Ancient wisdom: round splitting wedges = better.
Shut up and read, stupid.
To you keyboard toughguys who are about to laugh and tell me to keep practicing, real success in log splitting comes from being able to make your misses still work for you. Developing solid technique is all about economy. Economy means waste management, or making use of what you've got.
This means that if you're off but still gaining ground, then you are still advancing through your problem. And while those of you monkeys who don't know what the ƒ∩¢ꞣ I'm talking about are still going to laugh like a bunch of jocks who just threw a turd in the pool, it'll be to your own depreciation that you can't make use of what I'm saying, since economy applies to every aspect of our lives; from conserving dish soap to minimizing interest paid, our 'success' in life is nothing more than a satisfactory evaluation of our present state, and in every case, that state is the result of past decisions. Tell me: overall, is your line going up or down right now? Still waiting to win big? Well, it's not about getting big hits-it's about how to also make use of little setbacks.
~ O V E R the F U L L C O U R S E of T I M E ~
Epoxy rope axe guard:
► • Axe handle guard = Rop...
I think another reason these round wedges are working so well is because it's an arch. It's literally combining all of the best features what makes wood strong with the mechanical advantage in a wedge.
Great video, you're a good teacher and listening to your ramblings is always entertaining! I hope all is going well in the pocket world. Best wishes, Fire Proof Fox
I have been doing tree work since 1989 watching your video and hearing you mention about rambling I am complementing you because you’re sharing with me and other fellow viewers who enjoy your content about what you see what you’re doing how you’re doing it while you’re doing it myself when I’m chopping. After probably four years now I never thought to use a piece of wood for a wedge instead of a steel one thank you so much. Joe the tree guy
"this one is a bit big for me to take all at once" - great out of context
It's strange, I was just thinking "Oh yeah I wonder how that rope and resin wrap is holding up, it's been a while now" and you started talking about it like you read my mind.
Been around for a good few years now and I'm glad you're still keeping on with these videos, learning is plentiful around here! Keep it up
Always a good day to see a Pocket video! I've probably watched the parging video 10x by now... I just enjoy listening to you opine and problem solve. Thanks for the content. We appreciate your voice in this world!
Uncle Pocket blessing us with more knowledge. Always enjoy these kinds of videos!
I really appreciate the fact that things you made or improved upon in videos prior e.g. the hatchet and the axe with your resin wrapping on it you ACTUALLY continue to use.
13:10 "we tend to see the noise that surrounds a problem and focus on that rather than seeing the problem itself" Perfectly summed up my issues with dealing with stuff. Morning pocket videos and coffee are the best combo.
Thanks for the great techniques. If I only had rectangular wedges, I'd saw chamfers on the corners of the hitting end, or cut a quick curve on that hitting end (across the width of the board) with a bandsaw. This directs the force of the blow into the center of the wedge, and prevents splitting off edges of the wedge in many cases.
I watched 100%. Really like your rambles..
That's some nice looking heartwood at 13:00. Also, I've never split my own wood, but it's interesting to learn about it. I never would've thought about grain reading when it comes to this. Thank you for the knowledge.
The ranting is a bit comical. I enjoyed it because it makes sense. Gave me a good laugh and helped me get outside and start my day with a good attitude. Thank you for that. I needed that.
Well I know you probably don't want to hear this but I'm just going to have to let you know that you're way way more spot on correct than you might probably admit but Bravo bravo bravo excellent observational skills there sugar bear 👉🐻❄️👈🌈🦄🤗😘💋💋💋🎊🎉🥳🤠 And Howdy Howdy from Alvin Texas sweetheart!!!!
I agree with you whole-heartedly. Enough said. Good job. Great videos.
Love these videos
Wonderful video - relaxing and informative especially learning about the wedge design you discovered- I too will be making some. Your dog is so good and glad she’s going to be okay - what a dog to have jump up onto the ATV! Thank you
She was terrified of the quad at first! Now it's her absolute favorite thing in the whole world (aside from Mrs. pocket). Thanks ;)
Enjoyed the information. Thank you for sharing
Thanks, very useful and impressive with the round splitting wedges!
Rambling is my favorite, and you seem to be not too bad at them.
