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Making smaller wood chunks


 
LarryR

LarryR

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Didn't know what section to post this but figured this one is probably the closest. Chris, please relocate if you feel otherwise.

I buy my wood from The Woodshed in OC, CA and while I love his wood many of the pieces are just to large for my cookers or short cooks. Prior to buying his wood I ordered single filets from Smokinlicious which I feel are the perfect size. So here's my question, what's the easiest way to split/cut these larger pieces of wood. Please keep in mind I have no tools (saws, hammers, axe's etc.) and I'm not very mechanical so the "simpler" the suggestion the better. Thanks in advance for your ideas.
 
You can buy a small hatchet and just do a mineaturized splitting process as needed. If you have a hard surface like a large unsplit log, or a driveway even, just get the blade stuck into the chunk, and tap it on the surface until it splits ,if that makes sense. Should be easy as most wood "wants" to split!
 
Also you could use the hatchet as a "wedge" by placing it with the grain and striking it with a dead-blow hammer or a mallet.
That will keep your fingers out of the way on those odd size pcs.
Tim
 
im afraid you need some tools of some kind to make life easier. I couldn't think of anything but wal-mart is a good bet for "good enough" stuff. thats what i'de do, besides if your like me your other half will be lookin at boring stuff and you could be in the tool section.
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I bought a splitter at Harbor Freight but then realized I need some kind of a sledgehammer to make the thing work and I really think the splitter was more for big logs than the pieces I'm trying to cut.

Yea the lack of tools thing is a bit embarrassing; just not a mechanical guy so my tool collection includes a pair of pliers, a handful of screw drivers, a tiny hammer (the kind for hanging-up pictures) and maybe a few wrenches. So it sounds like the easiest thing to do would be to buy a hatchet huh?
 
I use an axe to break up bigger pieces and a saw from Sears that's designed to trim tree limbs.Both are fairly inexpensive.
 
great suggestions. but don't you have any friends? anyone got a bandsaw? small pieces and a hatchet will work but be very carefull, especially hitting the hatchet with a hammer. also wear eye protection. nothing like a chip of wood or steel to make you blind. best would be to get a small bow saw or wood saw and just cut the stuff.
 
I've done exactly as Dave H. mentioned many times and it works well if you're splitting (with the grain) the wood. If you have to cut longer pieces across the grain, you're going to need some kind of saw. Based on your pics, a bow saw would be over kill (and dangerous) but a hack saw would work by placing and holding the wood on a cinder block or similar. Wear safety glasses, as others have suggested, and take your time since you're not familiar with these tools and you'll do fine.

BTW, if you do split on a driveway, try to make sure the blade doesn't hit the surface when it splits.
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Bill
 
Originally posted by LarryR:
Please keep in mind I have no tools (saws, hammers, axe's etc.) and I'm not very mechanical
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That does make the task more difficult. How about a pack of well trained beavers? Just tell them to gnaw each piece in half
 
Originally posted by timothy:
Also you could use the hatchet as a "wedge" by placing it with the grain and striking it with a dead-blow hammer or a mallet.
That will keep your fingers out of the way on those odd size pcs.
Tim
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This is what I do.

I use a chainsaw for the logs to make chunks and then split them with an ax and dead blow hammer.
 
This is a dead-blow hammer, in case you're wondering:
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The head is filled with steel shot, so when you hit something solid with it, it doesn't bounce back like a regular hammer. Also, since the head is not metal, you avoid the metal-on-metal contact that can result in metal chips flying around (very detrimental to your eyesight).
 
I just got one of these for clearing some backyard brush, and discovered that it's great for chunking smokewood. Easy to use:

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Product info

With this and a hachet you can handle anything.
 
Larry, Since the wood you need to split is already in chunks, a small hand axe/hatchet would be what you are looking for.
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Metallica ROCKS!!!
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Thanks for all the suggestions guys (George those were come crazy pictures). I'm going to start small and pick-up a hatchet and a dead-blow hammer and go from there.
 
I would just get a hatchet. Find a good solid surface to whack away at or split the chunks and you'll do fine. Personally, I think a hatchet is as important as a chimney for the typical WSM'er. Personally, some safety glasses are on my list of essential products/tools too.
 
Larry,
Since you already have a splitter "wedge" try that with a DB hammer.
I totally agree with Jerry that everyone should own a hatchet, this is what I use to make a living.

Tim
 
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