You are such an excellent teacher. I’m always amazed at how well your videos convey an idea or a method. Your explanation is always spot on. Thanks for the tire idea as well as the kindling cutter!

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words. My pleasure to share for sure!

I love how you guys are constantly improving your methods and streamlining everything. I think everybody, even non-permaculturists, could learn from this channel.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

It's always evolving and deepening. I think the critical part is to remind myself as often as possible that there is always more to learn, and that what I think is a good system probably has better ways if I'm open to hearing them. Ego can really get in the way of progress!

Thank you for shining a light through my "tires are for dorks" mindset. Growing older makes splitting easier (using my trusty Splitting Tool™), but bending over much harder. What a breakthrough - and just in time for splitting wood daily for the next 6 months. You are radicool, my dude.

Another reason for not letting the firewood touching the ground is to avoid small rocks and sand getting between the splinters so that those do not dull the edge of the axe. If I remember correctly, you can use also cargo straps by first moving a set of firewood on to the edge of the stack, tying up the strap to the set and then lifting up the set onto the block.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Good notes here, thanks.

I feel like a dingus not having tought of this, i tried a chain i had laying around but it didnt work well, definitly doing this next time im chopping, you are just a well of knowledge and inspiration, thanks buddy

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

The tire is great and straightfoward. Also, a chain will ding up your splitting tool quite a bit if you hit it at all while splitting...

I started with a smaller stump than my tire. I found a big dead tree and got a stump the same size as the tire. That made it much better. Filling the tire full doesn't work with spruce, fir, or tamarack because of the many knots. for those you need to completely split the wood at every crack. The tire still is useful for keeping it on the stump though. I use a splitting maul, another thing one needs for splitting spruce.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

That makes sense. Different types of woods probably need different treatments. Thanks for sharing your experience.

You are so creative, I love watching your channel for years!

Thanks for the inspiration! I have a tire on the ground for larger rounds, which works well for me as I am 60" on the vertical. I like the idea of having an elevated option and am going to try your setup with an old garden tractor tire for smaller rounds. I heartily concur with the drain holes suggestion. Keeps the mosquitoes down in summer as well. Use a big drill bit - 1/2" or so

Thanks for your shout out for ebay and promoting alternatives to amazon!

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

So important! We don't buy anything from Amazon any more and it's super easy. Search for what we want, sometimes read on Amazon for reviews and info, then search on ebay for 'buy it now' and 'open box' or 'used' and we're off to the races :)

@KyAl2

4 жыл бұрын

@@edibleacres I agree with this viewpoint.

Such a good tip never seen that b4... And hint about cracked bigger pieces of wood fire getting through the wood easily

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Glad you found it useful!

I like using trash 2x4s (untreated) to split into kindling. VERY easy to get thin cuts that burn hot. Also 2x4s cutoffs that are just a few inches long are great as-is.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Makes a lot of sense for sure. Great idea!

I had some silver maples in my yard that I needed to have brought down a couple of years ago and and saw a video of an old timer doing the same thing. I had them drop the trees and cut them into manageable sizes and used some for a hugelkultur mound that I planted apple trees next to and used the same idea to cut the rest for fire wood. Another great video! Thanks.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

My pleasure to share.

You are the definition of an innovator! I continue to be inspired...

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Tons of other people use a tire for splitting wood, definitely not my idea, but sharing how we use it...

Great tip! Thank you, Sean!🤗

Love the tire method and kindling splitter, getting oder these tool are appealing. Right now we use a Yardworks electric wood splitter and love it since its mountedd on a table and we don't have to bend to pick up much wood. But there are those odd pieces that need chopping and have set up your tire method, it works great, thank you!

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

My pleasure to share.

Fabulous tips.

I love an elegant solution

This is working great for me. Thanks for the tip!

Another great video and tip! Keep em coming!!

You really are amazing. Another awesome vid and ideas. Thank you.

Beautiful.

Thank you a great educational video.

Greetings from the Emerald Isle of Ireland 🇮🇪,I use 3 truck tyres with the inner walls removed, stack them on top of each other,fill with rounds,and split away, great job, saves your back,and keeps all the wood together,🇮🇪🇮🇪

@edibleacres

3 жыл бұрын

Good idea here.

very good video - a lot of helpful tips. I have a house with two wood burning fireplaces . splitting wood with an axe is fun but I have had a few pieces kick back at me and give me some unwanted cuts and bruises . this looks a lot safer and more efficient.

@edibleacres

4 ай бұрын

Glad you appreciate the video. I find this style of splitting wood to be both safer and easier and I hope that happens for you too

Great ideas!👊🏼 Recycle and reuse🙌🏼

Yes I was doing that way for years , save your back as well and very fast.