What you mentioned about the around 10% (or a bit more) of folks that actually watch the material you post makes total sense to me from my experience in a college classroom. I think the adage I hear often enough is the old 80-20 rule; 20 percent of folks do 80 percent of the work, 80 percent of the class only listens to you 20 percent of the time, and so on and so on. In certain moments, when things are going quite well, I feel like I have 100 percent of the students in my hands... but that's definitely less than 20 percent of the time. I try not to sweat that even as I try to be responsible to every student on the roster... (I think of "responsible to" as somewhat different from "responsible for")
Naturally, attention span will be heavily dependent upon content. If I'm watching a super-interesting sci-fi flick, I can hold myself focused over the duration. In contrast, the proselytizing of a Wranglerstar video will have me check out after only fifteen seconds and an eye-roll. And then of course, age plays a part. Only five gallons will fit into a bucket. Conventional wisdom is that teenagers will hold on for
@@pocket83squaredIt"s been years since when I last saw a Wranglerstar video and just reading his name on your comment/reply made me cringe. I happened to stumble upon his channel early on and even though I wasn't a fan I watched some of his videos here and there (I seem to remember he had some relatively good/informative videos in the beginning) but how fast that man changed when big advertisement money became available to him is unbelievable. As far as his proselytizing goes I didn't mind much just skipping that part until he started proselytizing or advertising during his entire videos. PS please don't tell me he is still relevant.
I just came across your channel and really appreciate your mixture of math and building. Also your property reminds me of growing up in rural northern maryland
Nice to meet you. A fellow pattern person? If you like mathematical ideas, be sure to look at my first channel. This one here is more fluid, earth-dirty, and about tinkering.
Heroic all the way! The hero's not sweating the energy expenditure, because they know energy is just plain attracted to effort! And mighty axe blows 😁 Love the chat, as usual. Peace, Bongo.
Nice to see you! You've certainly proven yourself capable of effort. Just be careful not to be too heroic in one blow, since heroes _do_ tend to end up with considerable back pain. Good luck out there ;)
@@pocket83squared lol 😆.
Big fan of the resin wrap still going strong. And please, keep making whatever type of videos you want. I've liked them all, even if for wildly different reasons. Sorry the algorithm can't see it.
Appreciated. Thanks for coming back.
i dont have a wood burner. nor have i split a log since my childhood in the scouts. but i have seen almost all of your content. and i love listening to your wisedom, whether it helps me or not
I look forward to the next time I split wood and I upgrade my technique from Hulk Smash! Ramblings are always much appreciated and goodness me that dog is a delight
Great idea! You are doing great.
Smart, funny, humble, educational and some bonus cute dog content... subscribed!!! Great video.
That's appreciated.
I like the rambling for sure
Seriously enjoyable video yet again and sorry but you'll just have to put up with my like 😀 Your ramblings often provide me with the fuel for some good thinking when I can't sleep.
I tried those wedges, really works. Thanks.
I'll definitely try this, with my bad back, this will be useful.
yikes, that was one tough piece of wood. i like the round wedges idea; makes perfect sense. thanks for demonstrating.
Did I ever tell you that the Lincoln Log classes I did all those years ago were a hit? Thanks so much for your knowledge and inspiration!
That's really cool to hear. Thanks.
Your rambling never bothers me, that's why i'm still watching.
nice to see matt again
Beautiful video. I find that it is not perhaps performance anxiety but the difference in performance is more influenced by your constant focus when not distracted by other considerations. Perhaps the same conclusion but a more broadly applicable conception?
I hope my next house has a fireplace. I absolutely love a good fire. I haven't split wood since I was a kid visiting my great aunt. She lived in Elkins, WV near the Forest Festival and we would get the scraps and split them for her fireplace. I also miss the festival. Good woodsmanship skills on display there!
For me, summer discourages wood fires in general, even outside ones. We just had a 'campfire' evening over the weekend (first of the cool season), and it's amazing how charming it can be. It's _almost_ enough to appreciate the cold. You know what surprised me most, after not being around a fire for a few months? The odors. Pay attention, and you'll smell things both familiar and strange, sweet and smoky, fruity and spicy. I swore I smelled incense a few times, and since those are so often made from tree resin, I guess I really did.
