Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[hardpan]

Yeah I've always been kinda lazy with weedeaters, heck I've used them with flip flops and shorts before. I am slowly getting the safety stuff for chainsaws. Been wanting a limbing saw, but I may just get some chaps and the helmet/faceshield/earmuffs with that money.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Good thinking. Me and many others here had to cut ourselves with a chainsaw before buying chaps. A heavy encounter with those nasty chewing teeth will make your foot look like a shaving cut. Chaps are hot in the summer, warm in the winter, and good protection against briars and snags. I wear the same ones nomad archer has but I am sure others are just fine. I sometimes wish mine had a pocket for wedges. Take care.

 

[chipper1]

I've seen a lot of people that use a splitter horizontally instead of vertically. Everytime I've used the splitter I have access to I've always used it vertically. Is there a benefit to using it the other way?

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

It's a personal preference thing for most.
For me I keep it in the horizontal position as I prefer to be standing straight up when working with a bunch of weight. If you have people to bring you wood or a picaroon to reach for wood without getting off a 5 gallon bucket (most who split with it in the vertical position like to sit on a 5 gallon bucket) I guess that would work. My favorite is when the rounds are on my trailer and I can back right to the splitter. I pull them of the back of the trailer and then split them and toss them onto the pile, works awesome for me. If I have rounds or quarters I load them into the tractor bucket and then put the bucket just lower than the I beam and split away. I will split large rnds with the splitter in the vertical position but I normally will just quarter them up and lift them to the splitter.
I should do a short video of how I do it so others can see.
Here's an older picture might help to visualize what I do. If I am loading the trailer I will split then toss rounds right into the trailer which is much harder to do sitting down on a bucket(at least for me). And for loading into the wood shed I will put the tractor bucket right by the splitter and load the splits right from the splitter to the bucket.

 

[hardpan]

Good plan chipper. I use mine 95% of the time horizontal because it is so time consuming and hard on the back to wrestle a large round piece beneath a vertical splitter. A hookeroon is a great tool to assist here. So I almost always noodle into quarters or at least to a smaller size so I can lift them onto the horizontal position.

 

[muddstopper]

Since I usually bring rounds home in 10ft lenghts. They are usually laying on the ground when it comes time to split. I like to use the fel to pick the logs up for bucking. My splitter is just high enough I can back my dump under the Hbeam. Spilts just slide up into the trailer. Trailer makes a pretty good table for catching bigger pieces for resplits and the splitter just pushes the splits toward the front of the trailer. I have to stop every now and then to stack, or pile it up to make room for more wood. Once the trailer is loaded, I just back it under my wood shed and raise the bed a little so the wood slides toward the back and stack right off the trailer. Other times I just let the wood pile up at the end of the splitter and take the fel and scoop up the splits and stack out of the bucket. Less lifting I have to do, the better I like it.

 

[Philbert]

I've seen a lot of people that use a splitter horizontally instead of vertically. Everytime I've used the splitter I have access to I've always used it vertically. Is there a benefit to using it the other way?

I think that some of it is preference. Some of it depends on the type and size of wood you are splitting.

Some dedicated horizontal splitters have the wedge at the end of the beam, instead of on the cylinder, which a number of people like for high volume splitting - the wedge is less likely to stick and it pushes the splits off the end of the splitter into a pile (or trailer, conveyor, etc.). People who re-split their rounds several times may prefer the wedge on the ram, since it keeps the partially split rounds in the same place, or on a side table, for convenient re-splitting.

Then there are the Australians, who have something that we do not see here very often - a raised, vertical splitter:
http://www.superaxe.com.au/products/aussie-chopper-ws3150/
It does require square cuts though, for the rounds to stand up on end.

Me and many others here had to cut ourselves with a chainsaw before buying chaps. . . .I sometimes wish mine had a pocket for wedges.

Some of my chaps came with pockets - I took them off, since it was an uncomfortable place to carry wedges, and just filled with sawdust. User preference I guess.