I bought the Kindling Cracker last fall while in Canada at Princess Auto . I got the bigger one . They have 2 sizes . Got mine for $65 CDN . Just love it . Makes great kindling pieces. A lot safer than a hatchet that's for sure . Yours is the bigger one like mine . Many places sell them including Northern Tool . Made in Australia .

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Really enjoying the tool for all the fine stuff. It is miserable to split main firewood, but incredible for the little bits for sure.

Great tip. I need to find a tire now, shouldn't be too hard. I like your jacket by the way

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, my wife Sasha picked it up for me from a thrift shop a ways back. Just a stupid number of pockets on it :) Is this Andrew Russel from middle school?!?!

@andrewrussell3796

4 жыл бұрын

EdibleAcres Can never have too many pockets! Haha no, just another Andrew Russell

Thank you for showing me that blade thing to split the wood into small pieces. Might get one of those for me. Your almost blind friend from South Africa Hi Sasha...…. Stay warm.

Excellent idea. I shared to my facebook so my fellow country friends can take advantage.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, always feel free to share these videos!

I grew up out your way decades ago and one thing we had to use heat from the stove pipe were sheet metal disks. They looked just like a paper plate including the scalloped edges. Sure did give off the heat.

Let's face it, Winter SUCKS!! But, aaahhhh, firewood! My first passion in life. I love cutting it, (I use a Husky 576xp with a 24" bar. I love working up huge 48" cottonwood trees) love splitting it, I love burning it, I love smelling it, I love stacking it, I love feeling it warm the house... I LOVE firewood. I'm a lumberjack! Hahaa. We have no other heat, strictly wood. We burn with a Blaze King princess catalytic stove. Best money I ever spent; I LOVE that stove. It captures and shares every single BTU.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Sounds like you enjoy firewood :) ! I use mainly little electric chainsaws and small diameter wood. I've come to really appreciate using mainly branches and small wood as our main source of heat... Way less heavy!

Love the informative video its great. I would love to see a video on how you got into doing nurserywork or more importantly permaculture nurserywork and what got you interested in this path you chose. Also how you gained so much knowledge and obtained sooo many amazing plants.lol some food for thought? I really admire working with plants and i love hearing about other people and there success storys when it comes to following a dream or doing something they truly enjoy.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

That would be a good topic when we're back in the growing season next year... I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for being such a consistent part of this channel!

@johnstonj92

4 жыл бұрын

@@edibleacres thank you something to consider.. i mean youre already busy as hell lol im just trying to start up something myself i have quite a few plants to start with currants gooseberrys haskaps egyptian onions opuntia cactus sweet cicely ground nut ....blah blah blah haha i really learned alot about these plants through this channel and of course researching online i just want to find more its like a strange addiction collecting perennial edibles and learning how to use them. I love it .

Clever! Thank you for this!

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

So glad you found it useful.

I don't have a wood stove, and didn't expect to with my back problems, but after seeing this, I'm not completely ruling it out.

Great Episode!! Sooo many goodies :D... I wanted to ask if burning bamboo would be more efficient compared to burning just normal wood... and also what about hemp? :D Cheers!

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Bamboo cracks/explodes when burning if each of the sections aren't split open, which can be problematic. I don't grow hemp so I'm not sure... Could be materials to consider for rocket stoves?

Love that kindling tool neat I usually use a hatchet but that's way better

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

I've done hatchet style for years, and it's a good skill to have, but this little tool makes it SO easy for a home base place to do splitting. I wouldn't drag this out camping or anything! :)

@wildedibles819

4 жыл бұрын

@@edibleacres yes it takes practice I actually like a slightly dull one having kids around I got used to them dull... Lol tap once and then hit it against the floor cuz itz stuck in the wood less chance cutting myself... Lol my dad tried to tell me diff but I got used to it that way

I have a small wood stove, the jotul 602. Anyway, I find it burns smaller branch wood, about 2 to 3 inches around the best. And when processing a biochar retort, I need some smaller wood to keep the wood gas ignited... So I rarely ever put large pieces in my wood pile. The huge, knotty stuff goes to a neighbor who has a power splitter, or I set them out in the orchard to decompose as they will.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

For running biochar sessions I find having a ton of thinner wood is so helpful to kick it off quickly and run it hot and clean. We're all figuring it out as we go I guess!

Do you ever leave a knotted, large log burning without being home? Would/do you feel safe doing that?

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

We leave the woodstove running when we aren't home, we're just thoughtful/careful about it.

