How to split large logs for firewood
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- This is how I split large rounds and turn them into firewood. Splitting firewood takes a lot of work. After logs are split you can start your own firewood business. I split the wood with a maul and wedges basically a human powered firewood processor. Knowing how to split firewood is a great skill to have in life. Your ability to know hot to make firewood from large logs is a must if you plan to one day live off grid like we would like to one day.
I split the wood into manageable pieces then use a log splitter to finish the job and turn it into finished firewood. We do not sell firewood here but it is a great side huddle income source for any homestead.
It is easier to chop off the outer 6 inches all the way around. Do that a couple times. Then it will split much easier. No need for wedges.
I added a pry bar to my log splitting kit. It helps me a lot
Your a good wood splitter. However my technique is a little different. Instead of trying to 1/2 - 1/4 - 1/3 the round. place the wedge parallel to the outer diameter maybe just 8" or 9" inward. Look for a crack or make a crack with your maul. Now instead of fighting that hugh 48" round your just splitting a slice that you can make into a firewood size. You just keep working yourself around a pretty soon no more round.
At age 61 and a woman who splits her wood by hand for an outdoor furnace I have practical experience as well. I find working around the edge of large rounds much less labor intensive. Work smarter not harder. Going all the way across the diameter you will get longer sections of stringy wood that makea it hard to separate the two sides.
Bingo!
Nope to time consuming, take a 24 inch chainsaw cut an X in the top get a 10 lb sledgehammer 3, 8 inch wedges a few wacks and were done...makes for nice logs.
My go-to method. Way faster and no wedges needed.
You are absolutely right. I used a Fiskar splitting maul . I can split a 24 round in about 2 minutes by working around the edge. I've tried all the other methods and nothing compares. I can out split anything except the wood processor and I'm 66.. The only reason to split differently would be to be able to move to a hydraulic splitter but I don't need one.
I had some pecan about that size and it threw the wedges back at me si I slotted them with chainsaw on the outer edge and stuck wedge in slot and that got it, I'm about half your size and twice your age and a little less horsepower, but I consider it fun GOOD VID THANX!
When I was splittin by hand, I used 4 or 5 different size and angle wedges with a 3 lb. lump hammer. works well and kept me in shape after I retired. 😎👍
All you need is the Fiskars...start from the outside and chop off pieces. Them slices look thin enough, and no visible knots.
Nice video. I never split that big of rounds. But for rounds of 20-24 inches I find splitting about 4 inches in a circle around the log works easier than splitting the whole log. Doing it your way does work. It just takes me longer.
I cut down a lot of trees like this, I do cut them into rings but not all the way. I cut them through the base vertical and horizontal into manageable pieces with the chainsaw.
“Hello Fiskers? I would like to get my broken axe handle replaced under warrantee and….”
(Fiskars watches video
and replies)
“Um… did you use it as a … pry… bar… ah….”
😂
(I do the same thing!)
Large logs are always a pain to deal with
Boy tried to convince us HE ISNT sponsored by fiskars 😂
I had some 42” rounds that were very difficult with wedges. I proceeded to pre drill the log with a 3/4” drill bit, 6” long. I drilled about every 2” and it worked great with the wedges once that was done. Good luck in the future👍
You gotta learn to chip off the round not go down the middle
Nice wedge work. When I'm splitting large logs like that (or splitting logs into rails), I always use wooden wedges as well. They're easy to make so you can use a number of them. Putting in a wooden wedge towards the end will make it easy to get your steel wedges out. It will also widen the gap further, and make it easy to get the wood apart. You can easily make them out of hardwood branches.
Feathers and wedges will certainly split rock, so a couple of wedges will still split the most stubborn round of firewood.
You need to invest in a pinch bar! To tackle those great big logs. Especially the stringy ones. Even a long-handled crowbar.
I've got one But i have forgotten about it. Got it out today and it helped alot. Thanks for the suggestions
How would a pinch bar be useful?
It would get to a point where I would just stand the log upwards and take the damn chainsaw through it 2 - 3 ways and then use splitting maul from there
Great video, and that is a huge round. I personally love big rounds b/c you get a lot of splits from ‘em. I usually use 3 wedges for those sizes, and can typically split with the maul by doing slivers off the sides - go all the way around and work your way towards the middle. But I do love using wedges. And you’re expending a lot of energy due to your form. Press the maul up (like a military press) and come down rather than swinging all around your body. This was fun to watch.
