Chop Wood

I like the idea of making shingles as well, this could also be a good way to break down larger wood for burning.

How wide can the two notches be, and still pop out a "shingle"?

Seems like large deadfalls could last a long time, just by using the shingling technique to just take pieces away. I'm excited to try this out.
 
tough to say...if you make the notches more than about the log width apart i have had trouble getting chips to pop out, but it will vary with the type of wood, type of axe, and what kind of angle you use...

i suggest experimenting, nothing bad could come of it!

i often use chips from dry wood as kindling, it works pretty well.
 
There is nothing like some tactile chopping. Power comes with technique, technique comes with accuracy. Power does not make technique! Thats something I've learned within the recent years. thanks for the post sigguy.
 
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I don't think much about chopping, but anyways here how it goes;

Step 1, strike wood with axe.
Repeat step 1 as many times as it takes to split wood.

Okay this is not helpful. When splitting wood let the axe head weight do the work. Hold the axe on the last few inches of the handle, and by using a fluid motion, the axe rotates like a pendulum. Rather than forcing the axe into the wood, the weight of the head alone works to split the wood.

To many people try to force or ram their way into the wood by choking up on the axe handle instead of swinging it like a pendulum. Most of their energy is directed back into their arms instead of the wood. This becomes tiring and leaves the user sore.

Use the right tool for the job. In most instances with birch a 5 lb axe head is efficient and less tiring than heavier mauls. Use the heavy ones for stuborn wood.
 
antonio_luiz said:
Yeah - double cut first is the correct technique for the larger logs - still too much work unless you want the exercise or just enjoy the challenge

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=IcR28Yqt4mY

I used to cut logs with an axe - then I found out that there was something called a saw!
Click to expand...

I would like to see you make a Beam out of a log with a saw...now THAT is tiring my friend.:D
Like anything, if you get good at it, its not work..its an art. I like saws for cross cutting as well, but, ..Simon has demonstrated an easy way to segment a large log with an axe..good stuff IMO.
I find an axe a pleasure to work with, I dont mind sweating or working hard, but thats the way I am wired. I feel that an axe in skilled hands is one of the most fantastic tools..You can make a house or a chair and table...spoons, cups, fire...prepare a meal...the list goes on and on..a saw just saws.
 
naked said:
I like the idea of making shingles as well, this could also be a good way to break down larger wood for burning.

How wide can the two notches be, and still pop out a "shingle"?

Seems like large deadfalls could last a long time, just by using the shingling technique to just take pieces away. I'm excited to try this out.
Click to expand...

Well, they dont just "pop" out shingles..you have to carefully split them. The shakes should be about 18" long or there abouts. You leave about 5 or 6" to the weather so that you are overlaping them 3 times...that way while staggering the joints the surface becomes water resistant. Gene
 
Any good books that talk about this type of stuff? I'm horribly inexperienced with my ax, but I'm intrigued by this, and other things like this.
 
i've made 6x12 beams in 8 and 16 foot lengths with a skilsaw for making the final 2 sides after using an alaskan mill to section the wood. I seriously, honestly, would have rather used hand tools.
 
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