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  1. daveswoodhauler Minister of Fire

    joined: May 20, 2008
    1,827 posts
    Massachusetts
    Just got done splitting about a cord and half by hand over a few hours/day for the last few days.

    Big benefits of splitting in the winter when the wood is somewhat frozen...splits a lot easier. (Of course, I was mainly splitting maple and some red oak..no elm thankfully)

    Wil try to post some pics later.
    #1

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  2. LLigetfa Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 9, 2008
    7,310 posts
    NW Ontario
    Work up less of a sweat too.
  3. savageactor7 Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 25, 2008
    3,698 posts
    CNY
    I'd like to be processing now too but mother nature isn't cooperating ...hopefully by the end of the month though. At least I won't have to harvest when it gets warmer.
  4. woodmeister New Member

    joined: Nov 2, 2008
    155 posts
    lower ct. river
    split two cords Saturday without a drop of sweat, your right it was nice.
  5. daveswoodhauler Minister of Fire

    joined: May 20, 2008
    1,827 posts
    Massachusetts
    Yup, real nice in the sun. Was pretty much out there in crappy pants, a tee shirt, and my blue blockers as the sun was so bright.
    I did break a sweat though....you must have a hydraulic splitta :) (I just have my Home Cheapo 8lb maul....works really nice though)
  6. TreePapa Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 24, 2008
    583 posts
    Southern Calif.
    If I split wood in the height of summer here I'd probably drop over from heat stroke. Of course, if I don't keel over, I'd probably lose a couple pounds due to sweating. That being said, splitting wood in heavy rain is no fun either.

    I don't get the benefit of frozen wood ... but we don't have the temps that go with it, either.

    Peace,
    - Sequoia
  7. Got Wood Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 22, 2008
    880 posts
    Dutchess Cty, NY
    My goal is to finish cut/split/stack next years supply by the end of March. Have not stopped through the winter, an hour or two a few days a week - keep plugging away at it. Once the end of March hits I will turn the focus to other activities (but won't pass up gathering wood to process next fall when the weather gets cooler).
  8. Eric Johnson Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    5,703 posts
    Central NYS
    Splitting frozen wood is nice. But I like getting all soaked with sweat in the summer, too. It makes me feel like I accomplished something. OHOH, I spent all weekend splitting frozen wood, and my muscles are telling me that I accomplished something. And I did work up a sweat.
  9. billb3 Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 14, 2007
    3,065 posts
    SE Mass
    not being drenched in DEET is a plus for many, too.
  10. TKeller New Member

    joined: Jun 4, 2008
    62 posts
    western ky. (owensboro)
    There is one situation where you can't win at the game of deliberately choosing to work the firewood in the cooler winter weather. Summer storms that leave the yard littered with limbs and trees down. This happens at least once almost every summer in my area. Nothing worse than working the limbs and tree removal in the summer heat and humidity. I absolutely love working the firewood in cold damp cloudy days where it looks like it might snow with temp. in the mid 30's to low 40's. Not much wind though. Course I don't have a splitter so I am picky. Tony
  11. Backwoods Savage Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 14, 2007
    24,148 posts
    Michigan
    Bill, you sound like a fellow who has not tried the ThermaCell yet. Believe me, it works better than DEET or anything else you put on your body for protection. This thing just simply keeps the skeeters away from you so there isn't anything to slap at all! One great invention!
  12. Jimxj2000 Member

    joined: Aug 14, 2008
    51 posts
    SE NH
    Glad to hear I am not the only one to enjoy splitting frozen wood. There is too much other stuff to do in the summer anyways.

    I try to split 30-60 minutes a couple times a week - using an splitting axe.

    I will try to keep a year ahead splitting only in the winter - 8 cord a year. (I use a splitter for the hardest piece, that can be in the summer.)
  13. Backwoods Savage Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 14, 2007
    24,148 posts
    Michigan
    Around here March and April can be pretty cold months so splitting then is great....and I don't sweat a whole lot while doing it either.
  14. billb3 Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 14, 2007
    3,065 posts
    SE Mass
    thermacell, mosquito magnets, zappers, stinky things, not so stinky things .. skeets should be extinct here. Unless the swamp in my back yard dries up in a major drought, living here requires deep wood DEET.
  15. Easyellis8 New Member

    joined: Aug 9, 2008
    86 posts
    So IL
    You guys are still using DEET? I know of military personnel who refused to use that stuff, they were afraid that it would soak into their skin and cause problems later on down the road.
  16. Backwoods Savage Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 14, 2007
    24,148 posts
    Michigan
    Bill, it doesn't matter what you have. We grow skeeters in large quantities here too. This thing will not kill the skeeters at all. All it does is keep a circle around you that the skeeters won't enter.

    I well remember a few years ago when I was late getting the wood stacked in the spring. As I was doing the last day's work on that we suddenly had a warm muggy day and the skeeters really swarmed. So, I went into the house and got the little ThermaCell and laid it right by where I was working. I then finished my work wearing just a t-shirt (and pants, of course, lest the neighbors talk). Those skeeters never bothered me again and I just kept working and sweating. It sometimes is good to take out hunting too. Keeps you from slapping and a whole lot better than DEET.
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