slide hammers for driving fence posts (chainlink fence) are available in a small (6 pound, I think: mine was about $25 US) for run-posts, and large (I believe mine is a 12 pound: $35 US) for end and corner posts, and are very much safer and less strain on the body than sledgehammers. The post hammers also have "handles" that make the lifting easier. With a splitting wedge mounted below, and a short section of fence post (guided loosely) above an improvised setup should be quite simple to build, and quite economical for occasional use. A splitting wedge mounted on the end of a short section of post could also be used in the conventional way, one would expect. Nothing quite like the description appears in the first hundred pages of my Google image results, since - for good reason - most people who buy a splitter are interested in hydraulic or electric powered ones. Since big boys with their big toys invariably buy "more tool than needed," the used market might offer reasonably economical power splitters for one who can justify one and pokes about a bit, although in areas where there's a lot of wood to be split there may be few willing to give one up. Try the Chicago want adds, maybe(?). John |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: theleveller Date: 30 Oct 07 - 04:33 AM Best wood splitter I ever had was a large, round, tapered spike about ten inches long. You hammer it into the center of the log with a sledge hammer and it bursts the log open. Brilliant. Until I lost it. Back to axes again, which I break on a regular basis. |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: JohnInKansas Date: 30 Oct 07 - 04:59 AM tl - Wedges of the kind you describe are fairly easily available at my local suppliers. I believe one like the round thing you describe has been advertised as "The Exploder," which sounds a bit overblown for the performance I'd expect, although there are lots of testicalmonies for it in the ads. If nothing else, try a current issue of MEN1 and search the ads. An ax is of course the "macho machine" but generally a good wedge and maul is more efficient for splitting, and a saw is more effective for cutting - usually - depending on circumstances - and on the weather - and on the health and philosphies of the user. A "splitter axe" is something of a compromise. 1 MEN = Mother Earth News, although there are lots of "minimalist" and "survivalist" magazines with somewhat similar content - at least for the advertising. John |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: Liz the Squeak Date: 30 Oct 07 - 05:15 AM I remember splitting logs for kindling sticks when I was about 9, using a maul or a cleaver and helping father set the wedges for log splitting. We had a variety ranging from an inch wide, foot long cold chisel to a great 5inch wide wedge that would cleave through the most stubborn of knots. LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: JohnInKansas Date: 30 Oct 07 - 06:25 AM For splitting kindling, and up to small logs, the traditional tool is the froe. That might be what you meant by a "cleaver"(?) although many other kinds of tools could be used with fair effect. The handle gives good control, and by twisting with the handle small strips can be easily worked loose. The tool also lets one make "lath strips" and/or shingles - or other thin pieces with relatively good control over the thickness. A good tool for the woodworking shop, as well as for the firewood lot, and a fairly heavy one might be adequate for splitting down half- or quarter-split logs for a smaller fireplace. John |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: Liz the Squeak Date: 30 Oct 07 - 12:23 PM No, it's more like a Chinese meat cleaver, rectangular blade with wooden handle, this one being fairly robust and about 1/4 inch thick at the top. Still have it in the cellar, found it this morning when looking for the meter for the Electricity man to read. He didn't seem to want to linger down there with me and these sharp bladed objects.... LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: Donuel Date: 30 Oct 07 - 01:20 PM We had one and was wonderfully simple and sturdy. |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: Rapparee Date: 30 Oct 07 - 05:07 PM I split wood with a wedge or "wood grenade" (that round wedge) or a froe improvised from a knife. I will also use an ax head as a wedge, whacking it with a hunk of firewood -- it's a lot safer than swinging an ax or splitting maul over my head and hoping it lands on the wood I want to split. |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: john f weldon Date: 30 Oct 07 - 05:47 PM Well, I started this thing... ...lets see if this works... let's split! ...at least now you'll know what I was talking about! |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: Rowan Date: 30 Oct 07 - 06:03 PM Very colourful mosquito there John. Good one! Cheers, Rowan |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: bobad Date: 30 Oct 07 - 07:40 PM Very nice john - you are an artist. |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: Bill D Date: 30 Oct 07 - 08:49 PM Yes, indeed..BOTH of you are artists. Splitsofrenia... |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: Rapparee Date: 30 Oct 07 - 10:08 PM Looks to me like someone had a good idea and made it. |
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Subject: RE: BS: wood splitting thing From: gnu Date: 31 Oct 07 - 07:39 AM Excellent! Thanks. |
