Heating with wood and having a bad back

[4fire]

I had back problems for years. Bulging discs, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease. Then I learned about the back pain theories of Dr. John Sarno. He's been featured on the tv show 20/20, written books on back pain, and helped celebrities get rid of back pain. It may be worth a trip to the library to check out one of his books. He believes that the body can use pain to distract us from other things. I found it to be the case for me, but only after years of dealing with docs from GPs and chiropractors to neurosurgeons. According to the doctors, there's a lot of things I can't or shouldn't do. My back doesn't stop me from doing anything anymore.
Backs are weird. Lots of people have abnormalities that show up on an MRI, but don't have pain.

 

[Trktrd]

I wrecked my back 16 years ago and now have COPD. I just take it slow and know my limits, and use every tool at my disposal to make the job easier. Work smart, not hard.

 

[Brogan007]

Pay a local kid to do it for you. Or better yet, a Hispanic guy who's out of work. These guys work like demons.
The small $$ will be well spent, . They deserve the $$ more than some shyster chiropractor.
There's no shame in doing this. Accept your bad back and use your brain, not your back

 

[babzog]

Believe it or not, splitting wood actually makes my back feel better. I have a few herniated discs and pretty much chronic pain. Running the chain saw is way worse on my lower back than swinging the maul.

Exercise. Keep your back and tummy (your core) strong and you will have fewer back problems. My lower back, sore for 20 yrs, has been awesome the last couple of years since I started working out. Last summer, I slacked off and pulled my lower back muscles. Let that heal and started working out again. No more problems. You also recover quicker when you're in better shape. 4 weeks after I broke a rib last winter, I was working out again. I'm no athlete and still have some flab i'd like gone but I feel a lot better when I ezercise than when I don't.

 

[BrotherBart]

A mattress that cost more than my first new car and a pair of ramps from Harbor Freight and I no longer walk stooped over for most of the Spring. A fifty buck set of ramps to roll those rounds up into either the garden tractor trailer or the utility trailer and forgetting this macho lifting them chit. Roll'em up, haul'em, roll'em off at the splitter. And sleep on that firm mattress and be back pain free for the first two years in the last 45.

Ramps: $50

Mattress: $1,350

No back pain for two years: Priceless

 

[EJL923]

Hey BB, what kind of mattress, just anything firm? My wife and I have been contemplating a new matress for this reason. She wants a tempurpedic, but I do t want to spend that kind of dough when something else might do.

I have a standard 6 lb maul for splitting, but been thinking about a fiskars due to the reduced weight.

As far as ramps, I should utilize them more, good idea. My best use is driving my snowblower up the ramps to clean my deck after a snow. So much easier than shoveling

 

[BrotherBart]

Hey BB, what kind of mattress, just anything firm?

I have a Beautyrest extra firm. Hardest one they made. They change the names of the things every year. At first it is like sleeping on concrete but you get used to it.

 

[eclecticcottage]

Dh has herniated discs.

I help lift bigger rounds into the truck when scrounging.

For cutting, he runs the saw and I clear the work area and load any smaller rounds.

For splitting, he runs the splitter, but I bring the rounds to him and he just tosses the splits into a pile on the other side. Then I load the wheelbarrow and shuttle them to where we are stacking, and stack them. OR we load the little truck and bring that over to the stacks and I stack them. I've been having problems with my shoulder and elbow so I like using the truck a bit more than the wheelbarrow.

We haven't pulled from our own stacks yet. When we bought the cords we had to pick up, he helped toss the splits into the truck, then for the most part, I unloaded and stacked in the porch. I imagine when we do start using our stacks, we'll load the little truck and move it that way-at least until we get a cart for the tractor.

I bring in the wood/eco bricks for the night(s) and reload the wood box, then clean the hearth pad. He usually takes the ashes out of the stove, but I carry the hod out and dump it into the can outside.

I've always had an obession with old tractors, and wanted one for years. We just don't have enough land to make it justifible to buy one, so I found an early 60's Wheel horse Suburban lawn tractor for myself (kinda looks like a little Farmall). We haven't brought it out to the Cottage yet, but I think DH is going to steal it from me-the seat is metal like an old tractor seat and he says it's more comfortable than the one on the newer tractor we've got out there. If you're using a tractor to move wood, try sitting on a few to find one with a comfy seat.

 

[Jags]

so I found an early 60's Wheel horse Suburban lawn tractor for myself (kinda looks like a little Farmall).

Those make a nice little work horse. Ya can't break 'em even if you try.

 

[eclecticcottage]

so I found an early 60's Wheel horse Suburban lawn tractor for myself (kinda looks like a little Farmall).

Those make a nice little work horse. Ya can't break 'em even if you try.

