Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Squaw Wood
Search a forested area for standing pine trees. Any species of pine will work, but trees of moderate height might be best for easy collecting. Search for squaw wood, or dead branches around the base of the tree or still attached to the trunk.
Break off dead branches within reach. If not sure whether a branch is dead or not, then bend a thin part with your hands. If the sample snaps with an audible crack, the branch is likely dry and ready to burn.
Tie a rock or other weight to the end of a 10-foot rope and then toss the weight over any dead branch that is out of reach.
Grab both ends of the rope and pull the branch until it breaks. If it bends without breaking, then let it be.
Break or cut (with a hand saw) your supply of dead wood to one-foot lengths.
Split all branches that are one inch in diameter or greater with an ax. Be sure to use a flat chopping block under the wood that you are splitting.
Stack and store the wood in a dry place.
Standing Dead Pines
Search the wood for standing dead pines. Many pines prefer sandy ridges and rocky outcrops, and they grow relatively close together. Also learn to recognize the bark, which can be distinguished by its thick, patchy structure.
Find a dead pine with a diameter of six inches or less. Since pines are evergreens, lack of needles is a good sign. But always break a few thin branches with your hands to make sure.
Cut the tree with the cross-cut saw. It is better to have a second person with you to push on the trunk in the direction of the cut.
Saw or break the felled tree into one-foot pieces.
Tote the cut wood back to your campsite or home and split the wood with a short-handled ax.