@@pocket83squared I do have an outdoor firea area. We only use it once or twice a year and I usually just burn shop scraps. I think a good fall fire will be in order sometime this week and I'll be certain to pay attention to the smells!
Sure, you might call them ramblings, but they turn into group contemplations and entertainment as soon as you turn it into a video. Appreciated as always. Also, CAN I PET THAT DAWWWWG?
Man... that third to last bit of log was a PAIN in the ___. Did not. want. to. split. Enjoyed this one despite the fact I'll probably never need to split wood. Thanks for sharing as always. :)
Like your persistence with the last 1/3rd of log. I try and split between knots, but any gnarly bits that are left go into a pile, and eventually, when I have enough, out comes the hydraulic splitter! I know notceveryone has access to one, but they do save time and effort on gnarly bits. Straight grained splits quicker with an axe though. I like the circularbwedges, I wonder why they aren't available commercially, as your explanation makes sense.
Amazing vid
Thanks.
I really appreciate the log busting info, but your dog is cute.
Very smart!
Very nice!!
Well Pocket, let me say I could listen to you ramble for a good spell of time....See ya on the next one. Take care!
Good shit.
Well, I'm amazed
Hey, I've found not having a tripod in the way is really good for improving your technique. In all seriousness, though, very entertaining video, though I'm probably never going to use the information presented within
Good stuff
I’m going to make a few “round” wedges, this is great
I keep squinting my eyes but the video's still bright
I know it's cuz it's overexposed I'm just teasing
Another point for round wedges is that it’s just natural to cut them out of a branch. Loggers anecdotally claim that the branches are more dense than the trunk. I’m not sure if the added strength is quantifiable, but it doesn’t hurt.
That claim is totally falsifiable, and super-interesting. A video on the question is in order! I won't give my speculation yet. Let me think about it. Thanks.
I don't know about density, but I would speculate that the small concentric circles of a branch give them a mechanical advantage.
The woodsman I heard this from said “dense” which is an easy enough claim to test. I wonder if the more correct term would be “tougher” or having a higher strength. I’m guessing this has to do with growth patterns. The branches are theoretically subject to more dynamic loads which causes them to grow tighter. I’ve seen this in starting vegetables; disturbing plant starts with air or your hand keeps them from being so leggy. Obviously, you can get strange growth patterns in the trunk that would also affect the growth. The tree is not homogeneous. A fun thing to think about.
well, the example of a possible source for the impression of it being "stronger" than the trunk is right here in this video... It's the branches that are the impassable knots (obviously due to grain orientation, but I can imagine olden days woodsmen not really thinking about the physics and mechanics of grain weaves and internal pressure, thus concluding it's impassable because it's stronger). I think there is one very strong argument against that statement: the branches do not have heart wood, which is the denser form of the wood in each tree. There is one other argument _for_ the statement that I can think of immediately: wood consistency gets weaker as it's split in more sections. Relative to the radius (or circumference), a round wedge made from a branch is split less than a wedge made from the trunk mass. So it can reasonably be assumed that the wedge from the branch has been exposed to less weakening factors, thus possibly making it stronger than a wedge that has been exposed to a number of splits and cuts in the trunk. But my real opinion, assumption, will just be the practical implementation. Chop the end off a branch diagonally and you have a completed wedge in 2 seconds flat. It wouldn't be the first time that a habit out of practical reasoning would receive a mumbo jumbo explanation later on, just to convince people who don't understand the weight of "ease" when it comes to making consumable tools. But that's just my dummy thoughts, of course. Maybe check Matthias Wandel's archive for strength comparison of sawn wood vs round wood, and if it's not there, it's just one suggestion away...
In aus and nz making round wedges out of rounds of wood is one of the first techniques showen to us u can make 2 wedges and a ground bored out 1 round of wood it takes time but the wedges are very good and when finished with the bass plate or if u make one that's looks super good it makes a good cutting bored or cheese plate
I can tell from your axe that you normally do use a wedge, I do the same thing but get a splitting axe. I don’t use a wedge until the rounds get 24”, to split it in half so the rest will split. I use a long thin wedge made from a 2” shaft. My neighbors want to steal it. Try splitting on a board on the ground. Better for your wrist and you don’t have to lift the rounds. I’m cutting and splitting wood right now, 50’ log. I cut and split 10 cords a year and I’m 72.
We all certainly do tend to read comments online with inflection that probably wasn't intended. I think that's why it's vital to choose our words carefully when leaving even a simple, mundane seeming comment. I also like to make liberal use of punctuation, because pauses and stops help me to decipher intended tone. As much as I hate to admit it, emojis, initialisms like "lol", and "tone indicators" (like /s for sarcasm) are probably the best way to bridge the tone gap of text based conversations, but I feel foolish using them in public forums with strangers.
3 steel wedges and a 3 pound hammer here. I can bust up some pretty big stuff and never swing over my head. Been splitting for 57 of my 67 years on this rock.
This deserves million plus views
Ah, yes. The preparation stages of Winter is Coming. Gotta love it. I'm sure the trees don't, but alas. 😆👌🏼
The wedges are a must. Keeping the round together does save time not havening to balance between strokes and less pick up. The only wood I get is free and more often then not has twisted grain & full of knots, I still use the tire to do as little pick up as possible. Just one of the things I do to keep going as I age. 👍533 Stay safe, Joe Z
Too funny, kma!
Big fan of this video overall - my only constructive criticism would be the crocs vs. steel toed boots remark... the statement was that boots wouldn't help save you from "Matt" and then you showed your crocs. Perhaps this is true, but the odds of your toes surviving an accident are exponentially higher if you wear proper footwear.
I started splitting wood when I was 14 and this is how I was taught to do it
What are your thoughts of those log splitting drill bits? it seems that the shape mimics your round wedges but with the spinning force of a drill. I have never used them and I am unsure if it would be economical to try . I always enjoy your content and I feel like I learn something new every time I view. Thank you.
Dang I think it’s good content I use a gas log splitter but I sure am going to make some of these wedges to have.
you call it a 2 hour burner.. i call them a night log they last forever, but I leave more.... we just knocked off 18 cubic meters (that is a loooooot of logs) this summer to prepare for a nice winter
"making logs fall apart with your head" is always fun.
the wedge idea i will try for cutting down if i need wedges as for the chunk with the knot you should be splitting that from the other end.
Sure, knots "should" go down while splitting. And why do we do that? For leverage. There would've been very little benefit in this case. I was far more concerned with making it visible for _you,_ since the wedges more than compensate for a little loss on a split.
@@pocket83squared that is where you’re wrong, I split 100 full cord every winter and splitting from the right end eliminates the need for wedges. That wood you have there for the most part splits pretty easy. Having tendinitis I understand makes things a lot harder to do and I feel for you as I have had it but not bad.
@@waynejohnson9855 "Wrong?" Spare me the online CV. That's a 4 pound axe I'm using in this video. It's not a maul. Also, having just watched you split with a maul, I can see that you take more of a 'might makes right' approach to form. As such, you've left me unconvinced. Look elsewhere for a pissing contest.
@@pocket83squared I guess when you say shut up and read stupid and talk economics you kind of put a target on yourself. And what I am using is 4.5 pounds. Fiskars x27 is what I use. Not looking for a pissing match just stating the knowledge I have.
@@waynejohnson9855 Let's restate your "knowledge" then, and I'll reconsider it. You're claiming that, by simply turning a knotty piece of wood upside-down, one will no longer have need of wedges. This claim is not only misleading; it also misses the entire point of the video, which was to note that well-thought swings weave through grain patterns and split much more efficiently than do plain-old hard blows. I'm sure you've split plenty of wood, and so you probably understand that "economy" is the making use of your energy to its full extent. The goal is to still be able to do _other_ things with your waking hours than just having one hulk-smash session that causes you to drop over your dinner plate. Look-I get know-it-all commenters daily. I don't have time to explain to you why the 14" rounds of twisted 3-branch Maple require more art to split than do the wet 24" Oak giants that you've been plinking through. Beyond that, if you didn't understand the point of the demonstration after watching, I can't walk you though it. Keep your own form and disregard mine if you choose, but I don't need to hear about it. You aren't trying to help; you're just trying to self-validate. And just because _I'm_ a target, that doesn't mean that _you_ can bullseye.
Only rule of axemanship: Axe only touches the wood.
Boots and crocs are my go-to for footwear
Good explaination what wood is. Always different but good friend in many situations. And it's always full of surprises. Here in Sweden or in the US. Doesn't matter...
another great video, im sure you receive plenty of negative feedback but im glad to see it doesnt seem to bother you much. ive been a viewer for several years now and i cant remember a single video i didnt enjoy watching.
jey at least it was on the log lost count of the number of times i have missed but i do love axe work tho
axemanship
I struggled with AC swinging, so I used wedges to finish stringy half splits and knots. The semicircle wedges work better than rectangular profile because on impact there is only 1 friction point on the apex whereas the rectangular has 2 points of contact. Doubling the forward friction of the semi circle (the base is equal between the rectangular\semi circle). The perpendicular force vector is doubled on 1 point of contact vs 2, and you n I would instinctively coffee to point it towards the weaker side of the split. The entry vector is also halved for the semicircle. It would naturally twist to follow the grain. A rectangle will find 2 competing grain pattern at 2 corners n they will twist against each other until the weakest grain pattern is found. All in all the semi circle has a single minded 'intelligence'. === I think a froe will out perform a hatchet to clean out any stringy fibers in the split. It can function as a cutting edge or a prying wedge. === Thank you for allowing me to clear some of my frustrations with my lack of ax swinging skills😁 (no fireplace in my latest home😞)
Tendonitis got me after I felled and (artisanally) split a big-ass maple that turned out to be 2.5 cords of wood. My splitting style was to swing from my right, and when I was in the groove it almost felt like I was throwing the head of the maul into the wood. That 2.5 cords is what kicked off the tendonitis in both arms. That was two years ago and I have since modified my swing to straight overhead. I grip the end of the handle with both hands and bring it over my head and down my back until it’s vertical and aligned with the spine and then propel it in an arc over my head with hands still together. It was awkward at first but now I feel more accurate this way. Best of all, it does not trigger any tendonitis and seem more energy efficient, or at least muscle efficient in that it feels like more muscle groups join the effort. I split about ten maple rounds on Sunday using this method and my arms feel fine. Give it a shot. I recall seeing this on some other video of a guy splitting wood, don’t recall who. I betcha searching “old feller chopping wood” would narrow it down. Thanks for this video, I have plenty of beech pieces that are 3-4 inches diameter and will make some wedges to help with splittting the rest of this other maple.
No doubt, "the groove" does feel like you're throwing the axe head. There's a good chance that I've seen that video, because I know exactly what you're talking about. I remember the old-timer. The 'toss straight up, yank down' method is probably the best form out there for a maul. I've only tried it a few times, but it certainly seems like the ticket. There's an old maul head in my garage that I've been scratching my head over for re-handling. Sooner or later, I'll do exactly what you've described to help mix it up. The best defense against tendonitis is to diversify your activity portfolio. The constant wear of repetitive action destroys it. Let the artisans enjoy their pride; as for me, I'll happily chainsaw-down a round that's too tough to split.
Don't let it get to you mr pocket, it's a fact of the universe that as soon as the camera gets rolling is where one looks the most foolish, doesn't matter who what when or where. 😁
Love the doggo
This adds credence to the less traditional(Or maybe much more so?:) design of 'splitting maul' that has a 'narrowing' shape on each face, starting out like a normal wedge then becoming wider while also refusing the amount of surface area, the "garrett wade heavy duty splitting maul" seems to be a good example. While trying to find the one I was thinking of, I also came across the 'hultafors splitting axe' that would have the same effect too. (I have used nor before searching known of these two brands, they are just non-generic examples.) Far more expensive than just cutting up up a log with a chainsaw though! :)
Sure. To some extent, the less surface contact a wedge makes with a split, the better. High-end axe designers have taken note. In my axe's case (MATT), it has been mushroomed by abuse enough for it to have developed a curve on its eye that acts as such a wedge-curve. Unlike other axes, MATT is downright tough to get stuck, because it's a wedge that'll still pivot where its eye-points touch the crack. In a future video, I may attempt to recreate MATT's serendipitous design using a cheap axe and some dirty stick-welding.
