Silent Splitting

[lumbering on]

Splitting in the Suburbs

It seems my new after work exercise routine of splitting wood for an hour or so may be a bit loud and annoying for the neighbors. (don't ask, it's new york). Wanting to make nice I have stopped the steel on steel wedges, but even the mauls on wood are loud.

I'm going to buy some new toys, but must choose wisely.

I know the Fiskars splitting axe is a miracle worker, but any sense on whether its quieter than the average maul?

Also anyone have experience with the superplastic sledgehammers like the Halders Simplex or the Fiskars Safety Wedge with a superplastic cap?

These are both expensive $50 for the wedge, $200 for the sledge, but willing to do so if they really are quieter so I can keep splitting at night.

 

[Woody Stover]

The Monster Maul might be a little less loud...didn't really pay much attention. Mine is 12 lbs. and I wouldn't want it any heavier...but I'm an old man. It will plow through some tougher wood that you would otherwise need a wedge for, or at least repeated whacks with an 8 lb. maul. Seems like the plastic would emit an equally sharp, if different, sound that metal.
Is it only one neighbor that's offended? Maybe you could put up some kind of sound-deflecting screen in that direction.

 

[Mr A]

I don't like having to make nice, I have to do it to in California(be nice) with no burn days, and just about anything else. My stacks could be considered a "junk" pile! Top down fires, burning seasoned wood eliminates smoke with a good wood burner.
I could be ordered to get rid of my wood, someone could complain it is a junk pile! Forced to use public utilities! I threw out my electric heat pump furnace. I get a "sole source of heat waiver"

 

[nate379]

Build a splitter with a straight piped Detroit diesel 8v92. Run it at governed speed.

I guarantee after a few hours of running that they won't complain about a guy splitting wood with an ax!

I try not to be the a-hole waking everyone up making noise but if it's between 6AM and 11PM I'm making all the noise I want.

 

[rkshed]

UGH!
Invite them over this winter when its -3 outside and the electricity is out but you are nice and toasty because of all that evil wood you were splitting. But if they decide to run a generator, lay into them!
Good luck though, nothing beats a big ole steel sledge and wedge.

 

[NortheastAl]

I know about the living in New York part of what you are saying, but I don't think there is a quiet way to split wood, other than those manual two handle hydraulic splitters. You will be splitting right through until fall with one of those, though. Slowest method possible. An electric splitter is still noisy, but it is considerable less than a gas operated on, and you can do it in a shed or garage if need be.

Maybe you can discuss with your closest neighbors the necessity of having to split the wood now, and that you can only do it at night. If you tell them this won't go on forever, they may be sympathetic and not mind you doing this for a while.

Good luck. New York is a special place when it comes to a lot of things.

 

[Woody Stover]

Electric splitter, if you need to work late?

if it's between 6AM and 11PM I'm making all the noise I want.

I'm guessing you've never worked second or third shift.

 

[Thistle]

This gets fired up every couple weeks or so.... Not before 8AM however.I live in town & never get any complaints.

 

[lukem]

If you are going to drop $250 on something quiet, I'd drop it on an electric splitter.

 

[schlot]

Splitting in the Suburbs

It seems my new after work exercise routine of splitting wood for an hour or so may be a bit loud and annoying for the neighbors. (don't ask, it's new york). Wanting to make nice I have stopped the steel on steel wedges, but even the mauls on wood are loud.

I'm going to buy some new toys, but must choose wisely.

I know the Fiskars splitting axe is a miracle worker, but any sense on whether its quieter than the average maul?

Also anyone have experience with the superplastic sledgehammers like the Halders Simplex or the Fiskars Safety Wedge with a superplastic cap?

These are both expensive $50 for the wedge, $200 for the sledge, but willing to do so if they really are quieter so I can keep splitting at night.
View attachment 99220View attachment 99221

It's sad when hard work is frowned upon isn't it? Perhaps our society has got a little too comfortable?

 

[Beer Belly]

Like others have said....Electric Splitter.....in the garage if you have that option....they won't hear a thing. In my hood, I never fire any machine up till 10am.....12 noon on a Sunday.....never on a Holiday where guest will be invited, Easter for example.....otherwise I use what I need, when I need.

 

[lukem]

I'm glad I don't have to worry about OPE and neighbors.