I use the tire trick but with a heavier splitting maul. The 8 pound weight means more force on the downswing and a quicker split. 10 to 12 swings and the whole tire is split.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Sounds like a nice system you have. I work with a heavier maul sometimes but find my body does much better with a sharper and lighter splitting tool.

I need to build a tire splitter too. Does your house have a back up heat for nights or time away from the house?

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

'Build' might be a bit overselling the concept... 'Putting' a tire on a stump is basically step 1 and the final step :) We have a backup heat system but haven't had it go on in a few years. I hope it still works:) We just bank wood and damp down as needed to be able to leave/go to bed.

@rawkrentals

4 жыл бұрын

EdibleAcres I will probably over build the thing! Hahah. I was thinking about building a base of 2x4s attached to a piece of 1” plywood, cut in a circle to fit the tire. Our back up heat (electric furnace) comes on at night most nights and even during the day sometimes when it’s colder than about -15C (5F). We also periodically run our furnace fan to circulate the air in the house during the day. This helps the heat in our basement move around the house, reduces condensation on the windows and filters the air.

A froe is a great too for making kindling that is safe (since you hands are always behind the blade).

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Makes a lot of sense. Good suggestion.

Have you tried a hookaroon? Changed everything for me and my terrible back.

@edibleacres

11 ай бұрын

Heard good things, something to check out!

Pure io uso la gomma dell'auto e il kindling... ottimo

have you ever considered a rocket mass heater? is there any reason it would be worse than a standard wood stove?

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

They are super appealing and make a lot of sense... In our home, however, with a wooden floor and insurance issues it wasn't a path we could explore. Hoping to be able to make one someday!

@connorwestgate

4 жыл бұрын

@@edibleacres thanks for the input!

Question: how long would you say that wheelbarrow of wood lasts in the weather you're currently having? What a great idea the tire is! You can really see how much more efficient it is. One thing I appreciate about your channel is how systems-oriented you guys are.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Depends on the weather, but a wheelbarrow can go 2-3 days, maybe more, maybe less... If we are doing a LOT of biochar making it may last a few more days even.

@trillium7582

4 жыл бұрын

@@edibleacres That sounds like a very reasonable return on your time! Thanks. :)

I like your tire idea and plan to adopt it for use on my farm. I would have thought that you would hit and possibly damage the ax handle or that the blade would bounce off the tire and cause you to hurt yourself but neither seem to be an issue. I’m guessing that you know you way around a grinder and keep your ax razor sharp. As to your other tool, I haven’t seen that one before but have been doing something similar for years. What I do is to build a sturdy cylinder of some sort. I use a piece of a cast iron pipe but you may have something else around that could serve the purpose equally well. I cut a slit in the top on opposite sides of the pipe and then inserted an old (but heavy, thick-bladed and sharp) machete upside down in the slit. Then, I just wrapped a bungee cord around the protruding handle and blade to hold the blade in place and there you have it. It works great just like your store bought device but has the advantage that it is made from items readily available on the farm that can be easily disassembled and repurposed for other uses as need be. Also, I can easily remove the Machete to sharpen it whenever necessary. I don’t know if that’s possible with your device. I like your channel. Lots of useful and well thought out ideas with detailed explanations.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

I should definitely sharpen the splitting axe. If you saw it up close you'd be embarrassed for me :)... Sounds like a great system you've come up with for splitting kindling, kudos to ya!

Where do you get free used tires?

@edibleacres

4 ай бұрын

They are around for sure... You can find them at probably any auto repair place...

I still haven't tried the tire trick, but my back wants me too. I make kindling with a thick-bladed full-tang knife I made out of a broken prybar. (my profile pic is a close-up of part of the walnut sheath I made for it.) Do you get many bugs from stacking the firewood inside like that? I knock my pieces a few times before bringing them in, but I still made a screened box to prevent hearing shrieks from my wife lol..

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

The wood is pretty aged so we don't see bugs much at this point. I clack them together at a few points in the process to clean them up a bit before they come in... The tire makes a HUGE difference!

I'm past the splitting wood by hand stage. I have a gas log splitter. But some good advice.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Understandable.

Bolt 2 tires together. The 16 inch height is easier to use. AND, build 2 hopper tables, one for each side of the spliting station. A pre split pile and a post split pile. NO bending over.The post split can be a wheel barrow. 2 wheel , less tippy.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Nice ideas here, thanks for sharing.

My only addition is, try to use a thin tire like low riders use. Thicker tires are heavier, bulkier, they fill with more bark and junk, take more to clean, and harder to transport. So if you feel a 17” rim tire is a good size, stay away from truck tires that are 17” rims and 6” thick stick to a low rider tire that’s also 17” rim but 2” you’ll be happier.

