On 12/02/2021 12:45, David wrote:
On Thu, 11 Feb 2021 15:57:49 -0500, Paul wrote:

David wrote:
Further to the tinkering with my log burner I think that although it
will burn the big bits that I have, it may need more small bits to get
going and up to temperature quickly.

My log store (builder's bag) is under cover on hard standing and I no
longer have a section of trunk as a chopping base.

I see that you can buy a length of trunk for £20-£40 on line but I
would prefer something more discreet, ad I am likely to be splitting
small chunks into kindling using a hand axe and club hammer.
In the longer term I could possibly ask my wood supplier if they could
include a chopping block in the next load but that might be next
Winter.

A solid block of rubber about 12" x 12" x 2" would seem to fit the
requirement for a solid base, edge protection for the axe, and easy
stowing when not in use.

My search skills, as usual, aren't getting me the results that I want.

Any suggestions and lateral thinking most welcome.

Cheers


Dave R


You can get machines to do that. There are electric splitters.
There are also manual splatters, which use a bottle jack and pump
handles, to generate the force to split the wood. The bottle jack
version has a "limited stroke", meaning the piston only goes about 6"
max, so cannot split a 7" stick to the very end. It relies on the wood
being dry and splitting along grain, so you might have to pull the
pieces apart with your hand when done.
If the wood had a knot in it, the manual splitter would leave the stick,
half-split.

Electric

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AL-KO-LSH-3.../dp/B084X5P1B9

Hand-pumped (take reviews with a grain of salt). Limited stroke using a
bottle jack in disguise. Store in a cool dry place. Don't leave a bottle
jack outdoors all the time or the seals will fail. It's hard to say how
long stuff like this will last. You might end up with the worlds most
expensive firewood when including the price of this gadget in the
budget.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charles-Ben...er-Horizontal/
dp/B01N1OZUSN

The stroke on the electric one is longer.

The prices are all over the place.

They also make a device, which has a sharper angle than the previous
style of gadget, and you hit the wood with a sledge and force the wood
past a splitting blade. The principle is bizarre and the mechanical
advantage limited. You're trying to reproduce the 6 ton or 10 ton force
of the other gadgets, with a sledge. This is also featured, screwed to a
stump for support. I especially appreciate the picture of a chick with a
small hammer in hand, doing her Mighty Thor routine. Ridiculous. You
will work up a sweat with a gadget like this (not that sweating is bad,
but you're sweating over a relatively poor tool).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mighty-Hand...3%82%E2%82%AC%
C2%9D-Dia/dp/B07NQJ8PKG

*******

Various woods at our dump, are more or less appreciated.

They *hate* actual stumps, like the root part, and charge 10X the
dumping fee for them. They cannot be sent through the chipper at the
dump, and they bury the damn things in the landfill section.

Logs up to a certain diameter, are sent through the chipper,
so you are unlikely to snag one of those for free. However,
once the wood dropped off by people gets past that diameter,
you might have an item you can use.

Give the dump a call, describe diameter and length desired, and see if
they know of a "cache" of materials. At our dump, the "tipping" place
and the "storage" place are separated by a good distance for safety. The
storage area is a bit dangerous because of the uneven surface made from
debris. The tipping place is clean enough to eat off.

Our dump now has a specification for steel toe boots, so you need a
green stamp shoe while on the premises. Although the enforcement squad
don't give a rats ass about this. It's just the signage on the premises
states this. This is a liability trick (so you can't/won't sue).

Another place to get wood, is the Tree Trimmer companies.
They keep a property in the woods, and store cut down wood which is too
large for their chipper. Now, here at the moment,
we have a problem with an invasive species of insect, so there are
limitations on wood transport. Where you are might be OK.
Their wood cuts might be quite long, and they won't be cutting them in
short lengths like I did when felling a tree. I cut short lengths, so I
could lift them.

One Tree Trimmer service, they actually brought a logging truck to their
work site (a city park) and cut logging company length pieces and loaded
up the truck. These were mature trees, that had grown with plenty of
space around them, but needed to be taken down for safety. Would make a
beautiful stump for working.
Nice straight pieces that would stand upright and not lean at an angle.

Yebut.

I already have a stock of very dry split logs.

I also have a bomb, wedges, club hammer, maul, felling axe, chainsaw, log
stand.....

I am not asking about splitting full rounds.
That has already been done.

I'm just preparing to split one or two stove sized logs (quarter round)
down into kindling.
All that I am missing at the moment is a base so that when I hit the
splitting axe (hatchet) with the hammer when it is on top of the piece of
wood, if it splits too easily (or I miss-cue) then I wont damage the axe
blade on the block paving.

So for the many posters who have provided enormous details about buying
things I already have, and about going to a lot of effort and expense to
provide a stock of split and seasoned wood which I also already have, can
I respectfully refer you all back to the topic heading:

"Chopping kindling on hard standing - axe protector?"


Cheers



Dave R

Would a Butchers chopping block be a good option?