 

[Josh Hufford]

I'm big on being kind to your neighbors, and I expect the same in return and don't tolerate anything less. However, as long as your doing it at a reasonable time, and your not bothering someone with unusual circumstances such as a day sleeper, I would have to kindly say, get over it. That is just ridiculous. I could never live in New York or any other place that tries to micro manage every thing.

 

[Applesister]

I dont know that axe splitting is noisier than running a gas splitter. Its too bad that you have to worry about neighbors on top of the chore of wood collecting. They complain about the noise, they will certainly complain about woodpiles. I would put your house between them and where you work, as a sound break.
But I think you will need to tell them its no different than screaming kids and lawnmowers and weed whackers and dogs barking.
If you buy a splitter you can split large piles at once. I wait till I get about 2 cords and then I split for about 2 days.

 

[lumbering on]

There is actually a village ordinance restricting yard work after 5 pm! Had a nice chat with the constable the other day.
I actually enjoy the splitting, and it's the first real exercise I've done in years, and I'd like to keep doing it almost daily and build the wood hoard.
Maybe because I'm still young and foolish, I'd rather not go to an electric splitter just yet.

Hoping someone has actually used the superplastic/thermoplastic tools, and wondering if it is a softer thud.
Or does the fiskar's axe reduce the effort on the big 3 foot rounds.

 

[lukem]

There is actually a village ordinance restricting yard work after 5 pm!

No offense, but that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. I would tell them to go pound sand.

 

[gerry100]

Your neighboors can't handle an hour of the 'pop' of a maul hitting wood and you can't do yard work after 5pm? I'd move.

or- play music loud enough to cover the
popping' , unless the collective you live in has a rule against that.

BTW- handle type won't effect the sound

 

[Applesister]

I would buy the plastic maul and wedge, then, and keep splitting. I dont think you can get arrested for splitting wood. Wood splitting seems like it would be grandfathered in.
I understand you are into the swing of it...so just keep doing it.
Tell the neighbors your taxes went up, the government sequestured your pay 20% so you are forced to heat with wood.

 

[Nocattom]

I feel your pain. My wife and I went out to dinner with our neighbors last week and they shared there disdain of my wood-oholism. They even shared a funny song they sing about me. Nice

Get urrr wood on !

 

[lumbering on]

The ordinance is actually directed at landscaping services with the lawn mowers/leaf blowers etc. And there is an exemption for homeowners doing their own work (occasionally). And nobody complained for the last 5 months.

But now that its spring and the windows are open, and when they saw the new truckload of wood get delivered and realized this is not going to go away... its the day after day repetition that is getting to them. Which I understand. But this is the first hobby that's saved me money and improved my health! I'd like to keep it going.

 

[MasterMech]

Maybe because I'm still young and foolish, I'd rather not go to an electric splitter just yet.

Save your body now while it's still good.

Electric splitter is going to be the quietest practical method of splitting. There are human powered hydraulic splitters but they are way too slow to be practical for anyone splitting a significant quantity of wood. Use the electric for whatever will fit on it and split the big 'uns by hand when the noise restrictions are not in effect.

What times are you splitting at? Is after work late at night?

Or how about one of these?

I have one @ work and it's very persuasive.

 

[curtis]

You have got to be kidding me! I thought for sure when I opended this thread you were going to ask how to quite down a gas engine on your splitter. But for someone to complain about you manualy splitting wood! Its hearing things like this that make me grateful to live in the country. I would do what nate said about the detroit diesel and that will make them appreciate the manual splittling.

 

[Jags]

I could possibly see the "ping, ping, ping" of steel on steel getting on somebody's nerves, but the swift "snap" of a splitting maul?? That isn't any louder than a flag flapping in the wind. Try a maul and see if the neighbors are satisfied. If nothing else - it shows them that you are trying to be considerate, and that might just buy you a little sympathy.

 

[nate379]

Yes I have. Worked first shift 11pm- 7am for many years. As well as 3rd shift 3pm-11pm.
I never expected people to be quiet because I worked odd hours.

Electric splitter, if you need to work late?
I'm guessing you've never worked second or third shift.

 

[Shane N]

As Jags said, go get a maul/fiskars/monster maul. That is mostly just a thud and a crack when the wood splits. High pitched noises travel farther (sledge on wedge).