29/10 Yesterday afternoon I further set, adjusted and nailed about 2.5 sections of the fence. In the morning, I split about 10 more larch slats out of some logs to finish the larch section and have a few larch spare slats apart.

#handmade #fence #handsplitted #heartwood #hardwork #woodwork #larch #arollapine #wood #art
Thanks for asking. Mainly only two steel splitting wedges (Stubai) with self-made extra long ash wood handles (with iron ring on top) for proper impact (the ones from the hardware store didn't last long), and a heavy mallet or a Halder/Simplex malleable cast iron with ash handles that I made myself as well. I'll take a photo my tools later on. I usually get along with the two splitting wedges mentioned, otherwise I use a third iron wedge or the Fiskars splitting axe. When the trees are very difficult to split (due to twisted growth and many branches), I sometimes use a chainsaw to weaken the tree at some point mostly on the bigger branches. To work out the branches nicely, I placed a wedge just in front of and just behind the branch, then the sapwood jumps away or tears apart.
Over a length of more than 2 meters, the wedges must be applied more frequently and precisely, otherwise the splitting processes usually break outwards.

@valentinzi

Would a froe be useful for splitting?

Yes, that's right. I also use two froes (shingle irons), but mainly for fine work and shorter lengths. Everyone has their own techniques, preferences, splitting methods, and tools. Workbenches and clamping or fixing devices often prove to be very useful. I sometimes work in an unconventional rough way. :) By doing, you often find out what works well for you.

@valentinzi

That's a good looking fence. Sorry if you've already posted it, but what tools are you using to split the wood?