12 Cords Cut With AXES ONLY! 2017 Axe CordWood Challenge Participants and Results
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- čas přidán 27. 12. 2017
- In 2017, 13 participants cut a total of over 12 cords of firewood, with axes only. That's a pile 4x8x48 feet, or 1,536 cubic feet!
Cordwood Challenge 2018 Page: www.skillcult.com/acwc2018
THE PARTICIPANTS LINKS TO VIDEOS ETC, IF THEY HAVE THEM:
FLATLAND WOODSMAN: over 2 cords, • Axe Cordwood challenge...
BRIAN LARSEN, 1 cord, • Cordwood Challenge the...
TIM SPRINGSTON: 1-3/4 cords. • First Cord of Firewood...
TODD WALKER, 1 cord, • Completing the Axe Cor... . and survivalsherpa.wordpress.com/
Aaron Foster, 1 cord, • Cordwood Challenge: F...
Me, 1 cord, • Cord of Axe Cut Firewo...
'Em Li'l Things, 1/4 cord, • EmLillThings concludes...
Tim Beal: • Cordwood Challenge fir...
Patrick Hale: • Video
Deva Jones: • 2017 Axe cordwood Chal...
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Standard gear I recommend. I either use or have used all of it.
Council Tool Boys Axe: amzn.to/3z0muqI
Bahco Farmer's File: amzn.to/3Hbdhij
King two sided sharpening stone: amzn.to/32EX1XC
Silky f180 saw: amzn.to/3yZzM71
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Victorinox grafting/floral knife: amzn.to/3Jki1E9
Wiebe 12” fleshing tool: amzn.to/3sB0qSl
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I'm a subscriber for your gardening/apple breeding/biochar content but love your axemanship stuff as a "spectator sport" (I hope to try brain tanning if my boyfriend gets a deer next fall so until then I guess that's a spectator sport as well).
My binge-watching your videos to catch up to your current content creation earlier this year endeared you to my scrawny, internet-dwelling, physical-activity-adverse 16yo daughter, who picked up an axe and cut down a sapling this summer one day (under my boyfriend's supervision).
It was a very small tree, but I've never seen her feel so successful about physical exertion before! You're a family affair for us, as my boyfriend's the one who found your channel to begin with (for fruit tree grafting info), and my wood-stove-obsessed dad visited from out east and became fascinated with the wood chopping instructionals.
Thank you for every drop of content you release - and we 100% support it when you need to take time off for health & sanity.
Awesome, the world needs more axe wielding teenage girls! Watch out trees! (and boys!) Thank you for the good feedback. It helps :) Got some more of all that stuff coming. I think this might be the year I'm able to turn some things around.
Congratulations on a successful challenge this year! So true that the hardest part for most people is the time; especially if you can't just walk out your door and pick out a tree to fell. Good that you mentioned the safety tips as well. Our neighbor's large tree lost a few limbs this year which took out the rear wall of our backyard pergola. No prior indication that they were weakened or damaged in any way. I took a nice slice in the hand using my axe when the blade bounced off a really tight knot while I was batoning it for kindling. Kudos to all the participants in the challenge, especially the kids! My son was so proud and ecstatic when he felled his first tree this year. I was amazed at his tenacity and stamina. Good stuff! He used the axe that I impregnated with the beeswax, flax oil and pure turpentine mix I posted about on your other video on that topic. It continued to soak that up with daily applications for about six weeks, then it would not take any more. It has a nice feel in your hands.
Yes, I understand there are real limitations for people. It's not easy for me to take the time, but.... priorities I guess :) Please report back if you ever have anything else to say about handles treated that way. I'm always interested, good or bad.
Cool, I will keep you posted. I mixed up about a liter of the stuff and have applied it to all my wood handled tools. They did not soak up as much as I did not sand off the patina of many years of use and simply added it to the top layer of that natural finish of ground in dirt, grease and sweat (wait--I did scrape off that shiny shellac that was on a camping hatchet that I had--feels great now). I wanted it for the water resistance and hand feel, not an art project. I am happy with the results. It even worked to help waterproof our winter boots and some utility work coats. I am in the Portland, OR area so moisture control is always a priority.
Was eagerly anticipating this.. got warmed up on a double bit this morning.. and there it is!
awesome, stay safe.
Good job to all participants! Like many people, I don't have the time and energy to try this myself - I'll stick to my saw & hydraulic splitter - but really think you guys are doing a great thing. Good for the body, good for the mind.
so much great information ..
Future video idea. Same species green wood vs. Dead wood. How many swings.
good idea
Love the background music in Timothy's videos
Steve, an ox is merely a bovine used for draft work. Could be a cow, a bull, a steer, a yak, a bison, a buffalo, anything!
I'mma hafta get me one a them.
I like January to September. Especially since we not only have a foot of snow but its in the negative Fahrenheit range here now. So, even if I have the time, I will be burning this year's wood not cutting it! LOL! I am really hoping to get into the challenge this year. We'll see how all my other, boring but essential, projects go. Thanks for the shout out. Metal head homesteader tanners UNITE!!!
W-(>.
