They split the pile of firewood. How to chop wood correctly? Recommended for everyone! Secrets of the correct splitting of firewood

Logging, chopping and storing firewood is a labor-intensive process. To facilitate this task, you need to use a good tool - a splitting ax, work according to the rules, or even mechanize labor. How to chop wood quickly, with the least effort - a few recommendations ...

How to choose the right cleaver

A cleaver for chopping firewood is a kind of ax - a heavy and blunt ax-sledgehammer and on a long ax handle. The main thing when splitting a log is the impact force, the more, the better. The second condition for the successful harvesting of firewood is the creation of bursting forces in the chock, from which it cracks. An ordinary ax - with a sharp, light, thin blade, is not an assistant here. The cleaver should be heavy and thick.

Experienced craftsmen usually choose a slightly longer ax handle, but for beginners and general home use, it is still better to stick to the average standard.

The hatchet is made of durable, but not hard wood. Birch is more commonly used. The softness of the handle material is very important. The material must dampen the vibration, if it does it poorly, it will break itself, and will give an unnecessary load on the woodcutter's hands.

Eared or wedge cleaver

Eared cleaver - with a sharp broadening of the blade. By design, this results in better cracking for the same impact force. The tool is used for exceptionally dry wood, with reduced fiber cohesion. In a wet log, he knows how to get stuck firmly.

A wedge-shaped cleaver can also chop a wet tree, which is always harder to cut than a dry one.

The connoisseur advises - you should not undertake to chop raw firewood. Let the chocks lie down for at least half a year - a year under a canopy. But frozen raw wood pricks well - frozen water bursts it from the inside. Therefore, you can just wait until winter ...

How to chop wood correctly

Big mistake in trying to apply super strength to hit. You need to strike a lot, energetic diligence will quickly take away strength with the help of a heavy cleaver. It is necessary to use the weight of the tool and the length of the handle as much as possible - the moment of force is directly proportional to both.

A die (deck) is selected - the largest, raw and heavy, with a flat surface, not high. All splitting chocks should confidently stand on it.
It is better to turn the chock so that the knots are at the bottom.
To split, you need to beat along the visible knot, and not reproach it.
You need to try to get into a visible crack.
Too large chocks of firewood are first chipped around the edges,

Expert recommends. You should not drive an ax-cleaver into large logs, lift them on an ax by weight, turn them over and beat them with a butt on the chopping block - a lot of energy in vain and creating dangers, it is better to chip around the edges.

What size wood should be

For a confident entry into the winter, it is important that the results of firewood harvesting please. The length of the poles should be at the level of 3/4 of the length of the firebox. Usually sawmills (harvesters) of wood adhere to the standards in this case. But the ring is always individual. The average recommended size for a firebox is 10 cm. Thin firewood will burn out faster, but during this time they will give up all the energy inherent in their mass. Thick firewood will have a smaller burning area, they burn longer, are better suited for maintaining long burning. In general, the workpiece should contain both large and small, and over time, for a specific firebox and heating system, it will be found and optimal size firewood.

Security measures

The cleaver is heavy. Do not joke with this tool and work while drunk or tired.
It is important to maintain balance and not put your feet in front of the split log, it is more convenient to place them wide.
The chopping block, the deck should be larger than the processed chock and stand only steadily and not staggering.
Do not cut firewood under trees, wires. An ax hook on an obstacle, a deviation from the trajectory, can cost too much ...
Work in tight clothing with a hat and goggles. The flight of chips is always unpredictable.
Soak the splitting ax in water for several hours before working to swell the wood. Don't use the wrong tool. The reliability of fastening to the ax must always be controlled.

Chopping wood on video

Many harvesters have their own working technique. It is desirable to split firewood with a minimum of effort expended. How to swing the ax handle in order to deliver maximum energy to the blow, and at the same time the best way use inertia. Let's look at the video on the personal experience of people who often have to do this. The individual technique of working with a cleaver when chopping firewood is the main thing is a high toss, without much effort.

