{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Calibri;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue255;} {\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.21.2510;}\viewkind4\uc1\pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\qc\kerning36\b\f0\fs48 How to Chop Wood\par \pard\sb100\sa100\kerning0\b0\fs24 By {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://modernfarmer.com/author/dina-rudick/"}}{\fldrslt{\cf1\ul Dina Rudick}}}\cf0\ulnone\f0\fs24 \par \par There may be some actual science behind the legendary manliness of Paul Bunyan, the ax-wielding lumberjack folklore credits with razing forests from Maine to North Dakota.\par Chopping wood for an hour can boost male testosterone levels by almost 50 percent, says a group of University of California, Santa Barbara, researchers{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.ehbonline.org/article/S1090-5138(13)00065-2/abstract"}}{\fldrslt{\cf1\ul studying the Tsimane population of Bolivia.}}}\cf0\ulnone\f0\fs24 While many studies have examined the effect competition has on testosterone, lead researcher Ben Trumble instead chose to look at resource gathering and food production for a study published in 2012.\par \ldblquote In humans, men tend to compete for the attention of women via economic productivity as opposed to fighting other men in the street, so examining changes in testosterone during food production is important,\rdblquote says Trumble. As for women, he speculates they would likely get a testosterone boost as well, though smaller.\par But it\rquote s likely you want more than a shot of testosterone: You want a neat stack of firewood, too. Grab an ax and get to work, right? Not so fast, cautions {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://wwc-forestry.blogspot.com/"}}{\fldrslt{\cf1\ul Shawn Swartz, forest manager at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina.}}}\cf0\ulnone\f0\fs24 First off, forget the ax. Once the tree is felled and chopped up into logs, {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M3BAQE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004M3BAQE&linkCode=as2&tag=modefarm-20"}}{\fldrslt{\cf1\ul a maul (a sledgehammer-like contraption with a wedge on one end)}}}\cf0\ulnone\f0\fs24 is the tool of choice.\par He also recommends some sturdy footwear, eye protection and a few splitting wedges for stubborn logs. And if the splitting wedges don\rquote t work? \ldblquote Well, I have a 37-ton mechanical splitter,\rdblquote says Swartz, chuckling. \ldblquote I\rquote ve never met my match on that.\rdblquote\par For the rest of us, Swartz shows us the way:\par \pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\fs20 Using a chainsaw, de-limb the tree and cut the trunk into logs or \lquote bolts\rquote\par \pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 Think about how you\rquote ll be using the wood. If your wood stove can only fit an 18-inch log, cut your logs to 18 inches or less.\par Keep your cuts even and square so the logs don\rquote t tip over when placed on end.\par \pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\fs20 Set the log you\rquote re going to split on top of a larger, unsplit one\par \pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 This will raise the target of your chopping up, which saves your back and prevents your chopping instrument of choice from driving into the ground if you miss.\par \pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\fs20 Orient the log so that any knots or irregularities are closer to the bottom\par \pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 You want to cleave into the wood with the straightest grain first. \ldblquote Imagine a broom squeezed together. These are like magnified wood fibers,\rdblquote explains Swartz. When chopping a tree into logs, you\rquote re cutting those fibers in half. When splitting those logs, you\rquote re separating the fibers along the grain. Wood fibers tend to cross and get disorganized around knots and branch sites, and can foil a clean split.\par \pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\fs20 Take aim and swing\par \pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 Split the log like a pizza. \ldblquote Don\rquote t just shave off the edges,\rdblquote says Swartz. Split it in half, then quarters. Keep going until you reach the desired size.\par Let the maul or ax do the work. \ldblquote People wear themselves out because they think they need to power their way through the whole split,\rdblquote cautions Swartz. \ldblquote All you\rquote re really doing is getting the maul above your head and letting it fall into the wood.\rdblquote\par Save your back: Keep an arch in your lumbar spine, bend your knees and use your legs.\par There\rquote s more than one right way to swing, so if you find a way that works for you, go with it.\par Practice precision by hitting the same spot over and over so that each swing adds to the progress made by the last.\par \pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\b\fs20 Stack, exposing to air and sun if possible\par \pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 Fresh-cut wood needs to sit for about a year to burn best. Opinions vary about whether to cover the wood, but Swartz says it\rquote s not necessary to cover until a few weeks before you\rquote re going to burn it. The idea is to dehydrate the wood fibers\rquote cells and bring the overall moisture content to below 20 percent. \par \pard\sa200\sl276\slmult1\lang9\f1\fs22\par }