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Original poster

How can i chop wood?

39 replies

janek · 01/03/2013 12:44

That's it really - we have wood-burning stove. We buy wood, we own an axe, DP can chop the wood, i cannot. I have tried, but i either don't have the strength; or the knack; or both!

Is there something i am missing? I am particularly weak, you would beat me in an arm-wrestle for example, but does that mean there is no way i can sort out my own logs?!?

OP posts:
LadyMaryQuiteContrary · 01/03/2013 12:47

I'm going to get an electric cuttersawy thing. Smile I can't use an axe either, I buy logs in and they are usually the right size.

mumblechum1 · 01/03/2013 12:50

If I were you I'd just order logs which are already the right size to go in the stove.

butterfliesinmytummy · 01/03/2013 12:51

Do you need to? We had a wood burner and ordered logs about a foot in length. We bought kindling by the sack to get a fire going, then chucked on the logs....

I don't think I would have been able to chop logs either. I'm fairly strong but have no coordination so the axe would probably have hit the ground or gone through my boot.....

AMumInScotland · 01/03/2013 12:52

Buy a bow-saw. Or a Logmatic splitter if they are too wide rather than too long.

Axes are hard to use - you need to get the aim and the strength working together, which is not easy. Your DP probably has enough strength to thump through them quickly, and not to have to keep hitting them on the same line to have any effect - us less-muscly types have to keep hitting the axe onto the log in the same place, and don't have much impact on them.

Bow saws are much better, preferably with some sort of saw bench to hold the log while you cut.

notso · 01/03/2013 13:00

It's not that hard to use an axe though you just need to practice, chopping wood for kindling was my pocket money chore when I was living at home and I have the arm strength of a jellyfish.

pirouette · 01/03/2013 13:05

Chop using the end of the axe shaft, not half way down.

Make sure nothing or nobody is near you, choose the part of wood you want to chop, eye it and swing the axe mightily. Channel your inner Viking.If you are sawing it, use a sawhorse to keep the wood still.

Repeat hundreds of times until you have a good wood pile.

Chop kindlers on a large flat slab of wood. Keep your axes really sharp.

PolterGoose · 01/03/2013 13:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

specialsubject · 01/03/2013 13:51

I'm learning this. Make sure the axe head is secure and wear full length trousers and solid shoes. Chain up small children at a safe distance. Stand the log end-on on something that won't move and won't damage -an old stump is good. Line up the log so you are chopping along the grain and it will split well. Stand square and back a bit, pull in stomach muscles and swing the axe, using the weight of it to chop.

some bits just won't chop, give up. Most will, and the pieces fly about and will often land on your foot. Hence the decent shoes.

kindling costs a fortune. Learn to chop your own. It does take a bit of practice but is really satisfying when a piece of wood just comes apart!

DeathMetalMum · 01/03/2013 14:07

My dad uses a large axe and a then machete once the pieces of wood are a little bit smaller. Using the chopping block (old large tree stump) to pretty much bang the machete through the wood.

Also as pp said a bow saw and sawing horse for getting the wood into managable pieces to begin with.

Fishandjam · 01/03/2013 14:13

Do you have the right sort of axe? You need a splitting axe for logs, not a felling axe. I can just about chop logs with ours, and I have spaghetti arms.

Original poster
janek · 01/03/2013 14:15

I'm a little upset that the answer seems to be perseverance! To clarify - the wood is generally the right length, it just needs to be a little thinner. The stove is only small, a stockton 4, so the wood needs to be 20cm long (which it is), so i think we need to cut down the width as otherwise the fire isn't hot enough to burn through a whole log, iyswim.

Any further insight welcome!

OP posts:
Original poster
janek · 01/03/2013 14:16

Oo, i don't know fishandjam i hope so, it was bought, by dp, specifically for this purpose, and as far as i know he has no trouble... I'll google it!

OP posts:
Original poster
janek · 01/03/2013 14:17

Oh god, i don't know, how would i tell?!?

OP posts:
Original poster
janek · 01/03/2013 14:22

Okay, checked with dp, who rolled his eyes at the mention of mn, it is a splitting axe, the. I looked at the axe and it says splitting axe on it. Good.

So it's me. More tips please!

OP posts:
Fishandjam · 01/03/2013 14:25

I have to let the weight of the axe head do the work - and hope that the blade sticks in the log (rather than bouncing off!) so I can split it properly. Some logs I just have to surrender to DH. And I don't do many at any one time.

AMumInScotland · 01/03/2013 14:26

www.logmatic.co.uk/ - Logmatic splitters are wonderful!

You position the bottom end on the log, then thump the inner part of the handle down inside it. Stays in position if you need more than one hit to get through it, no waving heavy and sharp implements around. Children can even use it safely, if you can convince them it's "fun" to help rather than a chore Grin

Original poster
janek · 01/03/2013 14:26

Is our axe too blunt do you think? I don't seem to be strong enough to get the axe stuck in the log. I wonder if it may be the axes fault .

OP posts:
WowOoo · 01/03/2013 14:27

Do you think you need a larger axe then?

I have a small selection of them and would gladly come and do it for you if I had the time.

I love chopping wood. You just need practice and to follow steps explained above by specialsubject. I'm no hulk but I manage.

WowOoo · 01/03/2013 14:29

How long since it was sharpened or bought?

Only you can tell if it's too blunt really!

Original poster
janek · 01/03/2013 14:30

They look brilliant muminscotland, do you have the big one, or the small one?

OP posts:
Original poster
janek · 01/03/2013 14:33

It was bought in january 2011 when we had the woodburner fitted, so it hasn't seen that much action - we only light the fire from november to march-ish. How quickly do they go blunt?

I've no way of knowing as i never tried to use it when it was new, but dp reckons we need a sharpening stone. And then proceeded not to get one.

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 01/03/2013 16:21

We just have the small one - it goes through practically anything in one go when DH uses it, so long as the wood is properly seasoned. Tends to take me two or three thumps to go through a big log. They really are effective if you can't get the hang of an axe - I can't hit the same place twice, and DH has back problems so swinging an axe around is a bad idea for him. But the logmatic lets you stand there with your back straight, except when you have to pick up the results of course!

pirouette · 01/03/2013 16:24

A local smiddy or blacksmith will sharpen your axes.
They love it when people have an axe to grind Grin

Original poster
janek · 01/03/2013 19:34

I DID IT!!! i'll be honest - i channelled my inner viking (didn't know i had one) and held in my stomach as advised and i did it. I'm so pleased with myself. And we now have a much more sensible amount of wood inside than we usually do.

I am delighted, thank you so much for all advice.

Ps i think the axe does need sharpening...

OP posts:
Selks · 01/03/2013 20:03

Well done that woman! Grin