Also, ordinary failed car tires will help to chop firewood. They can be used as a bandage, which speeds up and simplifies the work.

How to chop wood with mechanical devices. A selection of videos of mechanized wood harvesting. A lot of presses, wood processing lines, self-made and in design bureaus that can chop wood have been created. Do they get it cheaper than a lumberjack…. Watch a video about chopping wood with machines…

Sometimes already sawn firewood is too thick in diameter and does not fit into the firebox or wood-burning stove for which, in fact, the firewood is intended. If they are split, then even large logs will be used for firewood, and the firewood will also dry out faster. An unathletic person using the right technique will split wood faster than a huge athlete who will clumsily do the same. Learn how to properly split hardwood with a sledgehammer and wedges.

Steps

Preparation

To split hardwood, use a sledgehammer or splitting wedges. A sledgehammer is essentially a thicker wedge-shaped ax for chopping wood with a blunt end on the other side of the blade. A heavy sledgehammer, which is usually a couple of kg heavier than an ax, makes it much easier to chop wood.

Splitting wedges are basically metal wedges that you drive into the log with the side of the tool. The advantage of wedges is that they can be inserted along the log and driven in until the wedge splits the log.
An ax is used to cut wood, not to split logs. If you want to split hard wood, it is better to take a sledgehammer and splitting wedges.

Saw logs along the entire length. For conventional wood burning stove and small fireplace firewood from 16 to 20 inches (40-50 cm) long is suitable. The shorter the log, the easier it is to split. You need to cut the wood in such a way that it is most convenient to chop it. Logs should be of such size that it is convenient to chop, store and, in fact, use them later for their intended purpose.
- Try to cut so that the edges of the log remain even. You will need to put them on the cut in order to split and if the cut is "crooked", it will be more difficult to do this.
Prepare a deck for chopping wood. Usually they take a wide cut of a tree trunk and put logs for splitting on it. Thus, it is easier to chop wood with an ax, and the load on the back is reduced. For splitting, a deck about 15 cm high is suitable.
- In order to avoid dangerous ricochets, during side impacts, the deck should not be low and not high.
- Always chop wood on a deck or something similar. And never on the ground or concrete. On the ground, you can pinch a log, but you have to lift the sledgehammer higher and you get tired faster. Save energy and chop wood on the deck, especially if you need to chop a lot of wood.
Prepare a safe place. Find a place where you can comfortably stand and make sure that there is no construction debris nearby and nothing sticking out anywhere.
- If the firewood has already been lying for a long time, then it is best to chop the firewood in frosty weather. In frost, with the right splitting technique, hardwood firewood will break into pieces with a bang, greatly facilitating your work.
Put on the necessary protective equipment. Prepare well for the day when you will chop wood. You need to wear gloves good quality, which will protect your hands from chips, goggles and sturdy work boots, preferably with a steel toe. Never chop wood yourself. There should always be someone nearby who can help in case of emergency.

Chopping wood with a sledgehammer
1. Place the first log on the deck. Check that it is stable, if possible in the center of the deck.
  
  Before chopping a log, carefully look at it. Find microcracks in the log. You need to strike so that the sharp part of the sledgehammer enters under the same direction as the crack.
  - Different types of trees prick in different ways. So tune in. For some reason, oak, even the widest logs, is easiest to chop through the center. But maple is easier to chop along the log.
  - Look where there are big knots in the log, i.e. places where when the tree was sawn, the saw cut turned out to be uneven. In such places it is better not to prick. In these places, the log is usually crooked or knotty and, if possible, it is better not to chop the log in this place. You can spend a whole day trying to cut a piece of wood with limbs.
2. Aim. Select the part of the log through which you want to split the log, put a sledgehammer on it and lean forward a little. If the crack is hard to see, you can make a small mark so you can see where to hit with the sledgehammer.
  
