Can you split wood yourself? Ladies, that is!

[Mandylubug]

We were short of split wood pieces. I willingly cut our lawn during the summer but I draw the line at splitting would with a maul and wedge. I value my toes. I could probably figure it out.. but a girl has to draw the line somewhere, right? Yeah, this gal did and her DH is splitting wood at 12:18a.m.... and I don't feel that guilty about it :p

[Jean in Newcastle]

Yes, this city girl can split wood.  I haven't done it in many years but I remember how.  

[SKL]

I used to do it regularly as a teen.  It's been a while but I could definitely do it if my life depended on it.  ;)

[Dory]

Yep I can and have chopped a lot of it. I also run chainsaw, build and mend fences, drive tractor, cut and bale hay, and lots of other stuff like that. My gender never got me out of any work unless I was truly not strong enough to do it. I rarely used a maul to chop wood though. I just used a splitting axe and learned to aim carefully. If you hit a large log just right and make a line all the way across the diameter with a few hits, than you can usually crack it open with one more big hit to the center of the line. Unless you are splitting oak. That stuff is tough.

[Mandylubug]

Well, y'all can be tough cookies! I'm remaining on my sofa, ha ha. I help out with lawn care and the like more than I care for as it is :p

[LucyStoner]

I haven't in the last decade. I wouldn't stake my life to being able to do it again on the first try. I am sure I could with a few practice attempts.

[Isabella]

Yes, and was doing so while in labor with my first baby. She was three days early and my husband and I decided to go out wood cutting. He saws and I split. Contractions started before we left but I thought they were Braxton Hicks. After a few hours they were about five mins apart but relatively painless. I'd just stop and lean on the axe during the contraction. When we got home I had a shower and went to my Dr who sent me straight to the hospital and baby was born 4hrs later!!

Nowadays I'm so shocked that I was even able for that kind of thing!

[Farmgirl70]

I come from a long line of strong, capable women, so I am positive I can split wood.  However, my mom once told me with a sly nod, "Just don't learn how to do TOO many things."   One of the things I "can't" do very well is make coffee, so my husband does that every morning that he's not out of town.  So, if you "can't" split wood, I won't blow your cover.  ;)

[Liz CA]

I could never get the technique down so I always had ds or dh split it. But I love stacking wood...

[Mandylubug]

I will say we're in GA. If we don't have firewood, we don't freeze to death. I will just put on socks! So, I really don't have an urgent requirement to do it. I was taught how to do it as a teen by my dad. Along with changing a flat tire, oil, etc.

[Melissa in Australia]

Yes I can split wood, though I don't use an axe. rather I use wedges and a sledgehammer. It works it is not fast but it works. I have only had to do it a few times and that was when DH was extremely sick and all teh kids were babies/toddlers. Fortunately I have mostly boys and they do the wood splitting for computer time.

[Catwoman]

I haven't the slightest idea.

 

It would never even occur to me to try, but if I ever do, somebody better have 911 on speed dial.

[Anne in CA]

I have split more wood than I could tally up, lol. It's a fun way to get aggression out. I highly recommend it.

[Kalmia]

I can, but I haven't had to since I was in grad school which was the last time I heated with wood.

 

Steel-toed boots might go a long way toward assuaging your fear. 

[Joyofsixreboot]

Our division of labor goes like this...dh goes to work.  I do everything else.  If I want it split I better do it. 

[Laura Corin]

Yes..... with a wood splitting machine.  We hire one for one day a year and get all our wood cut for the winter in one go.  Husband (bad back) Calvin and I all use it in turns - Hobbes brings and stacks wood.

 

L

[bettyandbob]

My brother showed me how when I was 10, but I couldn't do it.

 

Do I want to split wood? I have natural gas heat that is very efficient.

[Laura Corin]

Do I want to split wood? I have natural gas heat that is very efficient.

 

We have wood on our property which is essentially free (apart from the cost of the splitter and the petrol for the chain saw).  We keep the central heating at 13 degrees C and warm up the public areas of the house with the wood stove.  A tank of LPG to heat the house costs over £800.

 

L

[bettyandbob]

We have wood on our property which is essentially free (apart from the cost of the splitter and the petrol for the chain saw). We keep the central heating at 13 degrees C and warm up the public areas of the house with the wood stove. A tank of LPG to heat the house costs over £800.

 

L

See I don't have a wooded area. It doesn't make sense for me to cultivate this skill. It makes sense for you. That's all.

[DawnM]

Yes.  I have done it.  I don't want to do it, but I can.    That goes for house cleaning too.

[Greenmama2]

No, I can't...but my Mama can :)

[Lizzie in Ma]

Yes, I can, but I prefer not to.  Eldest dd can as well but I also prefer her not to if we can help it.

[Pawz4me]

Yes, I have done it and expect I still could.  But . . .

 

(1) I don't want to.

(2) We don't have a wood burning fireplace at this house.

(3) That's what husbands and sons are for. ;)

[Chris in VA]

We have this to make it easier!

[MomtoCandJ]

I can, but I don't :). We have natural gas and live in a mobile home (our insurance will drop us if we get a wood stove). Besides My in laws have a log splitter should we get a stove when we eventually build our house.

[Luckymama]

My father was in a serious car accident February of my senior year in high school. I had to split the wood for the rest of the winter or the house would have been cold.

 

I haven't touched it since. Not even to split something while camping.

[clarkacademy]

No I am not even five feet tall I doubt I could swing an axe that well I would most likely split my leg or something !!!

[Heatherwith4]

I've never had any reason to learn.

