Glad to see somebody, you in this case, not only demonstrate to those who are new to, or have never, split wood for a stove how to do it, and not only do it, but do it safely. I learned from my Maternal Grandfather and still have all my fingers and toes and not nary a scar on my legs caused by a maul. There are a lot of folks out there who want to use wood for cooking and/or heating in their "off grid" homes/cabins but they don't have a clue how much damage they can do to themselves with a maul....Despite it's name...
after years of splitting I am amazed at how much work you can create for yourself, just like you said, the chop block is nice but then you have to pick up and lift up to the block, so just keep it on the ground, good information LC
18winsagin on a block you really can't get the full power of a swing also. I can see a block if you're working on rocky ground, but like here I am working on about 6 inches of compacted snow/sawdust, with a bed of clay underneath. No harm will come to the maul if I hit to hard and go right through.
I've split lots of firewood over the years keeps you twice for sure and a very comfortable heat on a cold damp winter day, in my area it's mostly Maple , birch and beech wood. Beech is hard splitting wood with a spiral type grain and as you say it splits better with the frost in it. Mostly I use a splitting maul and an old Northumberland axe
Greetings LCL. After many years, first time comment and I am certain you have done it, but I place my wood in a tire before splitting, then I do not have to keep picking it up, the tire holds it up. I even do our cook wood the same way. Enjoy watching your videos.
You know for the stove I got it's on the farm and I am in town right now for school. But before winter me and my grandpa cut and stack about 4 cords of wood and it lasts us about the whole winter but we also get a ton of coal a year so that helps keep the wood usage down and because I live in the Saskatchewan prairies in Canada and there is not a lot of trees to cut. and the trees you have standing were planted by settlers and are now an important part of some farmers cow shelters. So we usually get a few loads of old untreated fence posts and burn those. They are usually Cedar or pine, so they burn hot and fast. That's where the coal comes in.
I'm with you, splitting wood when it is well below freezing is easier. The wood has no give, it just cracks right through. Plus you don't get over heated. Looks like you have your new splitting tools all figured out.
logcabinlooms All of the Ash around me is dead PA is having a pest issue. But I always used to enjoy splitting it. I have never had the displeasure of splitting Elm.
We had a lot of sweet gum in the area. Always better to season wood but sometimes you get what you get and make the best of it. That stuff, when green, was a real pain. The splitting maul would get stuck up to the handle along with at least one wedge. Had to have 3 wedges and 2 mauls at all times for that stuff.
For the big logs and knots on wood i use a 40Ton Log Splitter. Splitting large logs with a log splitter it's so much fun, easier and faster. Also you can tow around with your "Chick Magnet" :-)
Val Budzak I used a splitter once, on some elm, but at the end of the day, all the picking up and putting on the splitter time after time, I was more exhausted than if I had split with a maul. My brother is the same way, we built a heavy duty splitter, but hardly ever does it get used, splitting on the ground is easier.
zbudda I have several, it takes at least three to pull a sled. That particular one is Junior, a brother to Jake, the Malamute and German Shepherd show up in him, but they all have a very mixed pedigree. He was puzzled because he thought I was talking to him, Jake on the other hand has figured it out, to the point he ignores me when I seem to be rambling on for no reason.
I subscribe to lots of RUclips channels, and after finding yours a few weeks ago, you are quickly becoming one of my favorites. I know you hate dealing with idiots in the comments (we all do), but I really wish you would leave them enabled. There are so many of your videos that I have seen thst I would like to comment on. I used to split all my wood by hand, but I got a Northern Tool 35 ton splitter with a Honda motor, and have never looked back. Have you ever tried a log hook? I use Fiskars hatchets to do all my wood handling (yes I know you prefer wood). I stick a hatchet into each chunk of wood and use them as handles. If it is a large round, I stick 2 in. Works really well and makes it so I dont have to bend over as much or as far.
We split wood very much the same except those narley ones they get the chain saw treatment. Heck there will be chain saws long after I am in the ground. I do not care fore a hydraulic splitter myself but in time I may have to get one
If you split your wood a year ahead of time and let it dry out you will get almost twice the heat out of the same size load of wood. I used some dry wood one year and I will never go back to burning green or unseasoned wood, the difference is amazing.
Sir! With all due respect you do need a log splitter preferably hydraulic wood splitter or one of those electric kinetic energy ones but since you’re off the grid I would stick toA standard gasoline engine version
Glad to see somebody, you in this case, not only demonstrate to those who are new to, or have never, split wood for a stove how to do it, and not only do it, but do it safely. I learned from my Maternal Grandfather and still have all my fingers and toes and not nary a scar on my legs caused by a maul. There are a lot of folks out there who want to use wood for cooking and/or heating in their "off grid" homes/cabins but they don't have a clue how much damage they can do to themselves with a maul....Despite it's name...
after years of splitting I am amazed at how much work you can create for yourself, just like you said, the chop block is nice but then you have to pick up and lift up to the block, so just keep it on the ground, good information LC
18winsagin on a block you really can't get the full power of a swing also. I can see a block if you're working on rocky ground, but like here I am working on about 6 inches of compacted snow/sawdust, with a bed of clay underneath. No harm will come to the maul if I hit to hard and go right through.
