|
|
|
|
|
#1
03-01-2008, 07:34 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
An unfortunate lesson in physics today.
We spent the day cutting and splitting dead Ash trees today that have been killed by the Ash Bore. I dropped some big tree's with my trusty bored out Stihl 012 and survived the day with only one bar pinch, the chain is still in the tree as we speak tomorrow I will fire up the SawZall and dig it out.
But the physics lesson came from splitting the wood, Ash split's like glass I love it but when you are dealing with easy split wood you forget about a few of splitting fundamentals. 1. Have a splitting block ----- check 2. have a clear safe area to swing---check 3. have sure footing ----- fail because the wood is so easy to split the slippery sidewalk would work it did after a few chops until I slipped in the middle of a whack and squared the handle on the log....let me tell you if I had brittle bones my arms would be in a million pieces and the pain................  when the energy went up that fancy carbon fiber handle the hit was so hard my head hurt.I think my Omega survived I'm going to check the calibration this week... The crap I go through to avoid using propane is ridicules I think I need counseling. 
|
|
#3
03-01-2008, 07:39 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Lol...that's why I never bought a fibreglass handled ax...I'm pretty good with aim, but there will always be that one slip and then...ouch.
I try to split most of my wood when it is really cold out, like -20C or so, and the wood is totally frozen. You literally just drop the ax and the wood splits instantly. But hey, it's one of the great man jobs, Howie...relish it. 
__________________
Chris 2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package 2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options 1998 E430 - sold 1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold 1977 280E - sold 1971 250 - retired "And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon
|
|
#4
03-01-2008, 07:49 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
LOL, the kids were present so I did not unleash my extensive swear word vocabulary but wifey SAW the pain in my eyes, my fingers are still twitchin.
All in all a great day though the family helped with the chores and I finally got to use 4 LOW on the Avalanche we were climbing a deep snow covered hill in 4 High and the engine was gasping like it was under water, I knocked it in 4 low and let the engine roar...whatta sound....my son said..."Whoa".
|
|
#5
03-01-2008, 07:54 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
|
|
#6
03-01-2008, 08:24 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Sometime when you southern guys feel like you're a hell of a wood-splitter, have a go at sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). Report back here when you're finished.
Howie, glad you're not hurt. Bad spines have a way of exacting revenge for abuse.
|
|
#7
03-01-2008, 08:40 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
and thanks I'm doing ok but I can see how someone could break a wrist splitting wood, I thought they were tales but I think they are reality now. I'm not a small guy and can deliver a serious blow now I know what its like to be a tuning fork.
|
|
#9
03-01-2008, 09:02 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Most tree's vascular tissue (the fiber bundles) runs pretty much vertical except around branches (knots) or damage. Sweetgum's fibers twist & interlock as they go up the tree. I didn't know that and tried to spit one. It was a freaking nightmare -- I had wedges and screwdrivers and chisels all up and down the damn piece of wood. Looked like a stegosaurus. I told my f-in-law who, being an old country boy, really enjoyed my story. Whenever the subject of firewood comes-up he looks at me and chuckles.
|
|
#10
03-01-2008, 09:07 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Oh, you country guys and your wood. Here's what you do: Check out the local classifieds for firewood. Then buy a cord of wood that really isn't quite a cord of wood. Naturally, the good ol' boy you buy it from will swear that he cut it last year and the wood is fully seasoned. Then try not to get stung from the hot sap spitting out of the fireplace...
|
|
#11
03-01-2008, 09:34 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
plus a 6 pack of Milwaukee's finest.
|
|
#12
03-01-2008, 10:14 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
After burning wood for years I have switched over both our place and my fathers place to Anthracite coal. I liked burning wood but after years of cutting , stacking and cleaning up the mess in the house plus if the wood was a "bad batch" or I had to buy wood from the fore mentioned "wood salesman" I really don't think it can beat coal . In real cold weather I have to fill my coal hopper (holds 50 lbs) 1 time per day and in more mild temp (35-40F) I have to fill it every 1 1/2 days and I use ZERO propane. I forgot to mention near zero chance of a chimney fire. Here is a link if anyone is interested. http://www.nepadigital.com/bb/index.php
|
|
#13
03-01-2008, 10:40 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
My girlfriend was on the unfortunate end of a physics lesson while we were splitting wood. She's the lever operator on the hydraulic splitter and I'm the wood holder/picker-upper. We were splitting a particularly gnarley piece of oak or sweetgum. I was getting tired so I was just putting the wood on the splitter and letting go of it when the wedge bit in.
Well one piece was twisted and it nearly stalled the splitter and built up a good bit of energy and when it did split, it flew off with a sound like a gun shot and hit her in the shin. I really felt bad about it because if I'd had my hands on it, it would have just fell to the ground... 
__________________
-Evan Benz Fleet: 1968 UNIMOG 404.114 1998 E300 2008 E63 Non-Benz Fleet: 1992 Aerostar 1993 MR2 2000 F250
|
|
#15
03-02-2008, 12:36 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
__________________
 1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ... 1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold) 2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp 1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k 2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive  (sold)
|
 |
| Bookmarks |
|
|
Linear Mode
