I thought I would start a thread devoted to splitting axes and mauls. I spend way more time swinging a splitting axe busting up rounds than I do running a chainsaw. Oddly enough, I may be one of the few that truly enjoys the feeling of laying a round on a solid stump, and subsequently using a quality axe to chop it into beautful pieces that can be neatly stacked and seasoned for the next years winter fuel. As mundane or archaic as it may seem, I really feel the whole process from felling to limbing to bucking then splitting and lastly stacking is a real art in itself. I find my time spent wielding a splitting axe to be very treasured and peaceful, and oftentimes the sun tends to set too soon. Most of my evenings end with a sunset that was more beautiful than the evening before. Interestingly, for me, this time seems to be best spent alone. Not to say I don't enjoy extra help from time to time; but the fact is when I'm in this "zone" the only things that seem to really matter are how the grain looks on a hardwood round, how sharp the axe head is, and how perfectly each split log seem to lay on top of another to create cord after awesome cord of home-warming btu energy straight from the wholesome goodness of our forest. Somehow over the years I have been able to resist the added production of using a hydraulic splitter. My firewood is from my forest or my closest friends forests, used strictly to heat my house. I almost feel using a hydraulic splitter would be an injustice to what seems to me to be a finite resource around my area. I feel almost like a piece of wood cut by a hydraulic splitter just won't yield the same amount of heat when placed in my stove. I have worked too hard to earn the loyal friendships which have allowed me to gather wood on my friends farms, and I have worked too hard and too long splitting and stacking to ever think about doing this for the purpose of monetary gain. The thought almost makes me cringe to think about selling firewood....to think of a log I split turning to cherry embers in someone else's stove, who doesn't appreciate all the hard work required just to get it there....is simply put: disheartening.
I guess this thread just goes out in tribute to not only the splitting axes and mauls, but to those who loyally work till their hands are calloused, and their backs are sore, to provide a warmth for their family, a warmth that can turn a house into a home.....a warmth only brought about by GOD's green forests.
This thread goes out to you all.
