My home-made firewood shortener

[wood-fan-atic]

I bought a new stove this year,and started burning N/S. I had to shorten lots of my supply, so I used an idea I found on here ( I think it was Zaps box ). Most of us have a milk crate lying around somewhere, and we ALL have a round to screw it to!! A couple of drywall screws hold the crate to the round, and I screwed a few pieces of 2x4 in front just to keep the splits from sliding out (it tilts them back,slightly). I pack that box as tight as I can, and the 20" bar on the 290 does the rest. It works for me. Hope this helps someone. Burn on, brothers. (and sisters)

 

[indiana4spartans]

Love the idea!! I have been needing to do something and didn't want to take the time this year to build something like Zap's box. I have a milk crate in the garage that I've been moving around, wondering what to use it for. Now I know! Thanks!

 

[Dune]

Thinking inside the box. Nice creative problem solving.

 

[wood-fan-atic]

Just make sure you pack that baby TIGHT- this way the 1st piece the bar touches stays put. I've shortened about 2 cords in a very short time like this. It works for any length split,really. You just need to measure from the rear/inside of the crate to the front of the 2x4s, and youre good to go.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

I use a chop saw, sometimes called a mitre saw,12" works best, wood stays put.you can shorten about 3-5 splits at a time.

 

[Lumber-Jack]

That looks like it would work good making your wood shorter W-F-A, but the invention that we really need is a wood, or "board" STRETCHER!
You may have to do some thinking "outside the box" for that one, but you could sell millions of them. ;-)

 

[Seasoned Oak]

That looks like it would work good making your wood shorter W-F-A, but the invention that we really need is a wood, or "board" STRETCHER!
You may have to do some thinking "outside the box" for that one, but you could sell millions of them. ;-)

There is one already. THats what trees are, wood stretchers.

 

[ironpony]

it is illegal to have a milk crate in your possesion
unless you are the authorized user........

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Hang on wood-fan-atic, the guys will now start to pick on you for using the milk crate. Maybe they will let up on me now. :lol: I've used a milk crate for sitting on while splitting wood for a long time. It sits right at the right height for me.

As for illegal, that might vary by state but it is a non-issue. I've never seen it enforced. As for me, I worked at a dairy so naturally have a couple.

 

[SnapCracklePop]

That looks like it would work good making your wood shorter W-F-A, but the invention that we really need is a wood, or "board" STRETCHER!
You may have to do some thinking "outside the box" for that one, but you could sell millions of them. ;-)

I saw the guy (Norm?) on New Yankee Workshop stretch a board once. It involved plane geometry, cutting the board into triangles, sliding the pieces a certain way... And, of course, he had all the tools he needed to do the job. Don't I wish...


Nancy

 

[Battenkiller]

it is illegal to have a milk crate in your possesion
unless you are the authorized user........

I don't know about milk crates (I have several but haven't been raided as of yet), but I almost got strung up for walking around Bearskin Neck with a lobsta trap float that got washed up on shore after a big blow.