Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

[Harry Flashman]

Chainsaw is for crosscutting and shortening, but I also (ill-advisedly) used it on some big oak rounds at my parents place as well. I used the old axe for splitting and it was far too much for my middle-aged constitution!

I have also just bought a log grenade which I hope will deal with big rounds, retiring the Stihl (again my late father's) for any sort of splitting work! I'm a novice with a chainsaw so frankly after a few goes with an experienced friend, I still didn't really fancy using it and lacked the confidence/training/experience to survive with limbs intact.

I have several piles like this to get through. I need the exercise, so hopefully maul, grenade and sledgehammer will do the job (slowly). Intend to split, store/season and use for firewood in incremental stages.

20200617_154857 by baconrashers, on Flickr

Edited by Harry Flashman on Tuesday 7th July 20:54

[the_engineer]

Joe M said:

What video are you talking about? I've been using the cobras for years and they don't lock..

On the amazon link in my post, see their 5th display pic and then in the promo video at the 7th slot, see from 0.39 - 0.49 seconds - it shows the cobra self holding and the video text states "self locking"

[SCEtoAUX]

Flappy sandpaper wheel. Makes scrolling joints on skirting a breeze.

[guindilias]

I don't think I've ever bought a Fiskars axe/splitter that I didn't like, and I have bought a lot of them - just be sure you check the height you are splitting at, and that decides the handle length you need. I abuse mine horribly, and a 2 minute sharpen and they are ready to hit the next nail.

[bmwmike]

Just bought myself a digital torque adapter. I didnt know they existed until the weekend as i was looking for a new torque wrench. Ive got two click type torque wrenches already but they disagree with each other. A calibration is more expense than they are worth apparently.

My oldest one, my dads old workhorse muat be about 35 years old - won - the digital adapter is practically spot on.

The newer but cheaper one bought early 2000's is about 15ftlb off but its still useful just knowing that.

Handy little tool. "wish id bought one sooner".

[Parsnip]

Harry Flashman said:

Chainsaw is for crosscutting and shortening, but I also (ill-advisedly) used it on some big oak rounds at my parents place as well. I used the old axe for splitting and it was far too much for my middle-aged constitution!

I have also just bought a log grenade which I hope will deal with big rounds, retiring the Stihl (again my late father's) for any sort of splitting work! I'm a novice with a chainsaw so frankly after a few goes with an experienced friend, I still didn't really fancy using it and lacked the confidence/training/experience to survive with limbs intact.

I have several piles like this to get through. I need the exercise, so hopefully maul, grenade and sledgehammer will do the job (slowly). Intend to split, store/season and use for firewood in incremental stages.

20200617_154857 by baconrashers, on Flickr

Edited by Harry Flashman on Tuesday 7th July 20:54

Which tool is the weapon of choice for chopping up the random shoe in the middle of the picture?

[Harry Flashman]

Heh. That was to give the picture some scale... Well noticed!

[julian64]

Harry Flashman said:

Chainsaw is for crosscutting and shortening, but I also (ill-advisedly) used it on some big oak rounds at my parents place as well. I used the old axe for splitting and it was far too much for my middle-aged constitution!

I have also just bought a log grenade which I hope will deal with big rounds, retiring the Stihl (again my late father's) for any sort of splitting work! I'm a novice with a chainsaw so frankly after a few goes with an experienced friend, I still didn't really fancy using it and lacked the confidence/training/experience to survive with limbs intact.

I have several piles like this to get through. I need the exercise, so hopefully maul, grenade and sledgehammer will do the job (slowly). Intend to split, store/season and use for firewood in incremental stages.

20200617_154857 by baconrashers, on Flickr

Edited by Harry Flashman on Tuesday 7th July 20:54

Yep I would throw the axe away and get a log splitter. It has a couple of advantages. Titan do fairly cheap decent ones.

1) even splits, important for building that perfect looking fire
2) You can be holding a G&T while operating
3) Will easily go through anything on that pile and take about five seconds per log. You can even get a quarter splitter for it to make sure you have kindling.


Cons

1) No sixpack.

[S6PNJ]

SCEtoAUX said:

Flappy sandpaper wheel. Makes scrolling joints on skirting a breeze.

