I have recently upgraded my axe from a small axe to a Gransfors small forest axe, basically so I could chop bigger wood and "stuff".
Splitting larger logs without a large stable chopping block Whilst "out there" has always been a bit of a head scratcher, until now (yes I know the one in my contraption is not a big one but hey bare with me) Researching my new axe I chanced upon this video from Paul Kirtley see here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TPsp...X8_2cLfH2L_qH9 I thought that I could adapt and use it for river banks and campsites where lugging a chopping block would be impractical. You will have to watch the video to see how it works and yes it does.
With the video in mind I built a chopping contraption, two stakes were sharpened and bashed into the ground, to which a small log was placed against, a smaller dead piece of wood was used to bring the target above the ground to prevent "ground strike"
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Another view of the chopping contraption,
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As in the Vid, notice how my bodily bits are in front of the log/target, this is to prevent me losing some of my leg if the axe (a)misses or (b) glances the log sending a lump of Sweden's finest razor sharp hand forged steel into me!
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Once the wood is small enough I chop it down smaller, this technique is also in the vid but I have been doing it like this for a while now with 'tother axe dead easy and a whole lot safer.
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Hope this is of some use.
Cheers
Tim