Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[dancan]

Btw , Spruce is awesome !

 

[dancan]

Hey Philbert , what have you been using for a helmet system ?
I'm looking at this

I like my Skullbucket in the heat of the summer but no visor so I'm leaning towards this for the next bean bucket , not found that my last MSA and Bullard were the most comphy .
And for the Kiwi's or Aussies , you got a link on that absorbent head band ?

 

[cantoo]

I never go to the bush without my wedges either but then I leave them in the toolbox on my wooden workbench at the landing. Then I promptly jamb the bar on the 1st cut on the tree and have to walk back to the bench to get them. They always get covered in oil too and that can make them fly out of the cut too.

 

[cantoo]

I never go to the bush without my wedges either but then I leave them in the toolbox on my wooden workbench at the landing. Then I promptly jamb the bar on the 1st cut on the tree and have to walk back to the bench to get them. They always get covered in oil too and that can make them fly out of the cut too.

 

[KiwiBro]

And for the Kiwi's or Aussies , you got a link on that absorbent head band ?

 

[Philbert]

Hey Philbert , what have you been using for a helmet system ?

I generally wear a fairly conventional looking, MSA brand, front brim helmet, with mesh face screen, and ear muffs. Works for me. I like a ratchet suspension to adjust for a snugger fit, if needed, and the ear muffs, which I can quickly lift and place.

Choose something that is comfortable and that you will wear.

Philbert

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

We had a crowd here in NZ selling plastic wedges extremely cheap. So I bought one with a view to buying a whole box if they lasted OK. I don't think anyone at that plastic parts manufacturer had ever cut a tree down or knew anyone that had. The wedges were made with the wrong plastic and shattered upon impact. I see they are still selling them too, years later, but are now calling them "holding" wedges and not for driving.

that's what I thought they were for, given being relatively thin. cut the kerf slot... tap in place and 'wedge' against the two sides closing in... I have 2 steel wedges for splitting, but they are much thicker...

 

[panolo]

Orange are ok for singles, but to double stack I like red headed one. Slick orange ones just come flying right back, unless I am doing something wrong.

I've always used sawdust like Dancan said. I'm gonna buy some red head ones now though and give that a whirl.

 

[JustJeff]

“Dad. Why don’t you just buy wood already cut and split” one of my sons asked. I showed him the fishing boat that he rides in and the snowmobile. Firewood sales and what I save on propane paid for the boat and buys insurance and trail pass on the sled. He’s a good kid, one of the ones that will see me working in the back and come help without being asked. Now he gets it.

 

[nomad_archer]

I'm looking to scrounge up a buck today. I found a valley out of the wind and have been putting some miles on the old boots.

 

[woodchip rookie]

Hey Philbert , what have you been using for a helmet system ?
I'm looking at this

I like my Skullbucket in the heat of the summer but no visor so I'm leaning towards this for the next bean bucket , not found that my last MSA and Bullard were the most comphy .
And for the Kiwi's or Aussies , you got a link on that absorbent head band ?

I have that. Hot in the summer but works good.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I've always used sawdust like Dancan said. I'm gonna buy some red head ones now though and give that a whirl.

keep us posted. pix, too... if possible.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

View attachment 686716 “Dad. Why don’t you just buy wood already cut and split” one of my sons asked. I showed him the fishing boat that he rides in and the snowmobile. Firewood sales and what I save on propane paid for the boat and buys insurance and trail pass on the sled. He’s a good kid, one of the ones that will see me working in the back and come help without being asked. Now he gets it.

>Now he gets it

must be a chip off the ol' block! I can remember, more than once... my ol' man... bellyaching that -no one- (two sons) even cared to ask, much less help with what he was doing... it was never, I say... never much fun helping Dad, assisting, etc... when he was in that kinda mood!

gotta like that sled! note the b-i-g jug of handcleaner up on the shelf.... lol how big is it, ie engine? hp or cc's? how fast? over 75? 100?....

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I have that. Hot in the summer but works good.

mine is similar. a stihl. 21 years old. still use it, works fine... and also have my chain saw chaps... same vintage. but gloves, naw... plenty pairs, but quite a few gungers... lol

 

[JustJeff]

>Now he gets it

must be a chip off the ol' block! I can remember, more than once... my ol' man... bellyaching that -no one- (two sons) even cared to ask, much less help with what he was doing... it was never, I say... never much fun helping him, assisting, etc... when he was in that kinda mood!

gotta like that sled! note the b-I-g jug of handcleaner up on the shelf.... lol how big is it, ie engine? hp or cc's? how fast? over 75? 100?....

The big jug is Stihl bar oil. Sled is 600 cc 4 stroke. It will do 75mph. Fast enough in most places.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

The big jug is Stihl bar oil. Sled is 600 cc 4 stroke. It will do 75mph. Fast enough in most places.

oic I have several brands of bar oil... the Stihl seems to be the stickiest... interesting a 4-stroke. looks like fun!

 

[pdqdl]

Orange are ok for singles, but to double stack I like red headed one. Slick orange ones just come flying right back, unless I am doing something wrong.

Just take some sawdust from the cut and put between the 2 wedges , it'll keep them together .
To me , wedges are sacrificial tools , I've busted or cut every one I've owned except the half dozen that I haven't used yet lol

If you want to stack wedges for a wider opening use these: Rifled wedges. They do NOT pop out of a log when you hit them, either. On the other hand, you may wish to trim the ridge a bit on the leading edge to help get them started in the cut.


I have even stacked them 3 high in a notch. The grooves hold real well, but it does get tricky to keep 3 of them together while pounding in a notch. Longer wedges stack much better than those silly 5.5" wedges. The only thing the short wedges are good for is when your back cut is too short to let a good wedge do the job.

 

[pdqdl]

I dont think I even own a plastic wedge. Got a few steel ones, somewhere. I have used the face cut for a wedge, not the best tool for the job, but works in a pinch, (Pun intended). For splitting post, I have made many a gullet out of limbs by sawing them into a wedge shape.

Steel wedges pop out as much as the plastic ones, and they hurt a lot more when they hit you.

The biggest cut (injury) I ever got on the job was from a steel wedge that popped out of a log, did a double summersault, and then sliced through the web between my left thumb & forefinger. It didn't get the tendon; but it did give me about 5 stitches.

It certainly got my attention, too. I think that may have been the last time I tried to split a large diameter oak slice with a wedge 'n sledge. That sumbitch just spit the wedge back out at me. From then on, it was noodles for me. I'f you don't understand that last comment, just go ahead & reveal your ignorance and ask. It'll be a big benefit for you to know about.


The worst part about that little tale was that my employee came to me with the explanation that the wedge kept popping out and he wasn't getting anything done. My response: You just need to hit it harder! So I went into "demonstration mode"; that lasted for just one hit.

♫ Wee're off to see the doctor, the wonderful doctor of

...♫

Note: read my sig just below. This would be just another case of my extensive "experience".

 

[Cowboy254]

If the drive home was a bit longer, cut and split green spruce will probably be seasoned by the time the trailer pulls into the driveway.

Actually, peppermint seems to be like that almost. This wood was cut green as grass 2-3 weeks ago and now it is well checked with big cracks down the split face. Obviously it will still be moist deeper in but split to stove size over summer, this will be good to go for the start of the next burning season.

 

[woodchip rookie]

mine is similar. a stihl. 21 years old. still use it, works fine... and also have my chain saw chaps... same vintage. but gloves, naw... plenty pairs, but quite a few gungers... lol

I haven't found a pair of gloves that holds up. I destroy everything I put on my hands.