Whimped out!

[turnkey4099]

I finally gave in. Been handsplitting everything except knots/crotches as I need the exersize. That ended Saturday. I had a 1/2 load on the ground and a full load on the PU, temps up around 90. Grabbed the maul and a wedge, looked at the pile and my body said "no way!".

Two trips to town to get the right size and I had a hitch ball on the riding mower, hooked up the splitter, towed it over and started in. Pic is after one round of split/pile and a break.

Towed the rig back to the shop, replaced the 3/4 boards with 2x4. Promptly broke one of the 3/4" in/out feed boards (a real shadetree 'make-do') and then caught a round on the bracket almost tearing it off.

This morning back to it. That is after my second stint with 1/2 a load still on the PU.

Didn't get much done on the second shot - temp at 89 and I quit with only 4 chunks still to be don on the ground (1/2 load still on PU). Will finish tomorrow. Ended the day by replacing the 2x4s with 2x6 to get a bit broader in/out table.

3 days foolign around to get the operation running right. Hoping to get back to the 'patch on Tuesday - I have a big willow down again (35" DBH and about 50 ft of the log still waiting). Much rather be sniffing exhaust than splitting wood.

Harry K

 

[mga]

Much rather be sniffing exhaust than splitting wood.

amen to that. i used to split wood by hand too, but my age was telling me to give it a break. finally built a splitter.

true, it's a good work out, but there comes a time when you gotta slow down on the physical stuff.

 

[smokinj]

I finally gave in. Been handsplitting everything except knots/crotches as I need the exersize. That ended Saturday. I had a 1/2 load on the ground and a full load on the PU, temps up around 90. Grabbed the maul and a wedge, looked at the pile and my body said "no way!".

Two trips to town to get the right size and I had a hitch ball on the riding mower, hooked up the splitter, towed it over and started in. Pic is after one round of split/pile and a break.

Towed the rig back to the shop, replaced the 3/4 boards with 2x4. Promptly broke one of the 3/4" in/out feed boards (a real shadetree 'make-do') and then caught a round on the bracket almost tearing it off.

This morning back to it. That is after my second stint with 1/2 a load still on the PU.

Didn't get much done on the second shot - temp at 89 and I quit with only 4 chunks still to be don on the ground (1/2 load still on PU). Will finish tomorrow. Ended the day by replacing the 2x4s with 2x6 to get a bit broader in/out table.

3 days foolign around to get the operation running right. Hoping to get back to the 'patch on Tuesday - I have a big willow down again (35" DBH and about 50 ft of the log still waiting). Much rather be sniffing exhaust than splitting wood.

Harry K

Look Good

 

[danrclem]

That'll keep ya warm this winter. I get a good workout using my splitter but just not as long of a workout.

What kind of wood is that?

Danny

 

[CharlieG]

Work smarter, not harder. Splitter is fun

 

[nikocker]

Good Job!

Great looking pile of wood. Yeah it's a bit warm right now to be splitting wood, but it's great to get it done!

Al

 

[woodbooga]

Being so derned cheap (which is why I'm heating with wood in the 1st place) I'm going to resist splitter splitting until age prevents me. Maybe by that point I'll have befriended someone with a splitter who'd loan in exchange for a case of beer or a shot of wood.

Don't be too tough on yourself for whimping out. I don't think I'd have split that much wood in 90* temps even with a splitter!

Nice looking stacks!

 

[turnkey4099]

That'll keep ya warm this winter. I get a good workout using my splitter but just not as long of a workout.

What kind of wood is that?



Danny

Pretty poor - Willow. In this country that is about all there is anywhere near. did luck out into some locust this year but that is on my 'too old to cut anymore' pile.

Harry K

 

[turnkey4099]

Being so derned cheap (which is why I'm heating with wood in the 1st place) I'm going to resist splitter splitting until age prevents me. Maybe by that point I'll have befriended someone with a splitter who'd loan in exchange for a case of beer or a shot of wood.

Don't be too tough on yourself for whimping out. I don't think I'd have split that much wood in 90* temps even with a splitter!

Nice looking stacks!

I am sorta in a bind this year. Those ricks (4 now) are each 1 1/2 cord which was my goal. However I have promised a farmer to get 4 big willows out of his bottom land for 3 years now. Finally got around to it a couple weeks ago. Working on the second one now with 2 more togo. Would like to quit but I had to run a track through his wheat crop to get to them and I don't want to do that again.

I think working wood is all that is keeping me going. 73 now and still active. Wasn't for the wood I would probably be in the ground already.

Harry K

 

[turnkey4099]

The splitter with the 2x6 in/out tables. Built that back in 1985 and only got smart enough to raise it 9" and add the tables last winter. Should have done it years ago. Didn't plan it but the 2x6 stick up a bit above the tube forming a 'trough' - just toss a round on it and they self-center to split in half.

