November 9, 2007

How to Chop Firewood

by Troy Griepentrog

My grandpa had a glass eye (his right eye). While on a road trip with
my grandma, he stopped for gas. Grandma said she was staying in the
car, but changed her mind while grandpa pumped the gas. He drove away,
chatting for almost 12 miles before he realized grandma was no longer
in the car. He finally turned his head far enough to look at the empty
passenger's seat.

That may be a funny story, but there's nothing funny about how grandpa
lost his eye. He was chopping wood and a splinter hit it.

First step in chopping firewood: Take safety precautions.

-Wear eye protection -- it's critical.
-Wear heavy pants and shoes made of thick material.
-Make sure your equipment is in good shape (a sharp axe with no splits
or chips in the handle).
-Never try to chop a log that you're holding with one hand.
-Position the log on the chopping block so that it's stabile.

Choose logs wisely

Some logs are easy to split; others are a challenge even for those
with experience. Logs that have not had a chance to dry adequately are
much more difficult to split. Some logs with knots in them are
basically impossible to split with an axe, and can be difficult to
split with a maul and splitting wedge. If the log you want to split
was cut at an angle, it won't rest on a chopping block and your axe
won't hit it squarely. Cut the ends off straight before attempting to
split this type of log.

Ready, aim, chop!

The log has to be on a solid surface in order for the force of your
axe to split it. Set the log (vertically) on a chopping block. A large
stump usually works well for a chopping block. The chopping block not
only provides a solid base, it also keeps your axe out of the dirt and
raises the log so that your axe will meet it squarely.

Aim carefully and swing hard enough for your axe to go right through
the log as it splits. If you hold back as the axe meets the log,
you're more likely to jam the axe in the log. Look for places where
the log is already starting to split naturally, then swing. Not every
stroke will be successful, but with practice you'll improve.

For more detailed information, read The Time-Honored Art of Splitting
Wood at www.motherearthnews.com.

Would you like to share recommendations for chopping wood? Add
comments below.

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__________________________________________________ ________

--
when you believe the only tool you have is a hammer.
All problems look like nails.

"A Veteran" wrote in message
...

How to Chop Firewood
by Troy Griepentrog
. . .
First step in chopping firewood: Take safety precautions.

-Wear eye protection -- it's critical.
-Wear heavy pants and shoes made of thick material.
-Make sure your equipment is in good shape (a sharp axe with no splits
or chips in the handle).
-Never try to chop a log that you're holding with one hand.
-Position the log on the chopping block so that it's stabile.

The problem here seems what "chop" means.
We need a sharp axe for cutting green wood (e.g.
clearing brush or felling trees.
For splitting chunks of firewood (as extensively
described here) a blunt axe is both more effective
and more safe than a sharp axe.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

In article ,
"Don Phillipson" wrote:

"A Veteran" wrote in message
...

How to Chop Firewood
by Troy Griepentrog
. . .
First step in chopping firewood: Take safety precautions.

-Wear eye protection -- it's critical.
-Wear heavy pants and shoes made of thick material.
-Make sure your equipment is in good shape (a sharp axe with no splits
or chips in the handle).
-Never try to chop a log that you're holding with one hand.
-Position the log on the chopping block so that it's stabile.

The problem here seems what "chop" means.
We need a sharp axe for cutting green wood (e.g.
clearing brush or felling trees.
For splitting chunks of firewood (as extensively
described here) a blunt axe is both more effective
and more safe than a sharp axe.

a splitting maul fits the job.

--
when you believe the only tool you have is a hammer.
All problems look like nails.