You wore me out just watching. When they're that hard to split to the middle, break them off with the growth rings around the outside. Once you get it started it is way easer. Avoid the knots! Save them for the splitter. Every piece of wood is different so read the piece you're working on. There's a lot of good videos right hear on youtube. You should spend some time to save some time and see how a good axe man uses his tools. I have to hand it to you, you didn't give up. I did it the wrong way for years and some real old man gave me a lesson with this axe you couldn't cut yourself with if you tried. I was like, all these friggin years I've been workin way to hard at this. He was amazing and I still can't split like he did, but it sure is easier now that I know how to.
I take the tip of my chainsaw,put a big X across in both directions. Cut down about 3 in . Line up my wedges in both directions. Don’t take that much to split them. If that doesn’t work I just make thin cookies about 6 or 8 in thick .
A log that huge to split is ...😮😅
Do the the sides first...😂❤
...as you work towards the center of the log as it gets small in size.❤
The center of the huge log is the heart ❤️ of the tree trunk.
We work rounds that big and just roll them right to the splitter. Split and rotate. Backbreaking stuff but a bit faster. Maybe less fun
Hard work & hard working man. The appreciation will come when you're burning it in your stove, fireplace or fire pit. Good job
I use the same method 3-5 wedges 4lb lump hammer.. 60 yrs old, not swinging a sledge anymore!!!
same here
It's unbelievable how much abuse a Fiskars maul and axe will withstand!
Great video. Just brought a full trailer and truck load of rounds similar in size to yours, and was struggling to split. Your video helped and now I realize I need splitting wedges...a lot of them...
Try starting with 2 of the pointy wedges. Very handy. Especially on tough wood
Dang that's some gnarly wood. I'd noodle that down to size.
Great video i just went to lowes and got a splitter. Your way works great split A 25" diameter huge piece. Took about 30 minutes to split it all up. Put at street and ill be next morning someone took took it to burn 👍
Sir I split firewood for 25 years. Today I have disk disease. The cushions between my disks wore out. You can put two wedges next to each other - then hit two wedges at once. Wear a cup supporter. I had wedges pop out and miss the jewels by one inch.. Mom kept telling me to wear a girdle. She was worried about me having a hernia. I had three hernias I had to get repaired. Please remember to save your back. Degenerative disk disease is no fun. Use more wedges! Use the whole length of the handle. Giant swings!
Keep your wedges pointed and sharp. They bite into the wood better. Keep the mushroomed ground.
If you start to pee blood - stop! that is the protein in your muscles in you blood breaking down. It can kill. It will damage your kidneys. It is called myoglobin - sorry for the spelling. It does burn when peeing. I used to split wood 7 8 9 hours a day.
Keep wooden handles sanded with 440 grade sand paper. Add a oil, I used peanut oil. Then use an old candle to smear on wooden handles. All my wooden handles - looked like fine furniture. Wear sunglasses - being out in sun can cook the lenses in your eyes. Wear steel tipped boots. Drink! and take salt tablets, split in the mornings and evenings. I suffered severe dehydration three times. The one time I was told by doctors in the hospital, if the woman living with me did not call the police when she did, I would have been dead by morning. I did not feel any ill effects. But I was vomiting and throwing up. Classic signs of severe dehydration.
I was told to use a hydraulic log splitter by a doctor. Swinging a hammer and or maul can injure shoulders.
Wear a hat and long sleeved shirt to protect against sunburn.
@@kurteifert2657 it’s just after 10 PM here. I’m going to sharpen my cheap-ass Chinese wedges, and split out of the sun. Good tips, thanks!
@@firstmkb Kevin, Where are you? wow! someone was on my web page!
@@firstmkb Kevin, put two wedges side by side! you got a nice slit - nice start! two wedges can fit into that slit! I had those rounds many times. Never had so much fun in my life! Go to yard sales, get more wedges! Dirt cheap! you are on the right track! I see you are using that sledge hammer maul correctly! giant swings! Keep going! Drink, take salt tablets! Sports drinks! I used to eat salted herring dried! Drink water. Beer will dehydrate you! You don't want to suffer dehydration like I did three times!
@@kurteifert2657 St. Louis, MO. Someone gave me a huge piece of red oak trunk (with a forklift), and it’s still on my driveway. I didn’t know if I was doing something wrong, or it was just more work than it looks.
I’m doing ok with birch from my front yard, but the oak has much more figure to the grain & doesn’t give up easily.
just start at the perimeter with a hatchet and a hand-held sledge hammer. to go at it from the inside does not make sense.
