TOOLS FOR SPLITTING WOOD. 



105 



wood, the friction against their smooth sides being less than 

 with wooden wedges ; this happens not unfrequently with 

 cracked or frozen wood. Sand or dry earth is placed in the 



120. KL'. 121. Fig. 122. 



iron wedges with wooden lops. Wooden wedg<-. lUessing's screw wedge. 



cleft to prevent this, and a proper shape of the wedge renders 

 it less likely to happen. Thus, if the sides of the wedge be 

 Hat instead of curved, or grooves ^ inch broad and /.- inch deep 



t. i 



. !2.'i. Schniicke's toothed wedge. Nos. are centimeters. 



are cut in them, during use the wood is pressed into these 

 grooves and the wedge thus firmly held. 



Quite recently a screw wedge (Fig. 122) has been invented 

 by Blessing for use while trees are being felled ; this is 

 held fast by the wood, but is not to be recommended. 



o 2 



