Splits NOT burning???

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Hi I brought a 1 1/4 lb hatchet at Harbor Freight for $7..Didn't make a dent in the oak or cherry. Started at the smallest end got some cherry to split but only once.When it came to the thicker part, I couldn't make any head way with the hatchet..I was using a hammer to hit the hatchet with.

Waiting on getting some smaller splits 8 x 1-2" before I try again.Looking for some one in North NJ to get smaller splits from.Would get a chain but at 72 I DON'T feel comfortable using it.

Thanks Dan
Sorry your still having problems Dan. You are trying to split length ways right.
 
you should have bought an axe instead

I have a 8 lb splitting maul, it makes it a piece of cake to cut up the wood

a hatchet is not really the right tool for that

the right tool for the right job
 
you could also try using a sledge hammer and hitting the axe with it after you get the hatchet started

but be careful with this
 
Hi Then I would have to buy a sledge hammer, unless my neighbor has the one?

Thanks Dan

PS The oak was like a rock.
 
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yeah

maybe you could have the neighbor give you a hand and repay him in BBQ?

I have an electric splitter since I have a wood stove at my cabin and use it a lot

but you are looking at a few hundred for one of those
 
Look at this pic.These are 9-10" in length and can easily be split with one whack of an Hatchet or Bowie Knife, if they are longer, half them with a Chop Saw, don't have one...borrow one.

An Axe would be better, don't have one, get one.



Do you have a bowie type knife, if not Get One, you can try batonning, I teach this skill to the scouts when processing wet wood for a fire, I was teaching my Son Stephen to baton a few weeks ago.

When batonning you just keep halfing every half, look at the pic.

This gives you Tinder, Kindling, and fuel wood.






  • This fire was started with a cottonball with vaseline and a spark from a firesteel

Its hard to give advice when I don't know someones skill level, I can immediately have an idea of someones skill level just by the way they hold a knife or stand with an Axe in hand.

If you plan on burning sticks, you need to learn fire management and before that you need to learn how to process wood, these skills are a must for a successful fire. These are basic skills that anyone can learn.

I do not mean to offend but rather offering a suggestion, If you continue to have problems, maybe stickburning isn't for you and you should look into other methods.

If you want to continue, I will do everything I can to help just as other dedicated SMF memebers will.

Handy Tips,
  • Next time you are out somewhere in the woods or a park with a lot of trees, pick up all those little branches for kindling or take a road trip after a heavy windstorm and pick up all those dead branches, I do!
  • Have any friends, Family, Neighbors with trees, ask them to save their trimmings and call you to pick them up.
  • See a guy cutting a tree down or trimming, ask him if you can take some, they are usually happy to see some one haul their trash.
  • Call local farms ask if you can have their end of year trimmings, from Peach and cherry trees, just make sure they don't spray.
  • Ask trees service workers to snag a few branches.
  • You are only limited to your own imagination.
 
 
Hi Then I would have to buy a sledge hammer, unless my neighbor has the one?

Thanks Dan

PS The oak was like a rock.
 

No sledge please, just use a CHOPPING axe, no need for wedges or even a SPLITTING axe or anything like that
  • This is a Fiskars Chopping axe and has no problem splitting wood

This is another skill that needs to be learned, you may have to flip a log to split and you may be into a knot where splitting may not be worth the energy.

For larger difficult logs I will go off center a good bit to get it split.

If I'm splitting wood for a few hours I want to use a chopping axe instead of a heavy splitting axe, it works better for me to apply the force on the downswing to a chopper then expend it all on lifting and swinging the splitter (splitters are heavy.)

One caveat about he chopper is sometimes it will wedge itself pretty good, a splitter usually don't lodge itself in the wood as much.

But that's me, you may be better off with a light Splitting Axe, like the Fiskars Splitting Axe, I have never needed a splitter, with that said... a splitting Axe may have been a better choice for the logs above.

This trip we split 10" -14" logs with that little Fiskars, twas a MANLY day lol...

Another note, just make sure to chop on another log or extremely hard ground, never on concrete or rocks.
 
HI All This what I purchased at Harbor Freight. Dose a good job on the thin side of the splits, that's about it.

Thanks Dan
 
Aww, come on, where's the fun of whacking the back of a maul with a small sledgehammer? :) Plink Plink CRACK.

Has anyone ever seen anybody split wood like this? This was a Bulgarian guy at a hot pepper festival.

 
He don't need an 8 pound Maul a lightweight chopper is fine, using a heavy Maul on small splits could be a bit dangerous for inexperienced folks.

Dan the rest is up to you, you got many things to choose from but just remember the tool alone wont do the job, you need to work on your skills a bit, the hatchet you got would work for me with a little effort however that would not be my first choice, the Maul that ButtBurner linked to, would tire me out after a half an hour.

Choice is yours and good luck
 
 
He don't need an 8 pound Maul a lightweight chopper is fine, using a heavy Maul on small splits could be a bit dangerous for inexperienced folks.

Dan the rest is up to you, you got many things to choose from but just remember the tool alone wont do the job, you need to work on your skills a bit, the hatchet you got would work for me with a little effort however that would not be my first choice, the Maul that ButtBurner linked to, would tire me out after a half an hour.

Choice is yours and good luck
that's why I take a break after 10- 15 minutes. 10 minutes swinging that maul will give you a lot of wood, plenty for a few cooks

it doesn't all have to be done at once

common sense and safety practices go a long way. tiring yourself out trying is not safe.

to each his own, I don't think the small hatchet he bought it the right tool for the job. All depends on the size of the wood he is working with
 
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Aww, come on, where's the fun of whacking the back of a maul with a small sledgehammer? :) Plink Plink CRACK.

Has anyone ever seen anybody split wood like this? This was a Bulgarian guy at a hot pepper festival.

Confucious say

I hear, I forget

I see, I remember

I do, I learn

Sad thing is, that the boy in the picture will most likely learn by what he's seeing
 
My maul is only 5 pounds. Whether I need it depends on the wood. Since I'm not working with any big pieces for the offset, my camping hatchet is fine for most work, maybe with some tapping from a 2-pound sledge.

But sometimes, it's fun to bust the big stuff.
 
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