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North Spore Shop: Injection Grain Bag, North Spore Mushroom Grow Kits & Cultivation Supplies

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Splitting logs
    #12581995 -

Ok, so I have a big bucked up fir tree in a big pile in my back yard.

I have a 6 lb splitting maul.

I'm not a body builder, but I'm not a total wuss either.  But I can swing and swing and swing and those fuckers just won't split.  Most of the time the maul goes in an inch, but still bounces right back out.    I've read that splitting when green is supposedly easier, is this true?

What am I doing wrong here?


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  • When we built temples to view the stars, we knew about all 2000 of them.

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: ShockValue]
    #12582033 -

i never split green. when i split wood it sits around for awhile. gets dropped off, then i usually cut it into 16-18 inch pieces within a few weeks. then it sits for another few weeks til i split it, either by hand or with my log splitter. its not like it gets bone dry and i smash it, but it was some time to dry.

idk how well it will work with green logs but when my wedge(maul?) bounces i lightly tap on it until it gets down into place. if it keeps bouncing i just use light hits until it pops.


edit: now thinking about it, a maul is probably that fucked up sledge hammer/axe-ish wedge tool. im not to sure how to use those, if you have another sledge hammer around, use the maul as a wedge. just watch the handle. it will probably flew up and either hit your crotch or if youre on the opposite side, might crack your face. if you have another person to hold the handle, thatd be awesome.


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My Journal

Edited by oh_you_know (05/17/10 09:29 PM)

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: ShockValue]
    #12582334 -

I've always used a double bit axe to split wood, even with oak it's never
more than 6 swings to split an 18" log, mauls are great if you want to have
a heart attack or have someone working with you, they're too wide for an
effective one man job, the double bit is narrower so it penetrates the end grain


I dont know about your technique by what's best to do is grip the axe
with one hand near the end of the handle, the other directly under the
head of the axe, start your swing with the head and your hand behind
your head, bring the axe up and back down in an arc, once you hit the
apex, start sliding your hand down from the head to meet the other


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California Has Legalized Child Prostitution

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: Prisoner#1]
    #12582382 -

Not sure of my "technique".  I'll have to pay attention and see what I'm doing.


I've always leaned towards agility over brute force, but the maul was a freebie so it's what was on hand.  I'll consider a double axe.


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  • When we built temples to view the stars, we knew about all 2000 of them.

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: ShockValue]
    #12582404 -

This isn't me... But this is basically what's happening when I try and split what I have...



At least I know enough to try and split it with the natural cracks :smile:


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  • When we built temples to view the stars, we knew about all 2000 of them.

Edited by ShockValue (05/17/10 10:23 PM)

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: ShockValue]
    #12582441 -

not quite sure what to tell ya. i guess a maul gets too wide too quick. maybe if you find something more narrow, like prisoner said, everything will work. i dont move so much when i split like that guy does. i just stand still, and use brute force cause i can lol i normally use a wedge and a sledge to get the job done. that way i have complete control of the size of the splits. i decent accuracy with an axe but most times the diameter of the tree calls for a pretty accurate cut.


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My Journal

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: oh_you_know]
    #12582604 -

oh_you_know said:
i just stand still, and use brute force cause i can


I like to finesse it...

SV, here's a pretty effective technique, it's almost what I described,
also, with the maul, sharpen the hell out of the edge, that way you dont
have to worry about it bouncing so much



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California Has Legalized Child Prostitution

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: Prisoner#1]
    #12582702 -

Hrm.. I'll have to try that technique tomorrow.  Have to sharpen my maul too.


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  • When we built temples to view the stars, we knew about all 2000 of them.

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: ShockValue]
    #12582720 -

yeah im not sure how old you guys are, i use brute force with the hammer and wedge cause i can. not tooting my own horn too much. im not big but im not small. im 18 yrs old, 5'10", 160 lbs and lift weights 2-4 times a week. so i dont have much of a technique.


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My Journal

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: oh_you_know]
    #12582763 -

I'm 36 and a desk-jockey.. :smile:


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  • When we built temples to view the stars, we knew about all 2000 of them.

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: oh_you_know]
    #12587181 -

oh_you_know said:
not tooting my own horn too much.



TOOT!

I"m small, I use a light weight axe in comparison to a maul, I dont use

brute force, I let the tool do the work,  if I used a maul, one or 2
swings with anything under 15" diameter, maybe 3 swings on a 25"
it's about execution more than strength, properly done very little
effort is required, you dont kill yourself splitting wood


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California Has Legalized Child Prostitution

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: ShockValue]
    #12590158 -

I don't swing the axe or maul much. I use wedges. Alot of times I cut the wedges from scrap wood laying around, even on long logs. Once I get a split going I put a wedge in, on a four foot log might have like four wedges in it and work them with a 3# sledge.