  Swing with a sledgehammer and hit the log. Actually, you do not need to "swing" with a sledgehammer, you do not need to wind a sledgehammer behind your head in order to split a log. With your left hand, hold the end of the sledgehammer handle firmly, and with your right hand, hold the sledgehammer closer to the tip. Slightly bend your knees, then, straightening your arms, raise the sledgehammer directly over your head.
  - Lower your right hand down the handle so that the right and left are held close to each other and lower the sledgehammer onto the log. Next, gravity will do most of the work for you.
  - When chopping wood, you need to use less force and more technique. Violently swinging a sledgehammer is both dangerous and exhausting enough.
3. If the log does not split from the first blow, pull the ax blade out of it. If the blade is deeply stuck in the log, you will have to loosen it to get it out. To draw the ax, tilt it slightly down and then up.
  - Or, you can use the stuck ax as a wedge and hit the blunt metal side of the axe. This is a very famous and common way of chopping firewood. If the ax is right on target or firmly stuck, there is no need to waste strength trying to pull it out.
4. Hit the log again and again until you split it. Try to hit the same place as before or into a crack that may form after the impact.
5. Chop and stack firewood. Each log that you split, chop into smaller pieces until you get firewood the right sizes. Usually the log is split in half, and then in half again, until you get wood with a section of maximum 6-8 inches (15-20 cm).
  - Stack the wood that you have chopped so that there is air between them so that they can dry properly before you toss them into the fireplace or wood-burning stove. Cover the firewood so that it does not get wet and covered with undergrowth. But you need to cover it so that there is good air circulation.

How to chop wood with a cleaver effective? The first thing you need to do is. not suitable for such a case, as it is sharp, and will get stuck in a log. At buying cleaver pay attention to blade shape, handle length and material, and weight. The handle should be long enough to give power to the blow, but at the same time, a length that is comfortable for you. The ideal weight of a cleaver is 2-2.5 kg. The shape of the blade also plays an important role. Firstly, there are blades for dry wood, and there are blades for wet wood, it is important to consider this when choosing cleaver. Secondly, the blade should not be sharp. Remember that a good, reliable and high-quality wood splitter will greatly simplify your task.

How to chop wood with a cleaver

How to chop wood with a cleaver

Everyone would like chop wood fast. This requires experience and skills, and for beginners you need to follow a few rules and pay attention to many little things. This will allow you to perform faster and better in the future. chopping firewood. To begin with, choose a place where there are the fewest people so as not to injure anyone. At chopping firewood chips fly in different directions and not the most pleasant situation may arise. Then take the widest and largest deck, which will serve as your workplace, the so-called "block". After all the materials are ready, you can proceed to chopping firewood. How to quickly split firewood a cleaver? Very simple! Gotta choose the right ones firewood - dry or frozen. The process of chopping raw firewood will be much longer. Size firewood you need to choose based on the size of the furnace or fireplace. Pay attention to your stance - it plays a fairly large role in chopping firewood. Feet should be shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. You will need to spring a little, this will increase the impact force. Cleaver take it in front of you, lift it up and sharply, with great force, lower it down. How many pieces you will split the log into depends on its size. If it is large, try to split it into 4 parts, if this is also difficult to do, then try to chip off from the edges, as if hewing it. Asking yourself a question: how to split wood with a cleaver, remember that absolutely everything affects the quality and speed of this process - from the cleaver itself to the firewood that needs to be chopped. If you are new to this business, do not try to master everything at once - the result comes with experience. Be patient. By following all the rules, you will not only chop wood, but also enjoy the process itself.

We prepare the tool

There are two types of hand tools for chopping wood:

A heavy sledgehammer with a blunt blade that splits logs like a wedge. Requires considerable effort when swinging, but effectively splits large logs.
Various lightweight versions of the classic cleaver: "eared", with a blade in the form of a rhombus or others with any protrusions of the body designed for splitting wood. It is easier to swing them, but the impact force is less.

