Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Winter Camping and Activities :: Splitting Wood
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NotLight |
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Soledad |
On smaller trips I use a Silky Katana Boy, but that saw can get tricky on the short pieces with only guy to hold the saw and the wood. Small forest axe/boys axe/hudson bay 2.5# or right around there. Finger tips to arm pit in length. |
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Gadfly |
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Papinator |
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awbrown |
However, they are expensive. But, as with most things, you get what you pay for. |
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NotLight |
I ordered the katana boy. I started watching the videos on youtube, and quickly realized how much easier the trimming would be just in my backyard jungle. Can't wait! |
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NotLight |
Ok. I am now the proud owner of a gransfors small splitting axe. My little bit of research tells me that a budget 12lb splitting maul with a metal handle is the best splitting tool, but for me that gransfors seems about right. Now the saw... I don't want one of those collapsible bucksaws. I don't want to be fiddling with any little wingnuts in the cold other than myself. So there's that Irwin saw, a hardware store bowsaw, my ~19" corona pruning saw, or I could splurge on a katanaboy. I want a one person saw. Ideas? |
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Minnesotian |
quote NotLight: " Yep, I agree on the collapsible bucksaws, I find they are just not robust enough for the winter. My bow saw is a standard, fixed, hardware bow saw. Something like this. Whatever bow saw you get, make sure you get a backup blade. Super lightweight and a really good thing to have. |
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Minnesotian |
quote awbrown:" Yep, I do this all the time. |
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awbrown |
quote NotLight: " Couple of ways to tell how dry and/or seasoned your wood may be. 1. Thump a piece with the back of your axe. It will make a distinct hollow "thunk" sound. 2. Cut a piece and put the fresh cut up to your lips. If it feels wet to your lips, it is. The more vertical a piece of dead wood is, the more likely it is to be dry. |
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Minnesotian |
I usually bring two saws, a big bow saw and my Irwin Saw. Also bring a hatchet and an ax. And a diamond sharpening stone for the edges. Wood processing in winter is and can be the hardest work out there, therefore I am bringing all the tools needed to make it easy and simple. |
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NotLight |
Question on technique... How best to tell how green/wet the downed wood is in winter? Do you just assume brown needles and off the ground must be dry? How do you best select wood that is LNT if you are camping on the ice, without trapsing through the underbrush? Is there just so much downed wood that all my questions are not a real issue? Thanks. |