The winter weather forecast was published in yesterday's newspaper:
New Mexico could see heavy snow this fall and continued wet weather
well
into 2016 as a strong El Niño remains in place over the Pacific,
according to the National Weather Service. Not the news I wanted to hear.
But I'm ready. Almost. I spent a few hours on Sunday splitting kindling
for the woodstove, and I still have all my toes and fingers.
We used to rent one that hooked to the trailer hitch, but that was for big logs. I like the looks of this one that has good customer reviews AND you can stand up straight so it MIGHT be easier on your back http://www.plowhearth.com/smart-log-splitter.htm?aff=6443&CAWELAID=884083503&CAGPSPN=pla&catargetid=530007710000051338&cadevice=c&gclid=CMu_m9HuwcgCFU6PHwodvbQAHQand if you Google, log splitter, the options are legion. And yes, BEER.
ReplyDeleteWow. Love the part in the video where it shows the woman wearing a skirt while doing this. Looks perfect for what I need! Thanks!
Deletep.s. Just ordered it! Amazon had it for $20 less than Plow and Hearth, with free shipping. Score!
DeleteJust the right size for splitting kindling, these are very light and well balanced; well made and at 23 inches should be a decent Carson-size:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-X15-Chopping-Axe-23-5-Inch/dp/B000BX4SBI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1444828907&sr=8-3&keywords=fiskars+axe
or this if you want even smaller:
http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-7850-Hatchet/dp/B004QXH1BS/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1444828907&sr=8-11&keywords=fiskars+axe
I like the idea that these would double as a weapon. Thank you!
DeleteLove your sense of humor. That's a lot of work but you'll be so thankful every night because it's already done. Oh....that ranch hand would be very useful again. I've been looking for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm awed by your skill, Carson! My hand would be pulverized, a glove full of splinters! After about 10 minutes of that, I'd say, "Screw it," and go buy kindling. But unlike you, I have no strength of character, at least of New Mexico ranch character.
ReplyDeleteOh, gosh...I can feel your pain!
ReplyDeleteI was done after a few logs...I can only imagine your back, ugh!
ReplyDeleteVery cool PlowHearth splitter...not so cool weather report :-(
I love that you ordered the splitter after getting the link.....tell me did you go with the green or the black. tee hee. I hope it is less labor intensive and saves your back.
ReplyDeleteI've split a lot of wood in my time. You need to invest in a hatchet. A hatchet would easily split pieces of wood that size. Then get yourself an axe for bigger pieces of wood. Save the wedge and hammer for the big logs that won't yield to the axe.. And if bigger pieces of wood won't fit into your stove than what you're making there, you need a bigger stove. You're wearing yourself out needlessly making what most people who burn wood think of as kindling. No offense meant, just passing along some hard learned advice.
ReplyDeleteWell if you don't want that weather, toss it over here in the middle of California where it is still 95 degrees. (UGGH!!!) Now, how are you going to keep all that wood dry? Are you going to have to stack it somewhere else? Makes me exhausted thinking about it and it's not even my wood! Are there black widows in that wood pile?
ReplyDeleteI may throw a tarp over the pile...or not. It's usually so dry here, any rained-on wood dries out in a day or two. As for any black widows, I'm hoping the squirrels and rodents who hang in the pile would eat them.
Delete"Bored already" - too funny. Only you could make a video of splitting firewood that everyone will enjoy watching :-).
ReplyDeleteI agree, wholeheartedly!! :-)
DeleteLove your videos, and commentary! I love to split firewood and kindling...but I have never seen anyone do so with that tool before. ha! An 8 pound maul with a fiberglass handle to split big pieces and a small hatchet to split kindling have always been my tools of choice--the hatchet surely weighs less than your mallet and would save your back from the weight, as well as bending to chase your wedge. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat was painful to watch :) so glad you are getting the smart log splitter, looks perfect for your needs. If you've read some of the comments online you will probably be needing to replace the washers regularly and apparently the place to get those is here : http://www.baileysonline.com/shop.axd/Search?keywords=smart+log+splitter (Their price is even better than Amazon but shipping costs would more than likely make up the difference). We'll be needing a followup video when you get your new toy :)
ReplyDelete"I already checked, there's no snakes in the pile." Bwa ha ha haaaa!
ReplyDeleteI love how you have Carlos warbling in the background. How appropriate!
Oops, For some reason, I thought it was Santana. But no, Jose Feliciano sings "Light My Fire."
DeleteAfter hitting my thumb knuckle a couple of times, that was the end of my log splitting. Very happy you've got a "new, improved" version on the way. Just take care of those rotator cuffs.
ReplyDeleteGet yourself a hatchet, a higher base stump and a coffee can. Make a pile of logs to be split next to your base, grab one and put it in the can which is sitting on the top of your base and hit it lightly with the hatchet. The hatchet will stick in the wood. Pull back the hatchet and the piece of stuck wood and bring them down outside of the can directly on the base. Let the pieces fall and turn to pick up a new piece to be spilt. Please notice, you have yet to bend over. Pick up the split pieces when you are done. Or get a log splitter.
ReplyDeleteI'm a dab hand with a block splitter and if I need kindling I just knock a few bits off the side of the bigger pieces I'm splitting. Would be to scared to use a hammer like that!
ReplyDeleteSeems like I saw a video once, where the person put a bungee around the log they were splitting, which kept everything up on the stump until they were ready to off-load it to their vehicle--seems easier than having to bend over to retrieve every stick...
ReplyDeleteAlso, at 6:00 this morning, when I opened your post, I was reluctant to turn my sound on, as my husband had been up 'til 4:00 working on a project. Don't think the Doors would have been welcome on my eardrums either. What a nice surprise to hear Jose' instead!