Splittin a big log...for Frank Parker

[Joe Tonich]

Found a way for ya to get that Walnut log home. ;)

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/features/mag.html

Go to:

Looking for the video mentioned in "Woodworking Can be a Blast?
ClickHERE (http://www.popularwoodworking.com/features/0606_oow.wmv) NOTE: This file is a WMV file. To view it, you will need the appropriate media player

....and click. :eek: :D :D

[Joe Fisher]

The guys giggling off-camera just make that video :)

-Joe

[Frank Parker]

That would definitely work but I think the neighbors might complain. I've got about week of cutting and sealing what I got home now. I'll probably get 2 or 3 more big loads before the firewood cutters get it all cleaned out.
Frank

[John Hart]

Can you say, "ringshake"?:D Good one Joe!:)

[Frank Fusco]

Not a new or farfetch concept. But that is a honkin' big hunk of wood.

[Frank Fusco]

You may or may not be able to tell from my nickname and photo, but I am a fan of history and old type muzzle loading rifles. Knowing this, a friend once boasted that he had a muzzle loading black powder log splitter. Of course I didn't believe him. So he brought it and showed it to me. He had gotten it from his grandfather and, together, they had split many large logs. Pictured is a copy I made after seeing his. The original was much larger than mine. It was about 18" long and had a 1" bore. Mine is one foot long with a .50 cal. bore. I made it from a hunk of left over muzzle loading rifle barrel from a gun building project. The rear (breech) has a heavy steel section threaded in. The barrel is drilled to accept cannon fuse. In use the ground down knife edge of the muzzle is driven into the end of the log to be split. The original had a chain welded to it which had a rag tied to that for a flag to assist in finding the whole thing after a shot. I didn't use that but just backed it up to a stump or another hunk of log. The splitting action did not come from driving the barrel into the wood, it all came just from the force of the blast. I poured a measured amount of black powder down the bore, tamped that in with paper or dry leaves and inserted the fuse, no projectile. I split many large logs with this and can testify that it is very effective. One would get about 50 blasts with a $15.00 can of black powder using this. Compared to the cost of a hydraulic splitter, this is a cheap way to go. And the whole works can be carried in one hand. There are other versions of the antique ones but the principal is the same. Other than the original, mine and one picture I located on the internet, I have never seen these anywhere else.

[Steve Clardy]

Check out this Redwood log. And---it's in Missouri!

[Frank Fusco]

How did a redwood log get to Missouri?

[Steve Clardy]

Hi Frank. It was hauled here from California some 50-60 years ago.
Put on display. Theres a plaque on it telling the story.
I've seen it a couple of times. Can't remember exactly when it was put here on display.
It's getting so rotten now, being outside, that it has steel bands around it to hold it together

[Don Orr]

Funny-I just read the article in PW this morning and was looking forward to seeing the video, and here it is! Very impressive I must say. Looks like it split nice and clean too.

Now remember kids, don't try this at home without adult supevision:D :eek: .

Don