Severe tendonitis? Me too, I'm 19, from Birmingham, AL. Edit: No wonder I have f'ked up elbows, because I've been splitting/hatcheting and hand sawing, for more than a decade ago.
Don't mind the rambling. Not sure why, but personally, watching someone split wood is relaxing to me. I live in town now, but really miss the days in the country.
for me the sound of wood hitting wood or opening from a wedge + the talking makes me relax
Couldn't you use a rubber mallet to smack the back of the axe and skip the use of the wedge all together? I wouldn't imagine finding or making one with an extended grip would be too terribly hard if that extra leverage is needed.
Dude, get a Fiskars and hit that thing like you mean it.
That thing will add cool-looking geometry to your splitting, but no power. This video was about technique; these same methods can be applied to a maul. If you can't split with an axe, then you aren't using your maul well, either. You're probably young, so I get it. Hit it hard, champ. But in the long-term, your parts _will_ wear out. Not only mechanical, but biological parts, too. The sooner you start to consider matters of economy, the better. Make your efforts last.
Nice!! Quick question:What advice do you have for axe handle treatment? Mine are very smooth and even with linseed oil, it still very smooth and slippery. Any suggestions?
Not trying to give you a sarcastic answer here, but maybe it's your hands. A well-sanded, oiled handle should feel like it's the perfect balance between sticking with a squeeze and being able to slide though a loose grip. If I were you, I'd try experimenting with what's on my hands. Maybe try a light hand-rub of petroleum jelly before you take a few swings. I'll assume that your axe has a swell on its end knob. If it doesn't, then a well-sanded handle might feel a bit on the sketchy side. If that's the case, reconsider your handle. Control, comfort, control.
@@pocket83squared fair point - I have never had such difficulty with factory handles being so smooth and several layers of linseed oil has done little. All my other handles get a yearly rub with linseed and they all have a lovey “grip” to them. It is almost as if I have to “rough up” the handle … I’m probably not doing my issue justice - but yeah, an issue with a factory Swedish Hults Burk axe handle.
where are you in south central pa. a broken ax or metal wedge works well. a splitting maul about 8 lbs work better. I allways wear steel toes cutting wood and splitting
On the Indiana/Cambria border. And no, a maul isn't "better." It's just a different tool. It requires different technique. I prefer the control of a heavy axe to the brute force of a maul. That said, I'm struggling with a too-dry Maple today that may just have me reaching for the maul!
Proud to be part of 12%
The amount of time it takes for you to place all these wedges and use two axes…. You could just make another chop lol
You must be really fast and efficient. Tell us more about how tough and clever you are.
I'm about as far removed from cutting firewood as can be, but this was a great watch, love your commentary and thoughts
Eh, it's all the same. Whether you're staring at an entrenched company in some RTS game, a rafter lineup on a bastard hip, a Stoichiometric imbalance on a chalkboard, or a log full of wonky wood-grain, they're all just problems to solve by thinking. You wouldn't watch if you didn't also see some of yourself doing it. Thanks.
2hr burner? What are you using them for? A faundry? X'D When I get one of that size, they'll burn for 8-12hrs heating my entire place. (granted, I live very, *very* small hahaha) Since we're talking firewood here (even though I vaguely recall the topic having passed in your videos when you just bought your house and were setting up the new workshop in the winter time, but I don't recall if I asked that "question" there already) have you considered tinkering with the economy of wood stacking methods? If so but you haven't done it yet, look into the "Swiss style" stacking and burning. It's used for extremely high economy and can be used with any type of wood any quality, although it was mainly "invented" for half-green resin rich light pine wood. The funny thing about that method, is that I had discovered it on my own before I realized that there are actually books about the topic and that somebody already did my work "hundreds of thousands of years" before (like you so eloquently troll-triggered it in this video hahahaha - that comment of yours really cracked me up as part of the fun of watching your videos is trying to find the "community engagement motivators" you put in the video) Anyway, I think I've pulled my weight here for now. But I'm serious about the Swiss stacking method. It's awesome. I've reached burning times of over 24 hours with it, in a small 6kW wood-burning stove with off-cuts from a timber frame prefab housing plant, so lightest pine, humidity below 0.2% and completely resin free; but I've reached comparable results with various wood types including willow, oak, ash and beech (though not advisable with all beech as it will overheat your room for sure! Tossing in one beech block with willow however, has turned out to be the optimal cocktail for me)
👍
When I'm chopping wood I keep my feet and shoulders square to my target. It's just how I learned. Do you gain any advantage keeping one foot further than the other?
