Anyone cut firewood for health/exercise?

marhar · Jan 28, 2022

Realtornz said:
Yes I totally agree re chopping wood as recreational activity as opposed for profit. Personally I find it very rewarding just to see the stacks of chopped wood that I can either use or give away to others in need. I was thinking I was a little strange, I just tell my wife I'm going to my gym for a work out. I just do a couple of hours at any one time, so never tire of this, I now take an old Bengarzie burner, light it when I start so 1/2 an hour in I stop for a cup of tea. A very productive and rewarding pass time.

I am not the only "nut". Only joking about being a nut; I thought I was the only one that enjoyed cutting wood. The noise of saw and ear plugs keeps me from hearing anything else; I have to focus on the tree and the saw or I will get cut and I am on the tract of land that I love the most. It is the perfect way to clear one's mind while spending time on the land.

Hay Dude · Jan 28, 2022

marhar said:
I am not the only "nut". Only joking about being a nut; I thought I was the only one that enjoyed cutting wood. The noise of saw and ear plugs keeps me from hearing anything else; I have to focus on the tree and the saw or I will get cut and I am on the tract of land that I love the most. It is the perfect way to clear one's mind while spending time on the land.

I get the same satisfaction from baling hay. Its almost soothing…..then something breaks

brutus54 · Jan 28, 2022

We get 16 - 18 facecord and when we stack it in the woodshed the largest pieces are stacked on the bottom of the rows. They are to big for our woodstove so I split them with a maul and wedges. It's usually well into winter and only takes a couple of hits to split into thirds. I find it very a satisfying and relaxing way to pass some time outdoors. Firewood is our only heat source and I wonder how many years I'll be able to do that.

Fuddy1952 · Jan 28, 2022

Speaking of splitting wood my Dad was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 34 when I was 11. His was from xray radiation he got as a boy, treatment for a sore throat.
Dad wasn't expected to live, grandfather next door insisted he go to Sloan-Kettering in NYC. This was 1963. He had radical surgery, 108" of incisions, removed deltoid arm muscles, etc. He was a survivor, passed a few years ago at 88.
In 1964 an addition added to our home he built in 1948 with a Fisher woodstove so I helped him cut trees, split logs.
The point is for most of the day starting in 1964 my Dad split logs after surviving cancer. He could barely lift an ax at first, over the years I was amazed at his determination.
I truly miss Dad, he was a real inspiration.

Realtornz · Jan 28, 2022

Great inspiration for all lovers of wood choppers

Larry Caldwell · Jan 28, 2022

Realtornz said:
Yes I totally agree re chopping wood as recreational activity as opposed for profit. Personally I find it very rewarding just to see the stacks of chopped wood that I can either use or give away to others in need. I was thinking I was a little strange, I just tell my wife I'm going to my gym for a work out. I just do a couple of hours at any one time, so never tire of this, I now take an old Bengarzie burner, light it when I start so 1/2 an hour in I stop for a cup of tea. A very productive and rewarding pass time.

Getting older is a case of "use it or lose it." You have to have daily vigorous exercise, or you will get feeble and die. We're all going to die anyway, but with determination we can do it with our boots on instead of wasting away in some nursing home.

turnkey4099 · Jan 28, 2022

brutus54 said:
We get 16 - 18 facecord and when we stack it in the woodshed the largest pieces are stacked on the bottom of the rows. They are to big for our woodstove so I split them with a maul and wedges. It's usually well into winter and only takes a couple of hits to split into thirds. I find it very a satisfying and relaxing way to pass some time outdoors. Firewood is our only heat source and I wonder how many years I'll be able to do that.

I love everything to do with cutting/hauling/splitting/stacking/feeding fire/burning brush piles and I am sure there are a few more tasks involved. Looking forwared to my 87nd in a month and I am still good to swing the saws and all other equipment for 3-4 hours a day. Just came in from 1.5 hours running a small load of rounds through the splitter.

I am now doing it for fun as I already have some 50 cord black walnut and some soft woods after that. I burn about 50% BL and 50% willow poplar, anyting the tree service drops off.

BoFuller · Jan 28, 2022

We heat mostly with the wood stove and usually go through 3 cords a winter in northern AZ. My wife wants to get me a splitter but I keep telling here that splitters are for old people. I’m 72 and enjoy splitting all our firewood. Maybe one of these days, but not yet.

Larry Caldwell · Jan 29, 2022

turnkey4099 said:
I love everything to do with cutting/hauling/splitting/stacking/feeding fire/burning brush piles and I am sure there are a few more tasks involved. Looking forwared to my 87nd in a month and I am still good to swing the saws and all other equipment for 3-4 hours a day. Just came in from 1.5 hours running a small load of rounds through the splitter.

I am now doing it for fun as I already have some 50 cord black walnut and some soft woods after that. I burn about 50% BL and 50% willow poplar, anyting the tree service drops off.

I'm 75 this spring. If I have a dozen years as an active elder ahead of me, I will be tickled. I got a lot of work done this week and am getting into really good shape. Rebuilding muscle shape. Cutting firewood is really good exercise. The heavy snow at the end of December brought down a lot of trees across the road to the top of my place. Anything that won't make good firewood will get piled and burned.