Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

AXEMANSHIP 201bench seat, if it will not spli^'^^ight : Score th^top of it with notches of unifSujlfegppth, like sawteeth, but as far apart as the ^uff *^li block offevenly; then chop out the bloc$s,^^aflH J^ smooth(along the dotted line A B in Fig. 40).^^"%^.When much hewing is to be done, a broadaxe oradze is used; but both of these tools are difficultand dangerous for an inexperienced man to handl^i>^tiiiu and iiciLHcx neither ui of them Luciii will Win be oe oDiainaDie obtainable except wnei^ whe%. %^skilled'^''^—artisans can —---—--^5^be hired to wield them. •'./-^'"'-^-"^h^^^bi^BFig. 40.—Scoring and HewingSplitting Timber.—Logs split through the centerinto half-logs with one face flat are very usefulin cabins and about camp, for tables, benches,shelves, and other rustic furniture. They also areemployed in making slab camps, puncheons for flooring,and small enclosed cabins. In the latter case,split logs have certain advantages over round ones.They take only half as many trees, they are easierfor one or two men to handle, easier to notch forthe corners, make close joints without much, if anychinking, and leave a flat surface for the interiorof the cabin. They may also be used vertically insteadof horizontally, and in this way short logs canbe utilized.The only implements needed in splitting logs arean axe (single-bitted) and a maul and some woodenwedges made with the axe. The maul is madein club shape (Fig. 41). Beech, oak and hickoryare good materials, but any hardwood that does notsplinter easily will do. Choose a sapling about fiveinches thick at the butt, not counting the bark. Diga little below the surface of the ground and cutthe sapling off where the stools of the roots begin.(The wood is very tough here, and this is to be usedfor the large end of the maul, which should be