Would you explain please? Do you mean one of these:

If so, how does it help making scrolled joints on skirting a breeze?

[Camoradi]

Harry Flashman said:

Heh. That was to give the picture some scale... Well noticed!

What size shoe is it please?

[Doofus]

Camoradi said:

Harry Flashman said:

Heh. That was to give the picture some scale... Well noticed!

What size shoe is it please?

Not easy to tell, but gauging it against the shed, it looks like a size 29 to me.

[Harry Flashman]

Well Doofus, you know what they say about a man with small feet.

Wait...damn.

[Lily the Pink]

julian64 said:

Yep I would throw the axe away and get a log splitter. It has a couple of advantages. Titan do fairly cheap decent ones.

1) even splits, important for building that perfect looking fire
2) You can be holding a G&T while operating
3) Will easily go through anything on that pile and take about five seconds per log. You can even get a quarter splitter for it to make sure you have kindling.

4) If you get a proper, tractor-mounted, one then you also need to have a tractor.

[Harry Flashman]

Slight overkill for South London and not at all rural Surrey...!

[Doofus]

Harry Flashman said:

Well Doofus, you know what they say about a man with small feet.

Wait...damn.

Don't worry, Harry, I was using UK sizing, not EU

:aubergine:

[guitarcarfanatic]

Harry Flashman said:

Chainsaw is for crosscutting and shortening, but I also (ill-advisedly) used it on some big oak rounds at my parents place as well. I used the old axe for splitting and it was far too much for my middle-aged constitution!

I have also just bought a log grenade which I hope will deal with big rounds, retiring the Stihl (again my late father's) for any sort of splitting work! I'm a novice with a chainsaw so frankly after a few goes with an experienced friend, I still didn't really fancy using it and lacked the confidence/training/experience to survive with limbs intact.

I have several piles like this to get through. I need the exercise, so hopefully maul, grenade and sledgehammer will do the job (slowly). Intend to split, store/season and use for firewood in incremental stages.

20200617_154857 by baconrashers, on Flickr

Edited by Harry Flashman on Tuesday 7th July 20:54

Nice! I have a couple Fiskars axes, plus a a Husquarvarna and a Stihl. Electric chainsaw for me though

Unfortunately, tracking down lumps of tree is difficult this way - most seemed to be mopped up by the professionals looking to split commercially. I find splitting logs very satisfying!!

[LeadFarmer]

S6PNJ said:

SCEtoAUX said:

Flappy sandpaper wheel. Makes scrolling joints on skirting a breeze.

Would you explain please? Do you mean one of these:

If so, how does it help making scrolled joints on skirting a breeze?

This guy does it at 5m 36sec...

https://youtu.be/aBp5UbvTKm0?t=336

Edited by LeadFarmer on Wednesday 8th July 14:00

[Joe M]

the_engineer said:

On the amazon link in my post, see their 5th display pic and then in the promo video at the 7th slot, see from 0.39 - 0.49 seconds - it shows the cobra self holding and the video text states "self locking"

Ah right, I suspect that pipe it clamped on was quite soft and deformed a bit causing the grips to hold in place. They won't do that on anything solid.

[Joe M]

But still fantastic, the most useful tool I've ever had.

[paulgwv]

the_engineer said:

So....Knipex Cobra. I bought one, this one in fact:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/KNIPEX-180-Cobra-high-tec...

The thing is, whilst the jaw locks in its pivoting position(s) using the ‘button’, I cannot seem to get it to lock/grip onto the thing I’m trying to grip. The videos all suggest you squeeze it and then can just let go and it will stay in place (i.e. it’s USP). Some vids even show the person even stand on the top lever whilst it’s locked onto whatever. Mine won’t.

Am I missing something obvious?

Also, for those that ordered from Amazon, did yours come without any sort of packaging? Mine came loose in the cardboard Amazon sleeve..

I recently purchased the 250mm ones from Amazon, I can’t recall them having any oem packaging to be honest. I also tried the ‘self locking’ feature and found it difficult if not impossible, I guess it’s right that it needs a particular set of circumstances to perform that trick. Quality items though nonetheless.