stihl023/5
Addicted to ArboristSite
Bribe my kids to help.:msp_rolleyes:
Well, my axes keep me fit. The 8lb maul, not so much - it doesn't hurt me to swing it some, but it's a little heavier than I can swing for an extended time. I can feel my energy dropping with every hit, and often muscle damage results when I don't quit in time. I have to pace myself with it. And lifting big rounds is the worst danger to my back.
The key is that working the muscles to a point is great, but pushing them past that point is causing damage. I will not exercise for exercise sake, I get my workout doing work. The problem is that unlike a controlled workout in some sterile exercise environment, this is real work and there aren't any inherent limits - some of it is beyond the injury point. You have to be able to judge what those limits are for you, but then the work still needs to be done so you must find another method that won't injure you. To me, I'm in this partially to reduce energy use, so throwing equipment at it is not the answer I'm looking for - I will noodle some of the nasty pieces in order to get stackable wood, but that big pile of noodles represents wasted wood and wasted fossil fuels.
I'm wondering what they did with the crotches and stuff in the old days before chainsaws and splitters - I'm betting they didn't "noodle" them with a misery whip. I suspect they left them lay, which is one of the things I do with them now too. It's just not worth it to spend so much time an energy on a cranky round that won't split.
Reading all these stories makes me very excited to know that there are good folks that still don't mind to roll up the sleeves and get dirty! Cutting firewood is hard work! My dad had me out cutting wood since I was old enough to go. I remember those days. He watched me carefully to make sure I worked safe and didn't cut my leg off. He took good care of me, and though sometimes we both probably over did it sometimes in that summer heat, it was some of the best experiences I shared with my Dad! Oh, we still go cut firewood, but now that he is soon to be 80, and that old stihl 026 pro doesnt run as good as it did, I try to keep him from running a saw. He always wants to helps load up what was cut. I have to keep my eye on him these days, kinda like the way he did when I was a kid. I consider my self very lucky to have learned from the best!
Enter your email address to join: