Philip J. Smith's Blog

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Hults Bruk Bjork Splitting Axe Review

The Hults Bruk Bjork Splitting Axe is a lightweight axe with a 30″ long handle that's good for splitting soft woods or dry wood with a straight grain. It's perfectly good for around the house and splitting seasoned wood, but doesn't cut it for splitting freshly cut green wood or wood with knots and twists in it. Think maple.

I spend a fair amount of time harvesting firewood from the National Forest (with a permit) where I live and I heat my cabin exclusively with a wood stove. I mostly burn ash, beech, birch, and maple. This past year I harvested and split about 4 cords with a friend, all by hand. We cut up downed trees with chain saws and split it on the spot before hauling it home in a trailer to dry. They say firewood warms you many times and that's the truth. You don't need a gym membership if you have a decent wood pile.

Harvesting firewood in the national forest

When I'm harvesting green wood, I usually split it with a 36″ Fiskars x27 Splitting Axe that weighs 5.4 pounds and has a 4 pound head. It does a great job, splitting meaty 75-year-old rounds with ease. The Hults Bruk Bjork has a much shorter handle (30″) and lighter weight, with a total weight of 4.7 pounds and a 3.4 pound head. It doesn't pack the same wallop and it takes many more swings of the axe to split the same amount of green wood than the Fiskars X27.

The narrow head of the Bjork buries itself in green wood

But the main difference between the axes is the head shape. The Bjork has a narrow head that gets stuck in green wood and is a pain to remove, while the Fiskars has a wedge-shaped head that rarely gets buried and blasts the wood apart. The difference doesn't matter as much on seasoned wood or a low moisture, straight-grained species like ash, but it's very noticeable with green wood. I also suspect that the shorter length of the Bjork is a secondary factor, since a longer and heavier axe like the Fiskars X27 is probably traveling faster when it hits the wood.

The Bjork's narrow head splits seasoned wood well.

The Hults Bruk Bjork is still a nice tool if all you have to do is split seasoned wood, including wood that's been dried by a reseller and delivered to your house. It has a nice hickory handle and the head holds an edge well. I use the Bjork at home to chop kindling from seasoned wood and it works fine for that. But it's not the right splitting axe for green wood, fresh from the tree.

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Last updated: 2018-12-21 03:45:06

Disclosure: Hults Bruk gave the author a sample axe for this review.

Editor's note: Help support this site by making your next gear purchase through one of the links above. Click a link, buy what you need, and the seller will contribute a portion of the purchase price to support SectionHiker's unsponsored gear reviews, articles, and hiking guides.

The post Hults Bruk Bjork Splitting Axe Review appeared first on Section Hikers Backpacking Blog.

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Colwood Corners by Onni in Victoria

Colwood Corners by Onni Group is a new 5 storey condo development located in Victoria, BC. This project will offer 284 units. Upon completion, Colwood Corners has the potential to provide 125,000 square feet of retail as well as multi-family residential.

The post Colwood Corners by Onni in Victoria appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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Colwood Corners by Onni in Victoria

The post Colwood Corners by Onni in Victoria appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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IndieView with Darek Black, author of Date with My Boss’s Daughter

I was thinking of so many scenarios that exist where a business owner has his daughter working at his firm. I felt it would be an interesting story to explore if an employee actually went out on a date with his boss’s daughter.

Darek Black – 20 December 2018

The Back Flap

What could possibly happen when an employee at a major advertising agency makes the ambitious decision to go out on a date with his boss’s daughter? It’s a night that Bobby Hunter will never forget.

About the book

What is the book about?

First off, thank you for having me. Date with My Boss’s Daughter is about what happened when an employee from an advertising agency goes out on a date with his boss’s daughter. It’s about everything that happened that night.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing the book May of 2017.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took me about a week to write it and about two weeks to edit it.

Where did you get the idea from?

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The hardest part of the process was the editing.

What came easily?

The development of the story, as far as what happens and the conclusion. The dialogue also came pretty easy. I had a lot of fun writing this book.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

My characters are completely fictitious.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

There are a lot of authors that have influenced me.

I like Stephen King’s nuanced and multilayered style of writing. It could be a horror book, but he’ll find a way to inject a little humor.

I also really like Peter Abrahams, specifically how he builds suspense and writes incredible dialogue.

I love how George Orwell and John Steinbeck put messages in their books.

Do you have a target reader?

I would say it depends on the book. My primary goal is to make the book as entertaining as possible. I believe that Date with My Boss’s Daughter could be entertaining for any age group, but if I had to pick an age group, I would say 17 to 45. I think both men and women could find this book enjoyable.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I like to first think of the idea for the book. Sometimes I’ll have a conclusion in mind as I start writing, other times a conclusion develops as I write. I like to write freely as thoughts come to mind.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

For a shorter story, I generally do not outline. I just try to have an understanding of the beginning, middle, and end.

For a longer story, I may outline to indicate certain events that need to happen to make the story work.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

If it’s a glaring error that I see, I’ll edit at that moment. But generally, I prefer to edit after I finish because I want to make sure that I get all of my thoughts down.

Did you hire a professional editor?