@edibleacres

11 ай бұрын

Good idea, thank you!

👍

Would you consider making a Yule Log video of your wood stove? I bet it would be very cozy and calming like Chicken TV.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

I'm sure there are many options out there already for that kinda thing :)

Well isn't that handy! Good idea :)

Go to a tire shop and get a cast-off newer low profile tire the wheel hole is larger, the tread is wider/taller, and the sidewall is more narrow. Using it on the ground is more safe and more effective use of energy. Kindling splitting kzread.info/dash/bejne/l4Skt9JuaamYqqw.html

Post combustion stove drastically diminish smoke pollution and the quantity of wood necessary to generate same heat !

Fiskars tools are from Finland and so am I 😊

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

I love Fiskars tools, your country makes some great tools and I bet people too!

@lifepuzzler8004

4 жыл бұрын

Be wary - they manufacture stuff in China too. There are double blind tests of Finn manufacturing vs Chinese.... you can guess who wins. Buy Finnish made!

i use a bungee cord in the same way you use the tire. praise jah! amen.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

I bet that works nicely for you, good thinking!

Be careful Sean. Wranglerstar tried to tell his sister that and wound up taking her to the hospital...

Markp107 posted this trick 10 years ago :)

@edibleacres

Жыл бұрын

Great! Certainly a number of folks have shared it I'm sure

Much prefer to use a rocket mass heater, try HoneyDo Carpenter on youtube. A DIY it is great for warmth, less fuel and barely no emissions and never creosote. Thanks for sharing.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

Sure, lots of ways to improve with insulation in the house, better stove, passive solar, all the things! We're working with what we've got for now. If you had a RMH this technique would still be helpful for getting lots of smaller gauge woods.

We did the tire thing when I was growing up, but I found THIS gem as an adult (a lot less weight than a tire)...kzread.info/dash/bejne/lpmkqamMmbiwZqQ.html

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

I've seen this, and it's nice if you are splitting single larger logs for sure. Our system has too many smaller pieces so we've found the tire works best.

if You're Heating with Wood I Feel that Hand Splitting is for Amateurs. Sure it can be Done But I've heated My Home with Wood for 25+ years. I Prefer to buy My Firewood now. I Can Spend the day Working & Earn Enough to Purchase more Firewood than I Could Split by hand in 2 or 3 days. it's just not Economical to Hand Split Unless you're Unemployed or Broke. For Me the Key is Finding a Tree Guy that is Trustworthy.

@edibleacres

4 жыл бұрын

To each their own. This argument can be tricky, in my mind, because the same argument can be made that I could work at a job enough to get enough money to just use gas to heat my home, to just buy groceries instead of growing them, to just whatever instead of doing it myself. That said, I completely get needing to take a break from certain aspects of life that are physically demanding, and I could imagine myself needing to shed certain aspects as I get older for sure.

@johncrowe5164

4 жыл бұрын

@@edibleacres What I Know for Sure is Woodstove's Change People's Lives. There's Nothing More Satisfying to Me than Sitting By the Woodstove. It Doesn't Change the Feelings One Bit Buying My Wood Instead of Splitting it Myself. I've Borrowed a Hydraulic Splitter Once or Twice & That was Nice too. I Went From Being a Chimney Sweep to Chimney Repairs. Now I Do Strictly Masonry Work. the Last 30 Years Have Taken a Big Toll on My Body. Among Other My Things My Knees Are Shot! I Can't Help But Think Some of My Problems Came From Splitting Wood by Hand. Wear & Tear On Your Body is Cumlitive. Work Smart. Save your Body All you Can. It's Hard to Do Anything When it Hurts to Walk or Stand. Today I'm Cleaning the Tree Guy's Chimney for 2 Face Cords of Seasoned Oak. I Think that's a Deal! The Fireplace is a Prefab which Takes Less than an Hour. There's No Way I Could Split that Much Wood in an Hour. I Mean No Disrespect with My Comment it's Just My 2cents .From 25+ Years of Heating with Wood. Protect Your Body You'll Need it in your Old Age.

Just smash them on the floor fella. Rest them on a log on an angle. Just smash them on the side.

@losttheplot26

4 жыл бұрын

@The Nech no mate. Try it. Just smash it up on floor. Best split it wet.

@losttheplot26

4 жыл бұрын

@The Nech check out bucking Billy Ray.

@losttheplot26

4 жыл бұрын

No. Mate your the one bending your back. I don't struggle smashing wood on the floor. Saves me bending to put each piece on a block. Try it you fart knocker.