With a serious approach to harvesting firewood, both varieties are used. The “eared” cleaver copes with most of the stumps, and for large specimens, a sledgehammer cleaver is preferable. In addition, a spare tool will always come in handy when one tool breaks down in order to complete the planned amount of work.

Splitting axes with a sharp blade are intended for cutting wood. Used for felling small trees, chopping thin fresh logs, removing knots and pricking wood chips for kindling.

The short handle of the tool (400-600 mm) is convenient when splitting small dry firewood, the long handle (up to 100 mm) will help to break a thick stump. Splitting cleavers with a semicircular blade better split damp and resinous wood, direct sharpening of the cutting part contributes to the splitting of large diameter logs.

Notch for memory. The length, shape and material of the handle, the weight of the tool as a whole are purely individual parameters, probably determined only in practice. First of all, the cleaver should be comfortable and confidently "lie in the hand."

To cut stubborn stumps with knots and a dense ornate structure, additional metal wedges may be needed.

Organize the workplace

It is important that there is enough space on the site for the swing of the cleaver, as well as for the departure of split logs. When working under a canopy or in a barn, the height of the ceiling must exceed the distance determined by the cleaver raised on an outstretched arm.

Chopping logs are placed on a deck, which is a stable knee-high stump placed on an inelastic and hard surface - thick concrete or trampled earth. A stump with knots and twists that has not yet cracked is best suited.

Remember about safety

When planning to split firewood, prepare protective equipment:

Gloves or mittens of good quality, non-slip on the handle.
Plastic safety goggles.
Sturdy work boots.

Before work, inspect the tool: check the integrity of the handle, the reliability of its fastening. Never use a defective cleaver or axe.

Notch for memory. Cleaver with wooden handle on the eve of the chopping wood, lower it into a bucket of water - during the night the wood will swell and will hold on stronger.

It is always necessary to remember that the main thing is not to harm yourself and others. Before working, assess the situation with your eyes and make sure that there are no random people or animals nearby.

Chopping wood correctly

Dry or frozen stumps are easier to split, so plan on harvesting firewood in advance. It is more expedient to dry a freshly sawn forest than to overstrain and suffer with "green" logs.

Place the block of wood on the chopping block with the knots down, placing it closer to the opposite side of the deck. Find the crack and turn it towards you. When there are no crevices, choose a split point away from or between knots. Make sure the log is stable.

Notch for memory. Strong wide stumps are easier to split with three blows along the intended line: the first is hit in the center, the second - in the far part, and the final blow falls on the near part.

Before the swing, take the correct position: the deck is in the center, and the legs are wider than the shoulders - this will give balance and secure in case of a miss. Keep at such a distance from the stump that you can touch its center with the tip of the blade. If you stand further, the cleaver will enter the ground, if you are closer, the ax handle will hit the wood and beat off your hands.

Take the cleaver with your left hand at the end of the handle, and with your right grab closer to the tip. Slightly bending your legs and simultaneously straightening your arms, lift the tool up. Lower the right hand along the handle down, and now direct the cleaver with acceleration to the block of wood.

It is not at all necessary to waste energy on an excessive swing, trying to lift the cleaver higher. It is much more efficient to raise the tool to a sufficient height, then lower it sharply and abruptly, making the most of the weight of the tool itself.

If it didn’t work out with the first blow, pull out the ax, loosening it up and down. A firmly planted tip can be used instead of a wedge and hit with a sledgehammer on the blunt part of the cleaver.

Notch for memory. Prick logs of large diameter start from the edges, slowly chipping off small parallel pieces. And the stumps big amount knots are better to be postponed for later.

A small block of wood is lifted with a stuck ax and, turning it upside down, hits the deck hard.

Repeat blows until the stump is completely split, trying to hit in one place. Try to use different speed and strength of the swing, work intelligently and take your time. Over time, an intuitive feeling will appear of how hard you should hit this or that log.