Splitting primitive boards 

Technically speaking, after a tree is cut to a log, I think what matters the most is the inner structure of the timber. Be there more crooks and branch knots, it would be harder to split no matter what kind of tools one has. So I was lucky with this particular log being nearly optimal =) Yeah winter is good! Maybe more log-splitting experiments in further videos to come ...

Hehe, it's cheap Finnish bulk beer, a light lager. My face goes like that because I was thirsty and gulped a lot of beer and only then found out that it was a lot colder than I expected =)

@Anthony Maurice I think it should be possible, and most likely pine has historically been used for arrows. I haven't tested it myself, but I'd like to try it one year. (Also, I remember Ernest Thompson Seton mentioning it in his book "Two Little Savages". If I remember correctly, the book has rather detailed how-to instructions on making arrows. They start by splitting a block of pine, and then rounding and straightening the split wood.)

I hope it will work well for you, good luck! I don't know why, but some individual trees are a lot more rotated than others. I mean, even when the tree trunk appears straight, the inner structure is kind of a spiral - so splitting along the natural shape of tree fibres will sometimes produce uneven boards, somewhat shaped like a helicopter rotor blade =) But I'd guess you've already found out the inner straigtness / curvedness of your particular elm log when you split it into half.

@@erkkaveli yes, fortunately the elm log has a nice and straight grain without twist and knots so the split should be pretty easy to predict and control. So, basically you start the split with the axe head and the other wedge from each side and just repeat this along the whole length of the log?

Exactly. The more straight the timber grain the easier it should be. Ideally one would need an axe only for the initial cut. From that on wooden wedges might be enough, as there is no more need to cut timber - just to keep the split going on until it runs through the entire log. Different kind of timber might behave slightly differently, but I'm under the impression that generally speaking freshly felled timber is easier to split. Stored and dry timber is harder. I've read that in Finland people might have stored logs submerged in water until they had time to split them.

I'd estimate that once trimmed to a log, it doesn't make a big difference if the log ends are saw-cut or axe-cut. But, cutting down a tree, or trimming a trunk to a log with an axe, that takes both a decent axe and skill. And some time =) On the other hand, a strong skilled person using a heavy two-handed axe could cut down a big tree surprisingly fast - especially if compared to using a manual bow-saw. (A chainsaw is a different thing, obviously)

In the Foxfire books, they talk about riving boards with a froe, the same as you'd do shingles, except horizontally. That might make for smoother boards? I dunno. They also talk about how you can control the thickness as the board splits out by which way the froe is turned, or something like that.

Yup, I think a froe is the spesific tool for this purpose. It would be interesting to try it some day, although at the moment I don't have one =)

I think when/if I get around to trying this, I will try to make one. They seem a lot simpler (geometrically I mean) than axe heads, so I think I might be able to get away with using a little piece of metal pipe for an eye, and then weld a flat metal bar to it for the blade. Rough out the edge on a bench grinder, finish it with a file, then temper it with an acetylene torch and some old motor motor oil, and sharpen it with a stone. Assuming a tool like that would even need a tempered edge, I dunno... :3 I have seen them for sale, but sheesh they seem awfully expensive for what they are, LOL. Supply and demand, I guess...... I guess people want them to hang on the wall as antiques or something.....

Hehe, yes, I always find woodworking deeply satisfying. (And, let's see what will become of these boards. I'll probably use them for a small building project...)

Hehe, for now I'll just be storing these for possible future use =) I'm not yet sure but I think these could be good for making a roof of a shelter.

Yeah that cusped shape got me thinking as well; these would make for excellent 'shingles'; you could lap them with alternating sides up like you would with bamboo. Maybe there is a good reason ive never seen this done but it seems like a very quick way to make a completely waterproof roof.

Yes, the log in the video is of Pinus sylvestris - the most common type of pine growing in Finland. I was lucky to have a log with a rather straight inner structure. Majority of logs often have a curved structure; when split, they produce pieces with a shape of a helicopter blade, or even making a 180 degrees rotation for a length of few metres. Such split boards might not be ideal for building. So, in your situation you probably just need to try and see what your logs are good for. If they don't split nicely, maybe consider using them as such, building a log cabin?

@@erkkaveli thanks, yes perhaps. i think i will use homemade chisel tools i made today and make notches in the logs so i can attatch them together like lego puzzle while building a frame. I already have tin roof plates from another building (that is rotten inside), so at least i can have roof so the new structure maybe doesn't rotten so fast. for walls maybe i can use hay, dirt, earth, twigs and clay, im not sure yet. I wanna build big log house! but I don't have so many trees. I only use what i have laying around. Gonna chop chop some big pine today and test. Thank and have nice day in north Finland spring.

@@onionmaster7673 Sounds interesting - goog luck with your projects!

@@erkkaveli thank erkka good luck on yours! i decided to make log cabin like you said, lets see how long i can get from these many trees..!

@@onionmaster7673 A-ha! I wish you can obtain more logs if you run out of timber before getting your cabin finished. Here in Finland most of the forest owners are just happy if someone is willing to harvest storm-felled trees from their forests. You probably know the techique, but just in case you are interested, I happen to have a simple log-building video; ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xlsipzU5_Ok.html

Ah, yes, so I should shoot a video in normal speed next time I happen to be splitting boards! This video was inspired by a discussion on our computer game forums. The game simulates Iron Age (roughly = The Viking Era) Finland, and features splitting board with an axe. Some players wondered if that is realistically possible, so I decided to do a real-life test, also providing empirical data on how much time it takes and how many boards an average logs yields. I have no idea how this video has been gathering audience outside the community of our game players, but why not =)

@@erkkavelitheres a lot of us out here wanting to learn skills that put us in touch with the world and ourselves. Society has got very complex thanks to cheap fossil fuels but we cant keep burning the stuff so looks like we are going to have to relearn some basic things!

That takes away from primitive and original way to do it. You can't rely on technology for everything. Whats wrong with kids these days they got it easy. Don't get out there to really see what its like to do it all by hand. Doing it by hand would make a person proud cause they done something all by hand using primitive tools.

Also, one of my neighbours runs a sawmill, so I don't need one myself =) This video was mostly inspired by our computer game called UnReal World, which simulates Finland about 1000 years ago. In the game you can split logs into boards, and some of our players were wondering if that is realistically possible. So I decided to demonstrate, to give some empirical data on how long the process takes and how many boards does one log produce.

TSpider Keeper yeah there’s historical value to the process, but this guy’s point is that it would be easier and Better to use a sawmill which is completely true. Us “youngsters” like to get shit done smartly. You should be happy they’re even interested in this sort of thing.

@@Dollapfin why should anyone care what you are interested in? lol....but sure, we are glad anytime we see you kids actually get outdoors and live a bit.

*kills and eats animals, stuffing face like a pig* - "I feel sorry for that -inanimate object, the abuse IT had to endure."

If I was a tree Id rather be split along my grains than saw in to rectangles unrepresentative of how I decided to live my life (grow.)

yes, our ancestors really should have waited until band sawmils was available. They suck.. learning the skills they had is a waste of time and wood. Actually they should just have waited until they could buy plastic siding.

Wood Riven into lumber is usually stronger and way more stable than flat-sawn lumber. Going with the grain rather than fighting it.