Dumb neighbor

[windthrown]

Was amused today to see a neighbor trying to split some large 3 ft maple stump burl with an ax, and then an ax and a metal wedge. He stuck the ax in the middle with all his strength and it went in maybe a half inch and the vibration went right up the handle and he let go, wincing. So then he went and got a metal wedge and stuck it in the middle where his ax failed and pounded on it with the back of the ax, and it went flying in 12 directions. He tried and tried again, and finally gave up.

I was tempted to go over with my 361 with a 24 inch bar on it and offer to noodle cut his rounds for him. But then I figured maybe he will put a free wood sign on it, and then I will go over and noodle cut it for myself. Heh heh heh... There is no way that he is going to split burl-grained rounds with a wedge. Or anything else, short of a chainsaw.

 

[WVwoodsman]

That's pretty funny. One man's agony is another man's pleasure! I can't blame you watching him struggle, I know I would have done the same thing!

 

[TJ-Bill]

I had a couple of round slike that in my wood this year.. I managed o get 1 split (by hand) then said enough was enough and put the other aside. I later had a frined show up and was dissapointed I had split everything already because he wanted to help. So being a good freind I pointed to 3-4 pieces I had set to the side and said " you can split those" needless to say it was entertaining, he did manage to get them all split though in about 1/2 hr..

 

[KsWoodsMan]

I wonder if he was trying to prove to you he could do it, to himself or the big burl ?

I hate an audience when I am trying to split. Seems like everytime I split wood in the yard the neighbors have to come out after I have done the easy ones and get to see me working at one that has a grudge against me.

It must be good entertainment , I'd rather they not clap though.

 

[LTREES]

I watched my nephew (26) split 3 cord of pin oak (32") in 2 1/2 hrs. with a 8# maul. Impressive:jawdrop: He is 6'4" an @ 270#'s an absolute bear !! That was the best $45.00 I ever spent.

LT...

 

[KsWoodsMan]

I watched my nephew (26) split 3 cord of pin oak (32") in 2 1/2 hrs. with a 8# maul. Impressive:jawdrop: He is 6'4" an @ 270#'s an absolute bear !! That was the best $45.00 I ever spent.

LT...

He'll feel it after he is 40. When I was pushing 40 I still did a lot of things to prove I could. Now that I am dragging 40, I'm dragging my proof of it with me.

 

[LTREES]

KS, LoL, My motto also is to work smart not hard. Thats how I get so much done for 45.00 . (You can't split that log, you dont have enough power)

 

[Upidstay]

I remember as a teenager, my then 84 year old Sicilian grandfather saw a great deal on firewood. This was his first wood stove, so he didn't know anything about firewood. The 8 cord he ordered were delivered on time, only in 8' log lengths. He went to KMart, bought a chain saw, an axe, and a wedge. Already had the sledge. In 2 days he had it all sawed, split, hauled in the back yard (with a wheelbarrow) and stacked. Sun up to sundown, break for lunch, plus the odd water break. Yes, it was all hardwood too. They truly don't make 'em like that anymore. At my best physical condition I doubt it I could have done that, even on a bet.

 

[KsWoodsMan]

Maybe I can't split it. I can sure take out some aggessions on it trying. Some days, THAT's what counts.

 

[KsWoodsMan]

I remember as a teenager, my then 84 year old Sicilian grandfather saw a great deal on firewood. This was his first wood stove, so he didn't know anything about firewood. The 8 cord he ordered were delivered on time, only in 8' log lengths. He went to KMart, bought a chain saw, an axe, and a wedge. Already had the sledge. In 2 days he had it all sawed, split, hauled in the back yard (with a wheelbarrow) and stacked. Sun up to sundown, break for lunch, plus the odd water break. Yes, it was all hardwood too. They truly don't make 'em like that anymore. At my best physical condition I doubt it I could have done that, even on a bet.

Good grief ! most 84 year old men now are in a home. Hearing about men like that give me hope for when I am double my age and still busting the young'uns nuts out there working. Working because I still can and want to , not because I have to.

 

[excess650]

Some people pay good $$ for burl. Personally, I don't really care for birdseye, but love really curly wood.

 

[aquan8tor]

Some people pay good $$ for burl. Personally, I don't really care for birdseye, but love really curly wood.

I don't pay for it, but I make bowls for people I get wood from. It works out well for both parties. I'm a broke nursing student trying to work my way through school, and they get something to remember their tree by. I always make sure if it was a particularly nice wood score, that I give a really nice bowl to the people I got it from. That way, hopefully they'll call me in the future if they find any more curly/burly/whatever wood.