I would give advice but I have never split something that big.
Twisting the axe at 5:14 is a very stupid thing to do. I stopped watching after that.
Would've been alot easier to just move the wood splitter over there and turn it upwards
That’s why I bought a kinetic splitter…
You need to make yourself some wood wedges and use them after you get the split to start.
I had 25 16'' pieces of hard maple that were 40'' to 60'' across.
I never went straight to the heart first.
I worked my way around the outside and then made triangle shapes.
The size of those rounds! Grind off you're steel mushrooms. Nicely done. We're starting out our channel so please check it out!
Damn. About one of those a weekend would be enough.
Like the old saying goes how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Keep up the great videos.
This was a great video! Thank you so much! This helped me a lot!
Please don’t take anything from this video 😂
Can use a stick of Dynamite. To make it fast and easy
If you put them straight into a wheel barrow you’d handle them less, great content dropped you a sub
The problem is that wood is rotten. Dead too much times.
crowbar would help
Lot of hard work for a bit of firewood , thank goodness I'm not that poor
Haha right it shouldve taken 5 minutes max
Did you need to age the logs a year, or just have other things to do? I’m asking if that little bit of seasoning on a large round makes a difference.
Are those rounds cut to 16” long already? Shorter would be easier to split, right?
Damned knots!
Each type of wood splits differently when wet (fresh) or seasoned (old & dry).
Where I am, black walnut splits best when it’s seasoned and checked (has cracks showing). Silver maple splits best the day you cut it, and gets tougher as it dries out.
They need to be aged before you can burn them. Green wood is unpleasant in a campfire and unsafe in a stove.
I'm guessing that you already know this, but with the question was worded, I figured I'd put my 2 cents in. Just in case.
What a rookie
I use black powder to split big unmanageable rounds. It works well and is great fun.
a retired logger from Oregon was living in Palmdale, Ca. he used black powder to split some eucalyptus rounds. The neighbors did not appreciate that the sheriff came and he spent the night on jail.
Thanks for the advice!
Interesting.
I thought I had big rounds. I bow to you my Lord!
There is only one Lord and His name is Jesus Christ. I pray that you get to know Him soon my friend.
great
$250 worth of axes and wedges. Good chance for a costly Emergency Room visit. If all goes well it will take 24 work hours to split and stack all the wood from that tree. Is it worth it or are you better off pending you time working at McD?
I use the type of wedges you're using too; but not very often. I MUCH prefer the diamond wedges.
Wish a nice weekend.
And always good wood
GREETINGS FROM GERMANY -PIT
As a young kid ,thats the way we split wood.cheers
You remind me of myself mate you just keep plugging away
That's the way I do it. Nice work!
really helpful. thanks for the video.
Big work here.
Thanks for the great footage and ideas.
I hope you finish by next year
Looks like rock splitting....
Thanks good job!
Need to work on your cardio.
Good job
You where lucky not to smash your left ankle on blow number 3!
SPLITTING MAIL IS TOO SMALL. YOU WOULD NOT GO HUNTING A HUGE GRISLY BEAR WITH A SMALL 22 CALIBER YOU WOULD USE BIGGEST YOU COULD GET. SPLITIING MAUL DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SHARP JUST BIG.. VUSE OF CHOPPING BLOCK HELPS.
USING WEDGES IS TOO LITTLE TOO LONG TOO.MUCH WORK.
LET MAUL GO INTO GROUND NOT YOUR FOOT. GROUND DOESN'T HARM MAUL WHICH IS OY SHARP
..
YOUR SPLITTING MAUL IS TOO LITTLE. LIKE THEY SAY SIZE DOES MATTER
USE CHAIN SAW TO.MAKE SMALLER BLOCKS. EASIER ON YOUR BACK. TOO LIGHT AX MAY BOUNCE BACK HITTING YOU IN YOUR HEAD. YUCK.
First tip don’t use a fiskars axe
I use a fiskars axe and will split anything with that that you can with a maul.
@@waynejohnson9855 wooden handles are better and can be replaced not like a fiskars
@@tylerwestman5258 I get a new fiskars free if my handle breaks. I just pay the shipping and I can’t buy a wooden handle for that. Plus I got a fiskars that has split 150 full cord. I’ve never had a wood handle last past 40.
@@waynejohnson9855 I get my wooden handles for free I make them and get the wood for free from the ash trees in my backyard
@@tylerwestman5258 that’s pretty cool that you make your own handles. I bet they are better than ones you buy also.