Nice.
I finished on the last day of winter last year. The ideal time for me in Georgia is the colder months. No ticks or chiggers. But we're not covered in snow down here either.
Noted.
i just love how i watched almost halfway through then i get the notification bell lol
In terms of the timing, starting in March makes it a bit difficult for me personally, just because that is edged up right to the beginning of the growing season and I start having lots less time to do something like this. So winter is kind of my only window for doing the challenge, but I do think that its best to arrange this for the maximum number of people to be able to participate, so its all good whatever you decide.
Right. I hear ya. Maybe last year was the right timing. We could also just go through june. Jan to sept just seems to long, but we'll see how it goes this year.
IMO having the challenge start in march would be a mistake. Giving people more flexibility on when to start will probably lead to more people being able to take part and reach their goal.
Also, the "drying months" in Scandinavia (and thus I guess many temperate areas on the northern hemisphere) are march, april and may, so if someone wanted to burn the wood they cut for the cordwood challenge the following winter they'd pretty much have to be done before the challenge started. Firewood should be cut, split and stacked before easter, that's the old saying (kind of stupid since easter isn't the same date from year to year)! Obviously, if you're not planning on burning it the following winter but stay ahead of your wood that doesn't matter so much.
Interesting. thanks. I don't have a feel for what people deal with yet. I think jan through august is probably too long though for next year
I like the new rules, definitely not as challenging as making the cord amounts. The historical aspects bout' ricks for axe cut wood is interesting as well. In terms of start times I think right at New years day sounds good for seasoning. Although whatever the date is won't matter to me, I already started a week ago. Got a fair amount of sugar maple stacked in the bush. Now hauling the wood in the snow is a problem till spring, maybe a sled?
The minimum is actually higher this year. We'll see. I'm hoping to see some 5 ricks plus participants. If not this year, then next year. I've used sleds to haul firewood. A pair of snow shoe and a plastic sled is great. as someone else said, easier than pushing a wheel barrow over hill and dale as I usually have to do.
When will you be putting out the 2018 challenge?
It's out. Running through Sept. 1st this year, so plenty of time. czcams.com/video/1eCF81--FvM/video.html
What size axe (handle length and axe head weight) do you recommend for a 6'3" 200ish pound male for this type of work?
It's hard to say. I tend to prefer short axes. For me 28" works well and 30" is too long. I'm 5' 10" I'd guess you'd learn to be very comfortable with 30". It might feel awkward at first if you are used to a longer axe, but short axes have their advantages for working in the woods doing a little of everything. Head weight, again, very personal. I'd start with between 2.5 and 3 lb and see how that goes, or just use any axe you can get cheap or free as long as it's decent and see how it goes. If I could hand you anything right now, it would probably be a 2-3/4 lb head on a 30 inch handle just to see how that works for you. It would just be an experiment though. I never know what to recommend. Short axes are more likely to inflict cuts on the user, so that is an issue.
SkillCult thanks for the reply. I have already began the cordwood challenge, excited to see where it takes me
the incredibly fast windmill head banging clip was hilarious- fellow long haired, head banger :D
lol.
I'd love to do this but I don't have access to this much wood
yes, common problem.
I’ll take part this year, I promise. I need to get in better shape and be more familiar with my axe anyway. Im going to use a 3 pound 9 ounce double bit axe, I still need to handle it though.
No need to promise, but would love to have you on!
SkillCult no believe me, I have to promise or it won’t happen. I’ll end up sitting on the couch watching other people do it instead.
Okay, just put your parents in contact with me before you start. They can get me through my website, or my about page here on CZcams. stay safe!
SkillCult I’ll let them know
It's a steer, neither a cow nor a bull, though it does look like a dairy breed and not a draft or beef animal.
wait,, we're not starting before march? ,, cold is your friend when doing the CAC. Snow may not be, but it's easier to overcome that, than heat&insects. My skills this year improved during CAC, but my stamina+production was noticeably reduced once temperatures got close to 10-15C (ie. when all that's left is the shirt, and you're still hot).
Heck, I typically work where machinery struggle to/can't get access. If the snow's an issue, I'll vid an example so we can get started, and help the rest along
[edit] I might have earlier mentioned, or given an impression thereof to the contrary, but I knew ~=s**t then. However, It DOES matter a lot if one resides inland, or near the coast. Snow can be much be much more obtrusive inland, compared to coastal areas,,,, though, only for transport of the firewood (as in, no machinery). The logger can still get to the tree with relative ease using snowshoes, or skis, and collect it (if desired) when snow resides.. but that is also a strange case. Usually, such conditions opens op for the use of a snowsled (improvised, or not), which is imo much easier than a wheelbarrow.
,,, don't keep me waiting until march,,, these withdrawals,,,
Ha, okay, noted. Just want to see what does and doesn't work for people. I really don't like it being too long, so it's probably not going to stay 8 months long wherever it gets trimmed. I do like the idea of starting on the new year.
yesyesyesyesyes! :P
If you want to stay safe when felling, go buy a cheap plastic hardhat or even a forestry helmet if you have one.
Good advice.