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"That's why you get in close to them, and then take the picture!! Don't be a pussy!" ~CC

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: Prisoner#1]
    #12590364 -

Yes, you don't need to use heavy force.

Splitting when green is not always easier. It depends on the wood. You may just be unlucky with the wood type.

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: Annom]
    #12593501 -

Fiskars 7854 Axe

This is what I use to split our wood.  Easy as pie and I can do it all day long.
It's got a 4 lb head and a really aggressive bite on it.  The handle IS  bit short on it but I'm 6'1" and manage perfectly.


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cross my heart and hope to die

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: Snip]
    #12593811 -

I split wood with this



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California Has Legalized Child Prostitution

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: Prisoner#1]
    #12594683 -

Prisoner#1 said:
I split wood with this




I honestly expected to see some beastly hydraulic splitter in that pic instead of a milling jig. How longs that saw?


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"Jack thought it twice and thought that that had made it true. Some brains just work that way, that's what chemicals can do."


BTS

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: Aircooled]
    #12594725 -

the bar is 54 inches

I guess if I was gonna get all fancy I'd use something like this



but if I was gonna do it my way...



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California Has Legalized Child Prostitution

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: Prisoner#1]
    #12594761 -

Neat shit. Just when I thought I'd seen the coolest of the skid steer attachments.........


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"Jack thought it twice and thought that that had made it true. Some brains just work that way, that's what chemicals can do."


BTS

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: Aircooled]
    #12594809 -

being the lazy fuck I tend to sometimes be, I've used my backhoe to split logs


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California Has Legalized Child Prostitution

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: Prisoner#1]
    #12595587 -

I'm splitting lots of logs every summer (need to heat the house at winter with em). I always try to split them right away after cutting down the tree so they split better. Just did lots of them yesterday. I'm using this kind of axe (~6 lb, 720mm):



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My spawn lab
Using hand blender as eberbach
Mycomaster 2000
Few prints for trade

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: madi]
    #12595593 -

I read up on that maul  just today actually.  Gets glowing reviews.


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  • When we built temples to view the stars, we knew about all 2000 of them.

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: ShockValue]
    #12597141 -

maybe someone already said it.......splitting wedges?
here is one
http://www.benmeadows.com/store/Forestry/Logging_and_Clearing/Saws_and_Axes/1397/?CID=9OG171STEELWEDGESPRODA&s_kwcid=splitting%20wedge|2919916768

more here
http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/default.php?cPath=36_106_302&gclid=CJ_zr5qN4aECFUtX2god1X1TLg


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I have no idea what I'm doing

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: Momofo]
    #12599976 -

OK, round 2.

I borrowed a different maul from my moms husband,  I don't really see that much difference except maybe it tapers a bit slower (it stays skinnier longer) and it works 10x better.

I thought maybe it was just my better technique or that the wood had a week to dry, but that wasn't it.  I tried my old maul and it still just bounces like mad. 

With the new one I sink it in the full round and finish it with a sledge driving it through.  Then the rest of the peices I'm able to use just the maul with a good swing and split in 1 hit.

:shrug:  good tools :smile:


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  • When we built temples to view the stars, we knew about all 2000 of them.

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: ShockValue]
    #12601666 -

Splitting with a good maul can be so much fun. I love a nice pile of maple, at the right stage it is just one pop for every split and pieces just go flying away. It can definitely get a little zen, you focus the power but swinging through a spot a couple of inches into the piece nice and smooth.

Used to though, would get batches of semi-random cull from clear cuts in NC. Sometimes some gum would sneak in there . . . holy shit. On that stuff the grain is woven together, no amount of pops with a maul, a wedge or whatever will seperate it cleanly.

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Re: Splitting logs [Re: antiPock]
    #12644568 -

I was going to suggest an 8 or ten pound maul.  In addition, with thick logs, strike near the edges of the log, not in the center.  I cut and split ten cords per year, all by hand and I'm nearly 60 years old.  It's all in technique, not brute strength.  Even the mrs can split 24" diameter logs with my 8 pound maul.  I have several axes too, but they're just for branching.  I'd hate to split logs with one.  It would get stuck, and the harder you swing, the deeper an axe will get stuck.  Use a maul, and find one that gets wide fast.  Swing like you really mean it and let the weight/inertia of the maul split the log.  Always relax your swing just before the maul contacts the log to prevent blowing out your elbows and shoulders.
RR


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semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat

"I've never had a failed experiment.  I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work."
Thomas Edison

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North Spore Shop: Injection Grain Bag, North Spore Mushroom Grow Kits & Cultivation Supplies

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