WOODCUTTERS IMPLEMENTS. 



211 



wooden wedges, and this not uufrequently happens with cracked or 

 frozen wood. Sand or dry earth is placed in the 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 flat instead of 

 curved, or grooves f inch broad and ^ inch deep cut in them, 

 during use the wood is pressed into these grooves and the 

 wedge thus firmly held. 



Quite recently a screw wedge (tig. 100) has been invented for 

 use while trees are being felled, and this is held fast by the 

 wood. 



Yui. 101. 



[Fig. 101 represents a toothed wedge, invented by Schniicke, which 

 is used for forcing over a felled tree, or splitting tough roots, the wedge 

 is drivcn-in up to (a), the bolt (a) then removed and (c) forced 

 outwards by the screw (b). (Nos. on fig. are centimeters). — Tr.] 



(b) Cleaving axes. — The cleaving-axe differs from the felling-axe 

 by its superior weight, size and greater resemblance to a wedge. 

 It generally weighs 4|- to 5h lbs., or even up to 8 lbs. in special 

 cases, but resembles felling axes in shape, except that its back 

 is flat, and generally made of steel, to render it more suitable 

 for driving wedges into wood. 



Fig. 102 represents the cleaving-axe used in the Harz, it is 

 two inches (5.5 centimeters) broad at the back, and weighs about 

 5^ lbs. Fig, 103 is an axe used in Upper Bavaria and weighs about 

 5 lbs., its flat back is used for breaking off dead stumps from felled 

 stems as well as for driving in wedges. Fig. 104 is the Thurin- 



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