Gear

[Flumph]

Well, the camping trip that my friends and I have been planning has taken a slight turn. Originally, we had thought that we were going to attempt to construct a small structure out of felled trees. Accordingly, I bought an appropriate Wetterlings axe for cutting and finer joinery work.

However, we've decided that we're going to spend the week splitting as much firewood as possible. I'm wondering what kind of tools would be good for this. The one axe I have now will be appropriate for felling and limbing, but we also need to section logs and split them.

We're also trying to do this without gas or electrical power tools (chainsaw). It's going to be harder with hand tools, but that's kind of the point.

I saw in an earlier thread someone who cut a log fairly flush with a tomahawk. My other idea is a bow saw or a wire saw. Also, would you recommend a splitting wedge and a hammer or a maul?

Whatever I do, I'll be buying old heads and restoring them.

Thanks.

Edit:
We're going to be in the woods for 5 days or so. The tools will see heavy work, and can be transported in a car. There will be little or no hiking involved.

 

[Vaunripped]

well after cutting and splitting MANY loads of fire wood w/ my dad over the years i would have to take the easy way and go w/ the chainsaw, and a splitting maul(hate trying to make the wedge and hammer work, i could never get the hang of it) short of that id would say prolly a big buck saw or something to that affect.

P.S. cutting off that last part of the butt cut w/ the pie in it helps a ton when you try breaking it.

 

[Steve Tall]

My other idea is a bow saw or a wire saw.

With car transport, I'd include a bowsaw, preferably 36" (or a cheap but sturdy military surplus 30 incher from Swisslink).

That said, I know someone (named Peter) who, with his son, used to chop firewood to sell by the cord using only axes. More waste than sawing, but he would collect the chips later and use them in the woodstove after they dried. He did later buy a bunch of those Swisslink bowsaws, though. Some have the old non-hardened tip blades that can be resharpened more easily.

 

[FwdHO]

five days of sectioning logs without a chain saw leads me to believe a two-man bucksaw is in order. Just a thought.