I've split lots of firewood over the years keeps you twice for sure and a very comfortable heat on a cold damp winter day, in my area it's mostly Maple , birch and beech wood. Beech is hard splitting wood with a spiral type grain and as you say it splits better with the frost in it. Mostly I use a splitting maul and an old Northumberland axe
Thanks for the video was so warm today never built a fire, I think you are right, split every day, keeps muscle tone up. Mike from Wisconsin
Greetings LCL. After many years, first time comment and I am certain you have done it, but I place my wood in a tire before splitting, then I do not have to keep picking it up, the tire holds it up. I even do our cook wood the same way. Enjoy watching your videos.
You know for the stove I got it's on the farm and I am in town right now for school. But before winter me and my grandpa cut and stack about 4 cords of wood and it lasts us about the whole winter but we also get a ton of coal a year so that helps keep the wood usage down and because I live in the Saskatchewan prairies in Canada and there is not a lot of trees to cut. and the trees you have standing were planted by settlers and are now an important part of some farmers cow shelters. So we usually get a few loads of old untreated fence posts and burn those. They are usually Cedar or pine, so they burn hot and fast. That's where the coal comes in.
I'm with you, splitting wood when it is well below freezing is easier. The wood has no give, it just cracks right through. Plus you don't get over heated. Looks like you have your new splitting tools all figured out.
Jake Outdoors getting into some Ash on a cold day is a treat, Elm on a warm day will give you a workout.
logcabinlooms All of the Ash around me is dead PA is having a pest issue. But I always used to enjoy splitting it. I have never had the displeasure of splitting Elm.
I agree. I mostly split oak and hickory, so I'm happy when super cold weather comes around. I use a 8lb maul with fiberglass handle.
Elm isn't too bad if you split it green. Once it seasons a little then you're in for a tough time.
We had a lot of sweet gum in the area. Always better to season wood but sometimes you get what you get and make the best of it. That stuff, when green, was a real pain. The splitting maul would get stuck up to the handle along with at least one wedge. Had to have 3 wedges and 2 mauls at all times for that stuff.
Great video!!! What is he talking about?
For the big logs and knots on wood i use a 40Ton Log Splitter. Splitting large logs with a log splitter it's so much fun, easier and faster. Also you can tow around with your "Chick Magnet" :-)
Val Budzak I used a splitter once, on some elm, but at the end of the day, all the picking up and putting on the splitter time after time, I was more exhausted than if I had split with a maul. My brother is the same way, we built a heavy duty splitter, but hardly ever does it get used, splitting on the ground is easier.
3:14 I see the site supervisor came to check on your work. How many "big" dogs do you own, and is that a malamute breed?
zbudda I have several, it takes at least three to pull a sled. That particular one is Junior, a brother to Jake, the Malamute and German Shepherd show up in him, but they all have a very mixed pedigree. He was puzzled because he thought I was talking to him, Jake on the other hand has figured it out, to the point he ignores me when I seem to be rambling on for no reason.
I subscribe to lots of RUclips channels, and after finding yours a few weeks ago, you are quickly becoming one of my favorites. I know you hate dealing with idiots in the comments (we all do), but I really wish you would leave them enabled. There are so many of your videos that I have seen thst I would like to comment on.
I used to split all my wood by hand, but I got a Northern Tool 35 ton splitter with a Honda motor, and have never looked back.
Have you ever tried a log hook? I use Fiskars hatchets to do all my wood handling (yes I know you prefer wood). I stick a hatchet into each chunk of wood and use them as handles. If it is a large round, I stick 2 in. Works really well and makes it so I dont have to bend over as much or as far.
Good info LC...thanks
We split wood very much the same except those narley ones they get the chain saw treatment. Heck there will be chain saws long after I am in the ground. I do not care fore a hydraulic splitter myself but in time I may have to get one
Absolutely right...when it's below freezing for an extended period of time, the wood pops with very little effort.
You make it look easy haha love my Swedish axes but I think the wood here in Ireland is harder it seems harder to split even the small stuff
wow...it takes alot of skill to split a log that size in half in one shot...good job!
If you split your wood a year ahead of time and let it dry out you will get almost twice the heat out of the same size load of wood.
I used some dry wood one year and I will never go back to burning green or unseasoned wood, the difference is amazing.
Great splitting technique
I need a new splitting axe. I'm still torn between a splitting maul and a splitting axe. If you could only afford one, what would you pick?
james mcdonald it would depend on the wood your working with, but for me, without a doubt the maul is indispensable.
james mcdonald I say a maul. I also have the husqvarna splitting maul and it is a great splitting
Fiskars makes a very nice midweight splitting axe.
Those Splitting Axes work a lot better than mine. I usually have to use Wedges.
Nice job mate👍👍
LCL, if you were going to get one, either Husky's large splitting axe or their spliting maul, which would you recommend?
Thanks.
+Logjam5 for the wood I burn, the maul is perfect.
Should have read the earlier posting before I sent mine in.
Sir! With all due respect you do need a log splitter preferably hydraulic wood splitter or one of those electric kinetic energy ones but since you’re off the grid I would stick toA standard gasoline engine version
Totally agree
cutting and splitting your wood it's warms you twice!
can you do a video about your animals?
Aspen splits easy at -30c.
you could find youself an old tire and put several rounds in it and they wouldn't fly around when you split them.
economy of motion"