As well as for anyone else, who like Grim, split your own wood.
http://www.geek.com/news/physics-exploiting-axe-splits-wood-in-record-time-1591725/
I think this is amazing. And probably the first real advancement in what is an ancient tool in a very long time.
7 comments:
That's really cool, but damn spendy for just an axe. I see where the inventor says the rotational energy is dissipated by the downward strike force, but I saw the axe twisting to the side quite a few times. I'm impressed as hell at how fast he was able to break down large rounds, but I'm also thinking the wrist strength needed to keep the axe true might take some time to develop.
Still, cool vid. I've never seen a hydralic splitter move that fast. Also, in all the years of splitting wood, never seen the tire trick for holding the wood on the chopping block. That alone was worth the click over to watch the vid.
Thanks!
0>;~}
Here's one you'll like, Sly.
I'm impressed as hell at how fast he was able to break down large rounds, but I'm also thinking the wrist strength needed to keep the axe true might take some time to develop.
I get the impression that you're not supposed to keep it true. Based on the article and video, it seems to me that striking the log drives the axe head into the wood, and as the leading edge slows, the off center trailing edge forces the axe head to rotate. It is that very rotation that acts as a lever and splits the wood. If you forced the axe to stay true, then you'd be fighting against that very lever action. So it looks more like it's supposed to be "swing and forget".
But I think you're right it might get pretty tiring on your wrist, as it gets twisted every swing.
And someone in the comments recommends bungie cords rather than a tire (since not all wood will fit inside a tire). Still, clever plan.
Nah, I don't get to have any fun that way. Although, I do think that the log yard where we've had to buy our wood these last two years uses that as our wood looks virtually identical in split to what was coming out.
Bungee cords would get cut, I would think, Mike. And I'd not want to be in the vicinity when it releases when the tension changes after the round is split.
I think I'll try the tire first, cause even if the round doesn't fit *exactly* it's still a static form and the round won't go anywhere while it's inside.
The idea with the tire is to nearly fill it, more or less. If it's not nearly full, it doesn't work so well. It's also faster to just drop them in and pull them out than to have to rig up the bungie every time.
Also, there's just something not right about that axe. The simple beauty and honesty of the traditional axe, plus the need for some skill in it's use (but not too much)- it's got a 'just right-ness' about it. Maybe that's part of why it's been without a major change for thousands of years.
Post a Comment