James,
I wanted offer some praise to J.J.S. and is thorough submission titled Heating with Wood 101. I’m following his lead and wanted to offer your readers some additional ideas on wood processing with some stealth after TSHTF. Running a 50cc chainsaw and a 34-ton log splitter is all fine and dandy when there’s no one around meaning to do you any harm but its completely inappropriate in a TEOTWAWKI situation. If you are lucky enough to have a renewable energy source its advisable to switch to electrical tools because they are so quiet. Either of the big box stores carry electric chainsaws and electric, 5-ton log splitters at reasonable prices. I’ve also found that they have a semi-professional grade chain sharpener that’ll make the teeth on your chain look like a mirror when sharpened. While the 5 ton splitter isn’t going to split 3 foot diameter pine trees like a gas one will, it will go through the same wood once you quarter it with a maul. Just add a bit of oil to the maul on the splitter and it’ll do just fine. Here are quick links to the three products I recommend:
- WORX electric chainsaw.
- Task Force 5-Ton Electric Log Splitter.
- Buffalo Tools ECSS Electric Chainsaw Sharpener
Regards, – Gilpin Guy
JWR Replies: I appreciate your advice, but the brands that you mentioned are mostly made in mainland China. (See my many admonitions about China’s laogui prison factories.)
The WORX brand tools and their batteries are all made in China. One alternative: I have a Makita 14-inch electric chain saw, and I’ve been quite happy with it. To the best of my knowledge, those are still made in Japan.
The Task Force brand tools (a house brand of Lowe’s) are also imported. Many of those come from China. An American-made alternative that is more powerful (16-tons of force) is produced by Ramsplitter. As electric splitters go, these are fast and powerful. Another American-made electric splitter is the 10-ton dual-action splitter made by DR. Unlike a typical gas engine splitter, most electric splitters cannot be heard from more than a short distance away.
The Buffalo Tools brand products are made in China. An excellent American-made alternative is made by Silvey. Unlike the cheap imported chain grinders, these cut a precision square notch.