Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6547 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: Wood as an auxiliary energy source
I didn’t read the 66 posts to this thread mainly because there are over 300 posts and more than 70,000 views to the 2 threads of [Shelter] Heat .. in the Planning forum.
Is there something we are doing wrong that folks can’t find this stuff or is it just the title Energy Technology that makes it cool?
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6547 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:33 pm Post subject: Re: Wood as an auxiliary energy source
Gideon wrote:
Pops - I'm not sure I get your point. Is your point that no thread can ever retread over previously covered ground?
Retread all you want, in as many forums and as many threads as you feel the desire; really, this topic could go in most any forum here.
My idea was simply to have one place on this site to find info on things one might do to prepare instead of a bunch of sidetracked, redundant dead ends containing a few pearls each.
Silly I know… _________________ Make a plan and work it:
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:32 pm Post subject: Re: Wood as an auxiliary energy source
I've been using this to split:
http://www.chopperaxe.com/whatis.htm
It really does explode the wood apart, unless it's really big and knotty, then it may take a few blows, or wedges and a sledge. But most of the time I can do it all with one blow of the chopper. Make sure there's nothing on either side of you when you use it, smaller pieces WILL fly 6 feet or more to each side when you split. _________________ The shovel with a wheel - The Wovel.
http://wovel.com/
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:09 am Post subject: Re: Wood as an auxiliary energy source
Gideon wrote:
As for the "chopper axe", I'd have to borrow one before I plunked down 70 bucks for it.
Agree, mine was given to me, and frankly I've never used any other splitting maul so I don't know how it compares.
I did see a Chopper on ebay for cheap recently. _________________ The shovel with a wheel - The Wovel.
http://wovel.com/
Joined: Jan 03, 2005 Posts: 1184 Location: western Wisconsin
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:56 am Post subject: Re: Wood as an auxiliary energy source
Back in the 1970s or 80s, when the "Chopper" axe was being marketed heavily, I worked in a hardware store that stocked and sold them. No one that split much wood liked them. They would jam, parts would break, etc. A regular maul works well, and the Monster maul with the pipe handle works okay for stuff that might be too hard to split otherwise.
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:45 am Post subject: Re: Wood as an auxiliary energy source
Here's a new Oil Drum article about wood as an energy source in America. As already pointed out, wood has limited potential as a thermal energy source, but its role shouldn't be neglected, especially in the more densely forested regions. There's also some interesting discussion about wood stove efficiency. _________________ "A devastating error is to set up a political system based on [individual] desire... the best dictatorship would be one where the government prevents any economical growth."
"Only scarcity and effort make life worth living."
-Pentti Linkola
Joined: Aug 03, 2007 Posts: 3715 Location: Boston Suburbs
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: Wood as an auxiliary energy source
Fredrik wrote:
Here's a new Oil Drum article about wood as an energy source in America. As already pointed out, wood has limited potential as a thermal energy source, but its role shouldn't be neglected, especially in the more densely forested regions. There's also some interesting discussion about wood stove efficiency.
I live in Los Angeles but if I got as much junk mail in a northern clime as I get now I could probably just burn that during the winter months. Not sure how much combustible material a household normally generates a year that would otherwise wind up in recycling or a landfill.
I know in 3rd world countries they burn dried crap but I'm not prepared to go that far.
Joined: Sep 14, 2004 Posts: 6468 Location: Rural Virginia
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:53 pm Post subject: Re: Wood as an auxiliary energy source
WisJim wrote:
Back in the 1970s or 80s, when the "Chopper" axe was being marketed heavily, I worked in a hardware store that stocked and sold them. No one that split much wood liked them. They would jam, parts would break, etc. A regular maul works well, and the Monster maul with the pipe handle works okay for stuff that might be too hard to split otherwise.
I agree. Avoid the boutique tools.
The only "experiment" I ever tried with regard to a splitting maul was buying an 8-pounder as a possible replacement for my 6-pounder. That mean-looking 8-pounder has sat almost unused in my woodshed for, oh, about five years now. The heavier maul obviously offers more potential force, but it can't be swung as swiftly as the lighter one. Thus, as it turned out, the 6-pounder was far more effective. Speed is the key to splitting, when accompanied by reasonable force. This is something the pro golfers know. The ones with the farthest drives are the ones who swing the club fastest, and not necessarily with the most muscle. _________________ "Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog
"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother
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