[laundrycrisis]

I just use the axe.  I don't know what maul and wedge is.  But I can split logs with an axe just fine.

[LuvToRead]

I can, but it's been years since I have.  When I was a kid, my dad, sister, and I sold firewood to people in town. I hated it, but my dad was laid off at the time, so we needed the money.   Just the other day, I broke up some bricks with a sledgehammer.  

[saraha]

I can, but I am slow and clumsy.  Dh likes to do it, so go at it.  But I could if I had to.

[Cindy in FL.]

No, and I don't really want to learn how to either! That's why I had 5 boy children! :)

[mytwomonkeys]

Hmm. I have no idea. I *think* I could split wood? I've honestly never had too. We have no need for it where I live. 

[Julie Smith]

I have in the past. But the Monster Maul my parents have is 20 pounds. I weigh 125 pounds.

 

I don't like doing it. I leave it to hubby who weighs much more then I do.

 

I have used a chainsaw, but have no desire to do so again. If I had to I would use my Mom's which is smaller then my Dad's.

 

[Punks in Ontario]

Yep.  I'm another one that has.  For years, my dh worked hard in his business, and I split and carried the wood.  Now I don't often because I have four strong young men that do most of the splitting.  I've started carrying the wood again as a form of excercise.

[Pawz4me]

No I am not even five feet tall I doubt I could swing an axe that well I would most likely split my leg or something !!!

 

I'm less than five feet tall, too.  Height (or lack thereof) isn't a problem.  Neither is weight, really.  As long as you've got the strength you can do it.

[Excelsior! Academy]

No.  I think I could figure it out during an emergency situation, i.e. freeze if we didn't have wood for warmth.  Other than that I will try to pull my girls-are-the-weaker-vessel-and-surely-can't-pick-up-that-heavy-ax card with a little could-the-big-strong-man-do-it-for-me thrown in.  Whether that makes you want to puke or not is irrelevant.  I won't have to split wood.  Just like I can't figure out how to run a lawnmower.  ;)

[Mimmy]

I split wood with a giant hydraulic splitter, but with an ax? No thanks!

[hillfarm]

Yes, I can split wood with a mechanical splitter or with an axe. I can also use a chainsaw or hand saw to cut the wood. And drive a tractor or Kawasaki Mule to haul it in from the woods. I am a better stacker than my dh. And this fall I taught a bunch of 4-H kids how to start fires with flint and steel and bow drill methods (without matches).

 

We live in the northern Midwest and do not have a furnace. We heat exclusively with wood. We usually go through about 6 cords of wood each winter and we have to cut and split all of that ourselves.

 

Not everyone has the opportunity to learn or practice these skills, and that is fine with me. However, I do think that knowing how to start a fire and keep one going safely is a good survival skill to have.

[unsinkable]

I haven't the slightest idea.

 

It would never even occur to me to try, but if I ever do, somebody better have 911 on speed dial.

When we have our Potluck Covered Dish Wood-Spliting Funeral Supper, you can come! No electronics, though.

[Χά�ων]

Yes, I have and will again. I also use a chainsaw and have taught DS to use the chainsaw and ax.

[Catwoman]

When we have our Potluck Covered Dish Wood-Spliting Funeral Supper, you can come! No electronics, though.

:hurray: :hurray: :hurray:

 

I'll mark my calendar!

[Dandelion]

I can, and I have (I do it with an axe).  But I prefer to let DH do it.   ;)   I've also been known to strategically maneuver unsplit logs into our woodburning stove.  It takes a bit longer to get them in, but I'd rather spend a few extra minutes wrangling with a log than splitting it.  :p

 

When we have our Potluck Covered Dish Wood-Spliting Funeral Supper, you can come! No electronics, though.

 

That sounds....fun.   :lol:  I'll bring the Mad Dog 20/20.  It just seems like a fitting beverage choice for this type of event. 

[unsinkable]

:hurray: :hurray: :hurray:

 

I'll mark my calendar!

I can, and I have (I do it with an axe). But I prefer to let DH do it. ;) I've also been known to strategically maneuver unsplit logs into our woodburning stove. It takes a bit longer to get them in, but I'd rather spend a few extra minutes wrangling with a log than splitting it. :p

 

 

That sounds....fun. :lol: I'll bring the Mad Dog 20/20. It just seems like a fitting beverage choice for this type of event.

Sounds good!

[Sun]

I can (and have) split it, but I really can't use the maul very well. I do fine with an ax. The wood just has to be seasoned enough--not recently cut.

 

[Julie Smith]

Other then the weight issue (I only wiegh 5 times as much as the maul ax) I have bad wrists. I would worry about hurting myself. 

 

In my younger days.  :laugh: I broke each wrist, sprained each wrist, and twisted one wrist. They are skinny little things. 

[Susan in TN]

Thought the title said "spit wood", and I thought well, yes I suppose I can when I'm really mad!

[Jean in Newcastle]

I always split fir.  It is a softer wood and is quite easy to split.  

[Jean in Newcastle]

Thought the title said "spit wood", and I thought well, yes I suppose I can when I'm really mad!

I tend to spit fire so you'd better not stand too close to me if we're both mad!  

[Dandelion]

 

I wouldn't ever buy property where I'd be required to use wood.  Not my thing....

 

We don't have to use wood.  Our house does have heating (and plumbing too!).   :tongue_smilie:  But there's just something very cozy about a real wood-burning fire on a cold winter day.  And since our winter lasts from November-April, we have a lot of cold winter days.   :)