Harry K

 

[danrclem]

I am sorta in a bind this year. Those ricks (4 now) are each 1 1/2 cord which was my goal. However I have promised a farmer to get 4 big willows out of his bottom land for 3 years now. Finally got around to it a couple weeks ago. Working on the second one now with 2 more togo. Would like to quit but I had to run a track through his wheat crop to get to them and I don't want to do that again.

I think working wood is all that is keeping me going. 73 now and still active. Wasn't for the wood I would probably be in the ground already.

Harry K

Gathering firewood is kinda like a hobby to me because I enjoy it. I like it because I don't have to depend on the gas man and I save money. I hope that when I'm 73 that I'm still able to do it like you. I wish you many more years of cutting firewood.

Danny

 

[johncinco]

I pretty much love cutting and splitting my own wood, all by hand. Always wanted to keep it up, for exercise and just the mental break. I can still run a saw for hours, but pickin up the wood will throw my back out in no time. Splitting with a maul or hammer and wedges, well my torn rotator cup starts to scream. Now I find I have a screwed up neck as well. I guess a few wild stunts as a kid, a few motorcycle wrecks, and a few ATV crashes are catching up to me faster than I ever imagined. How did I become an old man at 39? Sucks gettin old.

 

[Austin1]

I pretty much love cutting and splitting my own wood, all by hand. Always wanted to keep it up, for exercise and just the mental break. I can still run a saw for hours, but pickin up the wood will throw my back out in no time. Splitting with a maul or hammer and wedges, well my torn rotator cup starts to scream. Now I find I have a screwed up neck as well. I guess a few wild stunts as a kid, a few motorcycle wrecks, and a few ATV crashes are catching up to me faster than I ever imagined. How did I become an old man at 39? Sucks gettin old.

+1 I know the feeling!I am starting to feel my own mortality! I can still do the stupid stuff I did as a 20 year old but I sure feel it the next day. Been thinking maybe I should finally see a doctor about my shoulder. Na then they will find all my old injuries too.

 

[Blowncrewcab]

I was at the point I was splitting everything with the splitter, then last week everything 12" and under I just stood up on end and "Whack,Whack,Whack, Whack" in 1 minute I made 20 into 40, I'd forgotten how fast and easy it can be done cause I spoiled by the splitter.

 

[Hugenpoet]

+1 I know the feeling!I am starting to feel my own mortality! I can still do the stupid stuff I did as a 20 year old but I sure feel it the next day. Been thinking maybe I should finally see a doctor about my shoulder. Na then they will find all my old injuries too.

At 61-which is a LOT older than 39 by the way, I too also do almost all of the stupid stuff I did at 20, only I have to do it much SLOWER.

 

[Austin1]

At 61-which is a LOT older than 39 by the way, I too also do almost all of the stupid stuff I did at 20, only I have to do it much SLOWER.

Keep it up is my motto your only as old as you feel!but I must say it is not the day I am doing the stupid stuff it is the next day I feel it lol.

 

[turnkey4099]

Brought in another full load from that tree again today. That makes 3 full loads and I still have 24' of the log to go, 36" at the butt and around 26" at the top. Gonna be another full load with some still left over!

Next tree is the same size and then it will be on to that huge sumbaitch that runs way over 4' DBH. People are already laughting at my huge stock of firewood (somewhere approaching 25 cord). These trees will push the total to over 30 cord. Hadn't planned on that much but...

Gonna stack the rounds and then do the splitting manually when the weather cools down. Gotta have something to do this fall.

Haryr K

 

[jags]

Harry, you crack me up.......whimped out.....yeah sure.

 

[Urbicide]

Gonna stack the rounds and then do the splitting manually when the weather cools down. Gotta have something to do this fall.

Haryr K

You won't have to light a fire until sometime next year if you split all of that wood by hand.

 

[turnkey4099]

You won't have to light a fire until sometime next year if you split all of that wood by hand.

Does seem a bit odd to pouring sweat working wood when it is hot - should be done in the middle of winter .

Almost finished up that tree and brought in another full load yesterday. That makes 4 full loads which should be 2 plus cord.

Left the last three rounds for the next trip. PU was just a wee mite overloaded with almost 4 full ricks across the bed stacked 4'. Tires squashed half way to the rim and I have heavy duty load rated tires. That chain was there in case I needed to pull the log - it was on top of a batch of ancient barb wire (?bob ware?). Turned out all I had to do was give push and it rolled right off. Putting the chain on did remind me of ma nature: bare arms were burning like fire when I got done shoving the chain under - that is when I spotted the stinging nettles .

...well...that picture doesn't work. For some reason photobucket insists it is a picture that I used several days ago and have deleted. Just keeps bringing it back whenever I try the new one. Right strange.

Did stack the chunks vice splitting. Left enough room to get the splitter in there if I decide to go that way but am planning mostly manual splitting.


Then the next tree to come out:

That one will be just a bit smaller, guessing at around 32-34" DBH. Wavering about going out tomorrow to start on it. That wheat is ripening off fast and I am leery about plowing through it with hot exhaust. May park up on the road, pack the saws in, fell, do some brushing and then retrieve the PU.

Harry K