Philbert

 

[tpence2177]

Thanks guys! May just stick with vertical right now until I get some rounds that I'm transporting with my truck most of mine are bigger red and white oak rounds that are already on the ground. Looking into getting some trailer ramps to be able to roll them into the back of my truck as well.

My dad used to have some when I was growing up that were brackets that you bolted on to treated 2x10's may still see if he has those and get some new boards.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[chipper1]

Since I usually bring rounds home in 10ft lenghts. They are usually laying on the ground when it comes time to split. I like to use the fel to pick the logs up for bucking. My splitter is just high enough I can back my dump under the Hbeam. Spilts just slide up into the trailer. Trailer makes a pretty good table for catching bigger pieces for resplits and the splitter just pushes the splits toward the front of the trailer. I have to stop every now and then to stack, or pile it up to make room for more wood. Once the trailer is loaded, I just back it under my wood shed and raise the bed a little so the wood slides toward the back and stack right off the trailer. Other times I just let the wood pile up at the end of the splitter and take the fel and scoop up the splits and stack out of the bucket. Less lifting I have to do, the better I like it.

What splitter do you have, also what type of dump trailer.
I'm all about less lifting. I bring most of mine home the same way.
I will be working on this today.
This is from last month about this time, you can see the log pile behind the trailer to the left. I brought one other trailer load in after this one, so about 4 cords.
I will cut the logs down to the straightest sections at about 10-12' by cutting 16" rounds off the ends. The rounds go in a green round pile and the logs in a log pile. Green wood sucks, lots of work and heavy, but I like the price, free .

Good plan chipper. I use mine 95% of the time horizontal because it is so time consuming and hard on the back to wrestle a large round piece beneath a vertical splitter. A hookeroon is a great tool to assist here. So I almost always noodle into quarters or at least to a smaller size so I can lift them onto the horizontal position.

Me too. If I did more splitting with it vertical for whatever reason I would build a spot where the foot was level with a concrete pad around the splitter so the rounds would be easier to get in tight to the beam. When I do split vertical because I don't have a saw to noodle with I put down a 2x12 to level the splitter and accomplish the same purpose.

 

[svk]

Yeah I've always been kinda lazy with weedeaters, heck I've used them with flip flops and shorts before. I am slowly getting the safety stuff for chainsaws. Been wanting a limbing saw, but I may just get some chaps and the helmet/faceshield/earmuffs with that money.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Good idea. Get the ppe first then do another saw.

FWIW a company called MSA makes a helmet combo that is cheaper than Husky or Stihl if you shop around the net (or know a distributor).

 

[jr27236]

My splitter is horizontal only. NORTHSTAR 35Ton 13 hp electric start Honda engine (so nice) but no log lift so I kill myself with picking up rounds to it. will use a 2x6 to roll them up at times. I also need to have a table setup made up so I dont have to keep picking the spits up. My back will really appreciate that at the end of the day. The vertical setup is good for large rounds.

 

[chipper1]

I think that some of it is preference. Some of it depends on the type and size of wood you are splitting.

Some dedicated horizontal splitters have the wedge at the end of the beam, instead of on the cylinder, which a number of people like for high volume splitting - the wedge is less likely to stick and it pushes the splits off the end of the splitter into a pile (or trailer, conveyor, etc.). People who re-split their rounds several times may prefer the wedge on the ram, since it keeps the partially split rounds in the same place, or on a side table, for convenient re-splitting.

Then there are the Australians, who have something that we do not see here very often - a raised, vertical splitter:
http://www.superaxe.com.au/products/aussie-chopper-ws3150/
It does require square cuts though, for the rounds to stand up on end.




Some of my chaps came with pockets - I took them off, since it was an uncomfortable place to carry wedges, and just filled with sawdust. User preference I guess.

Philbert

That's good stuff right there, I'll take one, or maybe make one lol.

I keep my wedges in my back pants pockets, right where I need them when I need them. The longer ones for felling larger trees are another story. Some of the narrow ones will fit in the side pockets of my dickies work pants, but most won't and I don't like them in my back pockets because they are uncomfortable. I had a small pouch that would hold 4 and I had a set of stackable smaller wedges and one large felling wedge I kept in it, but it was stolen with some other gear and my 2153 . I've moved on and have more stuff now, just different stuff lol.
Thanks Philbert .