I absolutely love it...even if I haven't gotten a chance to use it yet. DH thinks it a blast and mows the lawn with it. It's got a replacement 5 (or 6? I can't recall) horse Kohler in it, and the previous owner's dad rigged up a push button electric start. Pretty neat little machine, and its in nice shape (the hood was cut to fit the motor, but you can't really tell). I've got to get it cleaned up and repainted this year.

 

[Jags]

so I found an early 60's Wheel horse Suburban lawn tractor for myself (kinda looks like a little Farmall).

Those make a nice little work horse. Ya can't break 'em even if you try.

I absolutely love it...even if I haven't gotten a chance to use it yet. DH thinks it a blast and mows the lawn with it. It's got a replacement 5 (or 6? I can't recall) horse Kohler in it, and the previous owner's dad rigged up a push button electric start. Pretty neat little machine, and its in nice shape (the hood was cut to fit the motor, but you can't really tell). I've got to get it cleaned up and repainted this year.

Pics??

 

[mecreature]

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[Jags]

Mecreature - I had actually thought about building one similar to the 4 wheel version. I have dabbled in electric conversion of a couple of different things and it would probably be fairly easy.

 

[eclecticcottage]

so I found an early 60's Wheel horse Suburban lawn tractor for myself (kinda looks like a little Farmall).

Those make a nice little work horse. Ya can't break 'em even if you try.

I absolutely love it...even if I haven't gotten a chance to use it yet. DH thinks it a blast and mows the lawn with it. It's got a replacement 5 (or 6? I can't recall) horse Kohler in it, and the previous owner's dad rigged up a push button electric start. Pretty neat little machine, and its in nice shape (the hood was cut to fit the motor, but you can't really tell). I've got to get it cleaned up and repainted this year.

Pics??

Sure! These are from the previous owner's post about it before he put it up for sale:

You can see the old school style seat in the pics.

BTW, I don't know where I put my brain but if anyone finds it, I could use it back. It's a 61, and it is a Tecumseh, not a Kohler. It was SUPPOSED to be a Kohler (4 horse).

 

[Jags]

Those old dogs were cool.

That looks to be the 400 model. Maybe the 401.

 

[eclecticcottage]

I think it's the 401, but I'd have to double check. The guy we bought it from inherited it from his dad, who bought it brand new. Said it was slow-I'm guessing he never drove it after his dad put the Tecumseh on it, because it can almost pop a wheelie. It does slow up a bit when you engage the mower deck though. Beats the push mower either way though, lol.

to the Op, I guess my point is to use power tools when needed and when possible :D It's more fun anyway!

 

[ken999]

Pickeroon....by FAR the best handtool for working with firewood when it comes to back pain. They make life ALOT easier.

 

[Lumber-Jack]

so I found an early 60's Wheel horse Suburban lawn tractor for myself (kinda looks like a little Farmall).

Those make a nice little work horse. Ya can't break 'em even if you try.

I absolutely love it...even if I haven't gotten a chance to use it yet. DH thinks it a blast and mows the lawn with it. It's got a replacement 5 (or 6? I can't recall) horse Kohler in it, and the previous owner's dad rigged up a push button electric start. Pretty neat little machine, and its in nice shape (the hood was cut to fit the motor, but you can't really tell). I've got to get it cleaned up and repainted this year.

Pics??

Sure! These are from the previous owner's post about it before he put it up for sale:

You can see the old school style seat in the pics.

BTW, I don't know where I put my brain but if anyone finds it, I could use it back. It's a 61, and it is a Tecumseh, not a Kohler. It was SUPPOSED to be a Kohler (4 horse).

Cute little tractor, but I'm sorry to say the seating style on that thing is the same as what wrecked my back. You can't get your feet under you to support yourself, your torso weight is all resting on your tailbone.

 

[Jags]

Solution:
(train your eye on the seat, it is cushion ride seat.)

 

[eclecticcottage]

This has no springs (here's a better look at it)

We have a craftsman that came with the Cottage that has a padded seat with springs and all, and DH swears the Wheel Horse is more comfortable. He even chipped his tailbone a few years back, and still says the Horse has a more comfortable seat.

I think, like someone else said, everyone's back and problems are just a bit different, so you have to find what works for you. If we had the space and money, we'd probably get an ATV-but we've also heard conflicting reports that they need to be registered even if they don't leave your property, which seems like a waste of $$. It would be nice to use to move wood and snowplow (if we ever need it, lol), but the tractors can do that too, and it's not like either of us would be using them for a really long period of time. I'm looking at getting a tilling attachment for one of them as well, so we can get the garden in without using the rototiller/hand digging. I could use a post hole digger attachment too though, lol, since I'll be planting about 100 shrubs come springtime...fun stuff.

