I could not help but notice many posts lately attempting to slam my method of splitting wood; mainly the sitting and splitting vertical. I hope to explain this a bit.
First, we do all of our cutting in the winter. Usually starting in early December. I can no longer split wood by hand so have hydraulics. So we simply stack the wood we cut all winter long. We cut off and on up until early March.
Following snow melt, or in some years with little or no snow, we split in March or April. When we start splitting, this is how it looks. To answer those who say they constantly have to get up and down to get wood, this is not a problem for me because my arms are still quite useful. I simply reach, usually with one hand, for the next log to split. It is quick and easy to place it for splitting. When it is more difficult to reach with my hand, then I use a pickeroon. When it is too far for that, I move the splitter a few feet and resume splitting.
Sooner or later, the splitting is finished. Most years I can remove the Carhartts by then.
So the splitting is done. Now comes the stacking. Notice that I do not carry the wood to be stacked. It is a matter of reach for a split and lay it down. (Notice the Woodstock vest rather than the Carhartt coat. It's a bit warmer now.)
Sooner or later, the stacking is completed. It then sits like that all summer and fall. Before the snow flies we top cover it with old galvanized roofing.
But now to explain to those who do not appreciate my method of stacking. First I hope that most on this forum understand we've had a lot of fun over the years, mainly started by our friend Jake, the fireman. This is concerning splitting vertically vs. horizontally.
I recall many years ago following an injury asking why it is so difficult for me to stand and it is even much, much worse when I have to stand and work say, at table height. The hands are in front of me, but why is that so hard on the back? I've asked several doctors and none were surprised that I have this problem. I can't explain the mechanics of it all but we'll just state it was caused by both the injury and the sad fact that in my youth I had polio. That has hounded me a lot through life so I just make do with however the task requires.
As for the sitting, well, standing, especially in one place for very long at all is a killer for me. I can not do it. I kid some folks by saying that I get most of my exercise walking around looking for a place to sit.
So when we bought the splitter I simply had to work out the easiest way to split the wood. I knew standing was out of the question, so I looked at how I could sit and do this. After all, one winter I split wood using a sledge and wedge while sitting on a log. Slow work because I could only tap the sledge else suffer massive pain. One of the problems was finding the correct height. Kneeling did not work either. So I tried a couple chairs, a step stool, a couple logs and finally just grabbed a milk crate. Wow! That was the magical answer to my problem.
By sitting in this manner I am close to my work and close to the control and close to the wood. On the heavy blocks, I do not lift but simply roll them. I do not lay the log flat to roll but roll it like we used to roll milk cans. Most I can do one handed this way. Also bear in mind that most of our logs are 32" or less in diameter. Once I get one split, then by placing my elbows on my thighs, I can lift.....and it is not a strain on my back. (Think leverage.)
On the really big stuff, sometimes it can take 2 men to wrestle a log onto the splitter. Like the big white oak I split for a neighbor. That was tough until he caved in to help me... Also, a cant hook can relieve you of a lot of work and lifting.
For those who claim their backs cramp up. Well folks, I've had that problem too and I have no problem with stopping that splitter and walking around for a few minutes before returning to work. If it is too bad, I am in a position where I can just quit and try again tomorrow.
So all I ask is that folks keep in mind that there is a lot of kidding about the way I split and I have no problem in the least with this. However, it is sometimes very easy to tell the difference between kidding and bashing. So please, if you prefer to split your wood some other way, I don't mind at all. However, I still may kid you a bit over it.
First, we do all of our cutting in the winter. Usually starting in early December. I can no longer split wood by hand so have hydraulics. So we simply stack the wood we cut all winter long. We cut off and on up until early March.
Following snow melt, or in some years with little or no snow, we split in March or April. When we start splitting, this is how it looks. To answer those who say they constantly have to get up and down to get wood, this is not a problem for me because my arms are still quite useful. I simply reach, usually with one hand, for the next log to split. It is quick and easy to place it for splitting. When it is more difficult to reach with my hand, then I use a pickeroon. When it is too far for that, I move the splitter a few feet and resume splitting.
Sooner or later, the splitting is finished. Most years I can remove the Carhartts by then.
So the splitting is done. Now comes the stacking. Notice that I do not carry the wood to be stacked. It is a matter of reach for a split and lay it down. (Notice the Woodstock vest rather than the Carhartt coat. It's a bit warmer now.)
Sooner or later, the stacking is completed. It then sits like that all summer and fall. Before the snow flies we top cover it with old galvanized roofing.
But now to explain to those who do not appreciate my method of stacking. First I hope that most on this forum understand we've had a lot of fun over the years, mainly started by our friend Jake, the fireman. This is concerning splitting vertically vs. horizontally.
I recall many years ago following an injury asking why it is so difficult for me to stand and it is even much, much worse when I have to stand and work say, at table height. The hands are in front of me, but why is that so hard on the back? I've asked several doctors and none were surprised that I have this problem. I can't explain the mechanics of it all but we'll just state it was caused by both the injury and the sad fact that in my youth I had polio. That has hounded me a lot through life so I just make do with however the task requires.
As for the sitting, well, standing, especially in one place for very long at all is a killer for me. I can not do it. I kid some folks by saying that I get most of my exercise walking around looking for a place to sit.
So when we bought the splitter I simply had to work out the easiest way to split the wood. I knew standing was out of the question, so I looked at how I could sit and do this. After all, one winter I split wood using a sledge and wedge while sitting on a log. Slow work because I could only tap the sledge else suffer massive pain. One of the problems was finding the correct height. Kneeling did not work either. So I tried a couple chairs, a step stool, a couple logs and finally just grabbed a milk crate. Wow! That was the magical answer to my problem.
By sitting in this manner I am close to my work and close to the control and close to the wood. On the heavy blocks, I do not lift but simply roll them. I do not lay the log flat to roll but roll it like we used to roll milk cans. Most I can do one handed this way. Also bear in mind that most of our logs are 32" or less in diameter. Once I get one split, then by placing my elbows on my thighs, I can lift.....and it is not a strain on my back. (Think leverage.)
On the really big stuff, sometimes it can take 2 men to wrestle a log onto the splitter. Like the big white oak I split for a neighbor. That was tough until he caved in to help me... Also, a cant hook can relieve you of a lot of work and lifting.
For those who claim their backs cramp up. Well folks, I've had that problem too and I have no problem with stopping that splitter and walking around for a few minutes before returning to work. If it is too bad, I am in a position where I can just quit and try again tomorrow.
So all I ask is that folks keep in mind that there is a lot of kidding about the way I split and I have no problem in the least with this. However, it is sometimes very easy to tell the difference between kidding and bashing. So please, if you prefer to split your wood some other way, I don't mind at all. However, I still may kid you a bit over it.
