Sorry that my other thread on making kindling got goof up as I had deleted the pictures. Now I put more pictures back on so will update for those who are interested.
First, the wood I did for kindling in these pictures was some wood that was a little too far gone; I should have just taken some splits from the pile as they would have split better. I had just cut a couple logs from some downed soft maple in the woods just to make these pictures. I usually split the kindling a little smaller but you should be able to get the idea on how it is done. Give it a try and you will see how fast and how easy it is to do.
We use almost 100% soft maple for our kindling because it lights so fast and easy, burns quick and hot and gets the fire going good.
The first picture shows the depth I go with the splitter. There is no need to bring the ram down full length on this wood.
The second picture shows how high I raise the ram. There is no need to let the ram go all the way up unless you want to rest while waiting for the ram. Bringing it up only as far as necessary speeds things up a lot.
This picture shows how i keep moving (usually about an inch per split) across the log.
Now it is time to turn to make the next splits. Here is where I had to make these splits a little large because of the wood. I usually go only an inch so we get about 1" x 1" kindling.
And here you are with a handful of split kindling.
Last week a request was made for some kindling for our old railroad project. A lot of kindling was requested for use in the caboose to get and keep a fire going. So I dug out some of the splits from the wood pile (these were very easy to work with vs what I had used in the above photos). In just 10-15 minutes I made a lot of kindling for them. It was no sweat, no sore hands (my hands are terrible from old polio), and so fast that it still amazes me. I started making kindling this way when I got the splitter and found I can make kindling probably 4-5 times faster and one whale of a lot easier.
So now you know how I make kindling using a hydrualic splitter. And for you folks that are very observant of photos, you will notice one of my old wood piles in the background. That pile will still not be burned this year. Probably a couple more years before we get at that stack.
First, the wood I did for kindling in these pictures was some wood that was a little too far gone; I should have just taken some splits from the pile as they would have split better. I had just cut a couple logs from some downed soft maple in the woods just to make these pictures. I usually split the kindling a little smaller but you should be able to get the idea on how it is done. Give it a try and you will see how fast and how easy it is to do.
We use almost 100% soft maple for our kindling because it lights so fast and easy, burns quick and hot and gets the fire going good.
The first picture shows the depth I go with the splitter. There is no need to bring the ram down full length on this wood.
The second picture shows how high I raise the ram. There is no need to let the ram go all the way up unless you want to rest while waiting for the ram. Bringing it up only as far as necessary speeds things up a lot.
This picture shows how i keep moving (usually about an inch per split) across the log.
Now it is time to turn to make the next splits. Here is where I had to make these splits a little large because of the wood. I usually go only an inch so we get about 1" x 1" kindling.
And here you are with a handful of split kindling.
Last week a request was made for some kindling for our old railroad project. A lot of kindling was requested for use in the caboose to get and keep a fire going. So I dug out some of the splits from the wood pile (these were very easy to work with vs what I had used in the above photos). In just 10-15 minutes I made a lot of kindling for them. It was no sweat, no sore hands (my hands are terrible from old polio), and so fast that it still amazes me. I started making kindling this way when I got the splitter and found I can make kindling probably 4-5 times faster and one whale of a lot easier.
So now you know how I make kindling using a hydrualic splitter. And for you folks that are very observant of photos, you will notice one of my old wood piles in the background. That pile will still not be burned this year. Probably a couple more years before we get at that stack.
No barn or storage sheds, so ours is full of tools, large flower pots full of dahlias and canna lilies, empty pots, fencing, tomato cages, 2 freezers, paint, a huge shelf taking up most of one wall full of home canned goods and canning jars, etc.
