A recent bit of wholesome retail therapy

has provided me with hours of great happiness

today. A new hand forged swedish spitting wedge!

  A wonderful sunny day, speaking to a great

many inspiring people. The fire and log charring

producing another batch of textured wood and

a charming visitor, a beautiful young pheasant,

with bright rust coloured feathers, casually

foraging on the site...

   Using a sledge hammer with the wedge,

hammering into the end of the wood. A crack

gradually starts with an amazing crackling sound

as the fibres part..

   The best way is to use two wedges in

combination. As sometimes a wedge can get

stuck!! So going along gently with one wedge,

only hammering it into the wood so far before

moving the wedge along the log a foot.

    Turning the log over and opening the seam

from the opposite side and gradually the creating

enough space to use an axe to sever the

last fibres to produce two halves.

    A surprisingly quick process not requiring

too much effort due to good tools...

     By splitting wood in this way the fire

produces different textures and shapes...