 

[hardpan]

My splitter is horizontal only. NORTHSTAR 35Ton 13 hp electric start Honda engine (so nice) but no log lift so I kill myself with picking up rounds to it. will use a 2x6 to roll them up at times. I also need to have a table setup made up so I dont have to keep picking the spits up. My back will really appreciate that at the end of the day. The vertical setup is good for large rounds.

I hydraulic split for over 15 years without a table. Then I made one with some scrap lumber I was about to throw away. It was such an improvement I felt like a damn fool for not doing it sooner. REALLY made a difference in back comfort and the process is faster. Scan through the pictures on AS to find an example that fits your needs, could be free standing, could mount to the hitch end of your splitter and be easily detachable.

 

[nomad_archer]

Dang NA, you could have at least noodled some of those down for her LOL.
That is awesome that she is participating, hey who's watching the kiddos .

That was an older picture maybe a year or two ago. I believe the kid singular was either napping or with grammy at that point. She was just doing all the smaller stuff, she left the big rounds to me.

 

[nomad_archer]

Thanks I'll definitely check into that! I was looking at an echo Cs 310 or if for some miracle reason a used dolmar 421 popped up I was going to get it. I have a Husqvarna 51 that I'm going to downsize the bar to 16" and then my echo cs590. I also am rebuilding a mini Mac 110. That should really get me by for now, I think CAD just took over. Still will probably have some money set back for the next time I'm able to make it to Huntsville and can go to the dolly dealer, or if one pops up on Craigslist. (Home depot dealers around me don't seem to carry Makita saws in stock) I definitely need a good set of chaps and other safety things first though so that will be my next endeavor, so my next post won't be hey I cut my leg off!

If you go with an echo get the cs 400 over the cs 310 for a limbing saw. I have both and did a MM on them and the cs 400 gets used way more than the cs 310. The 310 got used so little I took it to camp and left it there as an emergency saw. Whatever you do if you go with an echo MM and retune it will make a world of difference.

 

[nomad_archer]

I've seen a lot of people that use a splitter horizontally instead of vertically. Everytime I've used the splitter I have access to I've always used it vertically. Is there a benefit to using it the other way?

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

I use my splitter horizontal 99% of the time. I only move it to vertical to split rounds I cant pick up and only into sizes that I can pick up. I split and throw the splits into a trailer. Its a preference thing for me.

 

[tpence2177]

I use my splitter horizontal 99% of the time. I only move it to vertical to split rounds I cant pick up and only into sizes that I can pick up. I split and throw the splits into a trailer. Its a preference thing for me.

The splitter I have access to is a home made with a big heavy I-beam that you have to winch down, we left it vertical over the summer and it actually kinda settled down into the ground some lol I'll probably just leave it horizontally when I am able to go get it again and noodle the big rounds. It's much more portable that way. And one less way for me to hurt myself.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[nomad_archer]

I sometimes wish mine had a pocket for wedges. Take care.

They do make wedge pouches. I very much like mine
http://www.baileysonline.com/Forest...andPRO-Leather-Wedge-Pouch-Belt-Combo-Set.axd

 

[hardpan]

nomad
I currently use a carpenter tool belt like a wider version of you wedge pouch, a little bulky. That, with my pants belt and chaps belt I have a hard time guarding against "plumber crack". Maybe I should wear suspenders or grow a bigger a$$. LOL

 

[Philbert]

These were some military surplus pouches I found that worked with wedges, PowerSharp cassettes, 40V Oregon batteries, sandwiches, . . . .

Philbert

 

[Marshy]

They do make wedge pouches. I very much like mine
http://www.baileysonline.com/Forest...andPRO-Leather-Wedge-Pouch-Belt-Combo-Set.axd

I want a wedge belt like that but only one pocket is enough. Just needs to have a large loop to hold a hatchet.

 

[Philbert]

Maybe I should wear suspenders . . .

Suspenders really help with chaps.

Philbert