Btw, is Raz a border collie?
@@mattjohnston2 It's been a long time since I've thought about my footing. I don't even remember how you're 'supposed' to do it now. By feel, I think I prefer if my left is forward a step. If that's how I do it, presumably that's become my naturally-learned compromise between comfort and control. Square seems like too much lumbar twist. It's too brute, too solid, too strict and inorganic. And yes: Raz is ½ Border Collie, ½ mutt. ~~~~~ Now that I'm thinking about it, balance while splitting is more about axe control than body control. If I have to throw my body mass to one side and nearly stumble over in order to land the blow correctly, I'll do it. Stability only matters if you're trying to look good while doing it. Effective, organic movements are rarely so clean & square; there are too many variables to react to in a complex motion; too many micro-adjustments are made in quick response. I'd rather risk falling on my face than an axe wound for the sake of keeping to perfect form. If the axe glances, hit the deck-at any cost to pride. Federer was weird and artful in his game. Elegance can be strange. Efficiency, modest, even unflattering. Similarly, AI is teaching us to reject linear geometries as any expectation of ideal form. Biological structures have already learned ages ago to be far more efficient, as they somehow flow effortlessly with odd curves that have been gentle responses to stressors. Lesson to learn, I say. Practice 'good' linear form first, till you get it, then start to listen as your feet tell you where they want to be, and slowly curve to adjust.
So, would an axe that already had the properties of your wedges work ?
What, is this 2 channels you talk about my friend..have you been holding out on us..?
Yes. Don't tell anyone about this secret channel!
If you manage to hit the knot at the middle that will be split easily.
Is the name of the game energy, or time, or are they highly correlated?
In terms of reduction to productivity (where _p_ = output/input), expenditures of energy are indistinguishable from lost time. Large amounts of time spent at low output can be the same as a small amount of time spent with high output. The optimum for this 'game' will be found at the highest SUSTAINABLE output.
Thanks for this good explanation and excellent logic!
Here's a question. Do you ever finish a split where the axe is embedded by just swinging the whole log and axe down onto the block?
Sometimes, yes. Two things about doing that: first, go easy on your back. Second, if one looks 50-50, don't do it; getting your axe stuck ends up costing you even more time and energy, so only choose to do a log-drop whenever you're almost certain it'll work on the first try. Just because you know you _can_ do it doesn't always mean you _should._
It's interesting to hear that you still get the red light syndrome from the camera talking to us. Do you find it's worse on the more freeform videos like this?
Not in particular. Camera bumbling seems to strike hardest whenever you're trying to finish a video, because this is when you're being forced to go through an 'act' in order to complete the project. These types of scenes can be super scripted and/or tedious, but they're also necessary for the narrative. It's here where the mind grows bored and likes to go blank. In contrast, there are also lots of spontaneous moments that feel sort of fun or inspired, and those drop right out on the first take. It can feel like you're telling a friend about something you're both interested in. The difference is pretty simple: there are fluid, natural moments, and then there are forced, acted out moments. The latter set are the uncomfortable ones. Pressure to perform just kills the genuine you. If it were only you here watching me swing an axe, I wouldn't give a shit that I miss. But instead, there are several thousand others right behind you, and they like to mock and tease over every inconsistency and irrelevant detail. The impending sarcasm can be off-putting. Not for pride's sake, but for my hatred of being misunderstood. I'm guessing that you know this feeling too well: isn't it easier for you to play something you're in the mood for, rather than reciting a repetitious request? Comfort is all about staying in the zone.
Feel free to ramble on anytime.