Sissy Sticks

[Wayland]

I've just seen yet another digit cut using an axe to split wood held with a hand and I can't help but wonder why more people don't use a small stick to hold the wood in place instead of risking their precious fingers?

Is it because of the derisory names of "Sissy sticks" or "Chicken sticks" that is often applied to this technique?

I wonder if more people would try it if we called it "Hero sticks" or "Sensible guy sticks" instead?

 

[Stew]

I didn't know that was their name. i usually go for the little tap to bed the axe then lift the lot and hit down again.

 

[JohnC]

Always prefer to use one of these...

 

[decorum]

Definitely a useful technique ~ I'm boss eyed , so it's saved me no end of times

... I wonder if more people would try it if we called it "Hero sticks" or "Sensible guy sticks" instead?

Given the intended use ??? "chop sticks" ???

 

[Harvestman]

I didn't know that was their name. i usually go for the little tap to bed the axe then lift the lot and hit down again.

As the most recent victim of this stupidity, that was exactly what I thought, only it didn't embed, it went straight through.

I've never heard them called sissy sticks, I just thought they were an obvious and sensible idea. I just momentarily forgot. Brain failure.

I think sometimes that we realise we are doing something wrong, but we assume that we will probably get away with it, but sometimes we don't.

As a teaching exercise it was great, because I immediately showed the kids watching how to hold the wood with sticks, and the safety benefits were made obvious to them.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Why not just lay the log flat with the end your gimme hit raised and inch or so, then stand feet eaither side with the face tour going to hit being a couple of inches behind your feet and split it like that, no need to hold the log at all.both hands on the axe for control.simples.

 

[ged]

Or you could baton.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Absolutly Ged!

 

[Bodge]

I've just seen yet another digit cut using an axe to split wood held with a hand and I can't help but wonder why more people don't use a small stick to hold the wood in place instead of risking their precious fingers?

Is it because of the derisory names of "Sissy sticks" or "Chicken sticks" that is often applied to this technique?

I wonder if more people would try it if we called it "Hero sticks" or "Sensible guy sticks" instead?

I sometimes call them 'finger savers' when showing the cubs axe stuff.

 

[roger-uk]

I sometimes call them 'finger savers' when showing the cubs axe stuff.

Ditto with Scouts - My Cubs have enough to do with using knives safely.

I leave the axe stuff to scouts but have to always remember and make it a habit to do and be seen to do it right,

 

[shaggystu]

i've never heard them referred to as sissy sticks either, but it does follow the building site type logic of naming tools. i think it was wayland who showed me sissy sticks in the first place after wincing at the sight of me splitting wood in the "wrong" way (sorry for scaring you mate, it was all my fault for being lazy in the first place). they are useful, and they do have their place, but in all honesty they're not really something that i like using. 90% of the time i think i'd go for the same technique as stew and i don't recall ever cutting myself that way.

IMO the most important thing to consider when you're splitting wood is to make sure that you've got a nice solid, level, safe chopping block to work on. if your block's flat and level, and the wood you're splitting has relatively clean sawn ends then you shouldn't need any additional tools/techniques, the wood that you're wanting to split should stand up all on it's own whilst you smack it with the axe. of course, failing all that then knowing the skills to work safely under less than ideal conditions is a good idea but for me personally, if i can't find a good, safe, chopping block to work on then i'll re-consider my need to split firewood in the first place

stuart

 

[Toddy]

I use them. It's just a practical thing. Takes no effort and I think it makes it a better aim too; you hit the log where you want to, not where you think you'll manage to and miss your fingers.

Sorry guys, but slicing backwards with an axe between the legs is just asking for a skite off blow and into an ankle, I reckon. Even two handed.

Each to their own though.

I just call the wee stick/branch/whatever, a prop, and it just holds the log where I want it.
Simples

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Retired Member southey]

No, not when the log is as I described beind the ankles by a couple of inches, it is a very safe and easy technique to use if you haven't a block, are on snow or are splitting snedded logs.

I use them. It's just a practical thing. Takes no effort and I think it makes it a better aim too; you hit the log where you want to, not where you think you'll manage to and not miss your fingers.

Sorry guys, but slicing backwards with an axe between the legs is just asking for a skite off blow and into an ankle, I reckon. Even two handed.

Each to their own though.

I just call the wee stick/branch/whatever, a prop, and it just holds the log where I want it.
Simples

cheers,
Toddy

 

[norca]

toddys discrip sounds good to me
I just call the wee stick/branch/whatever, a prop, and it just holds the log where I want it.
Simples A FINGER PROP

 

[wattsy]

having hit myself in the leg using Southey's method (with a hatchet) I now always use a sissy stick or baton to split wood with said hatchet. little axes are dangerous axes, I've used Southey's method with large axes perfectly safely but I wouldn't use it with a hatchet again

cheers
Matt

 

[nickliv]

Instead of splitting from the end along the grain, lie the wood on its side and strike it in line with the grain. No need to hold at all.

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Retired Member southey]

I would say you were doing it wrong, your mistake rather than the method.

having hit myself in the leg using Southey's method (with a hatchet) I now always use a sissy stick or baton to split wood with said hatchet. little axes are dangerous axes, I've used Southey's method with large axes perfectly safely but I wouldn't use it with a hatchet again

cheers
Matt

 

[Wayland]

Any method that can easily be done wrong or dangerously should be treated with great care and even suspicion.

As mentioned above, the between, or just behind the feet method is not well suited to small axes or hatchets.

It's certainly part of the repertoire of techniques I use but you need to recognise that there are times when other methods are far safer.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Its perfectly fine with an sfa sized. but of course would be useless with a hatchet, and its behind the feet, it is a basic skill, if its next to/level with your feet you will injure yourself as this is incorrect. If using a hatchet why not lay it on its side with the bit against the wood to split, lift and bring both down together.

 

[Toddy]

Been thinking on this; when we had coal fires (all of my first 20 years) I cut sticks pretty much everyday since I was five. It was one of those childhood jobs. The hatchet was small, short and heavy. I remember holding the split log in my left hand to keep it steady and taking my hand away just before the axe struck. Sometimes there was just no way the log would stay still though, so a splinter stick held it in place.
You get good at it; you know exactly 'where' the strike's going, exactly how it's going to split, how it's likely to coggle.
Unless an open fire/stove is your daily home heating and cooking, we don't do that now. I certainly don't. Like riding a bike though, you don't forget, but you can likely be a bit wobbly when you try again With hindsight I reckon we were incredibly lucky not to have more injuries.

If you don't cut sticks day in, day out, week in week out, month in and out, year in and out, a little careful forethought is a very good thing, why using a prop is seen as somehow 'sissy', confounds me.

cheers,M