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New to the fireplace scene HELP
Iowa883 wrote: Ok guys, We got a new home last Jan. and it has a fireplace in it. I borrowed a handful of split wood from a coworker last winter for a couple of burns. Well, this winter I want to split my own wood. Is there any trick to splitting wood ? Do I go buy and axe or go with a splitting wedge ? What is the easiest and is there any tricks ? Thanks, Iowa883 The basic tool for splitting firewood by hand is a splitting maul. It looks like an axe except that the head is thicker. It works much better than an axe for splitting -- an axe is for cutting, a maul is for splitting. If you will have a lot of big pieces of wood, you might also need a wedge and a sledge hammer. None of these are expensive tools. Another consideration is where you will be working. You want a stable, flat surface on which to place the wood to be split, but not one that will damage the maul when it goes all the way through the wood (e.g., not on your concrete driveway). A big stump is ideal. Frozen ground is OK too. Whatever it is, it will get chewed up. Splitting wood is kind of violent. Also, make sure there is room overhead, as you will be swinging the maul overhead, Paul Bunyan-fashion. If you want to learn lots about firewood, fireplaces, chimneys, etc., read the book, "Heating with Wood." I don't recall the author's name, I'm pretty sure it's a Rodale Press publication. |
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Iowa883 wrote: Ok guys, We got a new home last Jan. and it has a fireplace in it. I borrowed a handful of split wood from a coworker last winter for a couple of burns. Well, this winter I want to split my own wood. Is there any trick to splitting wood ? Do I go buy and axe or go with a splitting wedge ? What is the easiest and is there any tricks ? Thanks, Iowa883 There are tricks, but they're nowhere as important as the "basics" IMHO. A few garnered from some seasons of "brutal amusement": An axe is a cutting tool, _not_ a splitting tool. Used as such it can inflict grievous injury. A maul is a far better tool for splitting wood, and I've found that a 6-lb head works much better than 8-lb. Paul Bunyan might disagree. Use a big (~2' diam, 2' long) hardwood log set on edge as your anvil, and practice swinging the maul so that as the head hits the "anvil" the handle is horizontal. (Saves crushed toes, broken legs, cussing, etc.) Make sure pets and kids are nowhere near the impact point- fragments can be thrown violently. Cut the wood so that pieces sit upright on "anvil" then try to split along cracks/checks opening in end of pieces as they dry. Try to get the wood cut & split so that it has at least a full summer to season & dry, covered above (not on sides) with as much exposure to summer breezes and sun as possible. A mix of sizes is preferable to all-same. Smaller ones light better, larger ones burn longer. Same applies to species of tree. Wedges are useful for really big pieces. Sometimes it's simpler to partially rip-cut the piece with chainsaw, especially through knots, to start a split. Look into EPA-approved insert or woodstove, mainly for improved efficiency and reduced wood-consumption. Greatly reduced carcinogen output will be appreciated by those downwind. HTH, John |
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