 

[Lumber-Jack]

The little lawn tractors I use to ride had fully padded seats, but knowing what I know now I would have gladly traded them for something with bare metal seats on an ergometricly design machine that I could have my feet under my rump. The problem isn't the padding, but how your back absorbs the constant side to side jostling while driving over rough terrain.
Obviously the amount of time you spend on the thing, and how rough or smooth your terrain is, will have a huge bearing on the impact it will have on you.
It took 12 years of riding those things before I started to realize where my back problems were coming from. One reason it took so long to figure out was because even after a few hours of riding thing around I could get off and go about my business for the rest of the day without any noticeable effects. However the next day I would do something simple like reaching for the eggs in the lower shelf of the fridge and BAM! I'd be on the floor, and unable to work for a week.
As I say, it took a long time realize that it was the mowing I did the day before that caused the injury, not reaching for the eggs or whatever I did the next day that set it off. It was the delay between the cause and the effect made it difficult to determine the root cause of my back problems.
Anyway, I look at those things now and I can see the hidden danger, and I'd be negligent if I didn't speak up.

Ride easy ;-)

 

[Flatbedford]

I have suffered back pain since my teens so i have learned to either work smart or be in pain. I try to work with and not against gravity whenever possible. When cutting I use my pickeroon to roll or drag the rounds to my truck. I split the rounds into manageable size before I lift them onto the truck.
(broken image removed)
I pull the rounds or splits to the end of the truck with the pickeroon so both feet are firmly planted on the ground.

No crazy reaching or climbing on and off the truck.
Whenever possible, I split as I unload. That way the wood goes from the truck to the chopping block with gravity on its side. I park the tractor cart close to the chopping block so I can toss the splits in as I make them.

It took me a few years to put this system and the tools that it requires together, but the increased efficiency and easier work has benefited my not so young anymore body. I also use the lightest tools possible. I do most of my splitting with the lighter Fiskars Pro Splitting Axe. I think it has a 2 1/2 lb head.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Looks real good Steve.

 

[rideau]

Long ago decided to forego heavy loads and get my 20000 paces a day by carting splits one or two at a time. Cut trunks into 16 inch lengths (have to decide on 12 or 20 inch now that I habe a PH-concerned about hand splitting those 20 inch lengths, even about getting them up on a splitter if I succumb and buy one): If 8 inches or less in diameter, carry them to my road (winds through 24 acres to the house) or my sister's road (winds through the adjacent 12 acres) and stack them beside the road. More than 8 inches I split them in situ with a wedge and sledge (just think it's safer since I'm alone in the woods...also means I get less grief from my daughter and sons about CSS my own wood) and carry them 2 at a time (about 12 pound splits, eventual dried weight) to the road. Anything 6 inches or less I cut into 48 inch lengths, process the rest at the house. I do this until I have a good amount of wood along the road. If I happen to be cutting where I have a good level clear line to the road, I'll use the wheel barrow, and load up at the cut site and wheel to the road . I have a bed cover in the back of my suburban. Put a good amount of wood in the back of the suburban and drive to the house. Split the rest on the wood (and cut the 4 foot lengths) on a round on a slab of bedrock between the house and woodpile. Toss the splits into the wheelbarrow as I go (keep round together while splitting by any one of various methods. Stack the splits as I go. That way I am not doing any one activity for an extended period. The breaks and change in muscles used is helpful is preventing pain. I also find I build better stacks...just instinctively check them more often as I go. Stacks are about 40 paces from my sliding glass door. Use "bins" (rectangular plastic grocery shopping bins our grocery store sells, complete with molded handles on the ends and web straps on the side, about 18 in x 12in x 10 in deep,I guess) to bring firewood into the house, each bin carries enough wood for a good fire: put the bins on my landing 4 ft x 4 ft, about 4.5 feet high, and one on each step (2 x 12 douglas fir). Carry the splits two at a time (these are big splits) to the bins. Fill all the bins. Lift the bins one at a time into the house, leave them just inside the door for a bit until they warm up. Walk the dog. Come home, carry the bins to the stove, load a number onto my 3 ft diameter circle of forged iron that is my wood rack. Place two bins in front of my stack for my next two fires, As I empty the bins, I turn each bin upside down into the first empty bin, then stack all the bins under the first. Next time I go out, I take the top bin, dump the detrius on any icy spots outside...works great and is much cleaner than ash. Walk the dog, fill the bin on my way back inside. Always fill a bin, by carrying a comfortable weight of splits to the bin which is on the steps, every time I go out. Makes for a reasonably long interval between having to move lots of wood at a time. When I do move much aim to fill that rack with two bins left. Gives me 3 1/2 to fours days of heat, in reserve for bad weather. Mostly I manage to burn with the wood I carry in in single bin loads. If I have really nice special wood in a bin, I'll add it to the rack and burn lesser wood from the rack. That way I end up with wood on the rack that is nice and clean and totally bug free that I am comfortable leaving in the house indefinitely. BTW, I have a second rack that is full of 6 inch perfect ironwood logs 18 inches long...been there several years. My safety reserve against the inevitable blizzard/ice storm,injury, illness etc..All low tech, but it works for me.