After I did my own editing, I hired a professional editor to finetune.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I don’t listen to any music while I write.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I didn’t submit my work. At this time, I’d rather go the self-publishing route.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I felt the self-publishing route was the best way to publish my books without delay. I want to have the opportunity to be able to release a book when I feel that it’s ready to come out.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I had my book cover professionally done.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

This is my first published book, so I’m learning as I go. I do try to market the book on the different social media outlets, along with on my website DarekBlack.com.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

As a newbie myself that’s still learning, my biggest advice is that new authors have their own website to market their work. I recommend building as much momentum as possible prior to the release of their book.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Boston, but I spent all of my adult life in NYC up until recently.

Where do you live now?

I currently live in Atlanta.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I hope my books leave a lasting impression, no matter the subject matter or genre.

You can learn more about me at DarekBlack.com.

What are you working on now?

I’m preparing the release of my second book titled The Psychologist and editing my third. I want to again thank The Indie View and the readers.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Date with My Boss’s Daughter from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

from The IndieView https://ift.tt/2PVkYOI

IndieView with Darek Black, author of Date with My Boss’s Daughter

Darek Black – 20 December 2018

The Back Flap

What could possibly happen when an employee at a major advertising agency makes the ambitious decision to go out on a date with his boss's daughter? It's a night that Bobby Hunter will never forget.

About the book

What is the book about?

First off, thank you for having me. Date with My Boss's Daughter is about what happened when an employee from an advertising agency goes out on a date with his boss's daughter. It's about everything that happened that night.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing the book May of 2017.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took me about a week to write it and about two weeks to edit it.

Where did you get the idea from?

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The hardest part of the process was the editing.

What came easily?

The development of the story, as far as what happens and the conclusion. The dialogue also came pretty easy. I had a lot of fun writing this book.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

My characters are completely fictitious.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

There are a lot of authors that have influenced me.

I like Stephen King's nuanced and multilayered style of writing. It could be a horror book, but he'll find a way to inject a little humor.

I also really like Peter Abrahams, specifically how he builds suspense and writes incredible dialogue.

I love how George Orwell and John Steinbeck put messages in their books.

Do you have a target reader?

I would say it depends on the book. My primary goal is to make the book as entertaining as possible. I believe that Date with My Boss's Daughter could be entertaining for any age group, but if I had to pick an age group, I would say 17 to 45. I think both men and women could find this book enjoyable.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I like to first think of the idea for the book. Sometimes I'll have a conclusion in mind as I start writing, other times a conclusion develops as I write. I like to write freely as thoughts come to mind.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

For a shorter story, I generally do not outline. I just try to have an understanding of the beginning, middle, and end.

For a longer story, I may outline to indicate certain events that need to happen to make the story work.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

If it's a glaring error that I see, I'll edit at that moment. But generally, I prefer to edit after I finish because I want to make sure that I get all of my thoughts down.

Did you hire a professional editor?

After I did my own editing, I hired a professional editor to finetune.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I don't listen to any music while I write.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I didn't submit my work. At this time, I'd rather go the self-publishing route.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I felt the self-publishing route was the best way to publish my books without delay. I want to have the opportunity to be able to release a book when I feel that it's ready to come out.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I had my book cover professionally done.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

This is my first published book, so I'm learning as I go. I do try to market the book on the different social media outlets, along with on my website DarekBlack.com.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

As a newbie myself that's still learning, my biggest advice is that new authors have their own website to market their work. I recommend building as much momentum as possible prior to the release of their book.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Boston, but I spent all of my adult life in NYC up until recently.

Where do you live now?

I currently live in Atlanta.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I hope my books leave a lasting impression, no matter the subject matter or genre.

You can learn more about me at DarekBlack.com.

What are you working on now?

I'm preparing the release of my second book titled The Psychologist and editing my third. I want to again thank The Indie View and the readers.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Date with My Boss's Daughter from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

from The IndieView https://ift.tt/2PVkYOI

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Ice Axe Insulation Hack for the CAMP Corsa

How to insulate an ice axe

The CAMP Corsa Ice Axe (8.8 oz) is the lightest weight walking ice axe available today, which explains its popularity with thru-hikers, ultralight backpackers, and ski mountaineers. It's a straight-shafted walking axe designed to stop uncontrolled slides down snow and ice covered slopes, as opposed to a curved and shorter ice-climbing axe which is used to climb frozen waterfalls and high angle ice.

When you think you might need an ice axe, you carry it in what's called the "ready position", with the butt of your hand wrapped around the pick and your fingers wrapped around the rear part, called the adze, with the point of the pick pointed away from your body. If you do fall, there's no time to think, so prepositioning the axe in your hand properly is the only way you'll be able to deploy it in time to prevent serious injury.

Tape up the parts you don't want to cover with insulation

I've always found it challenging to grip the CAMP Corsa in the ready position because a high dexterity glove is required to wrap around its small pick and shaft. But most high dexterity gloves lack the insulation required to grasp a freezing cold piece of aluminum and carry it for hours at a time. .

The Inspiration - New Grivel Helix Insulated Grip — The Inspiration – New Grivel Helix Insulated Grip

Then I saw a picture on facebook posted by Chris Townsend of a new walking axe called the Grivel Helix which comes with a pick head cover (not available yet in the US). I immediately started researching spray-on rubber-like insulation and decided to try to duplicate something like it for my Corsa.

This hack is pretty simple, but surprisingly effective. First buy some Plastic Dip ($6) This is a spray-on rubber-like insulation with all kinds of nasty solvents in it, so do your spraying and drying outside or in a very well ventilated place. Plasti-Dip is also easy to peel off by hand if you make a mistake or don't like the outcome.

Next tape up the parts of the axe you don't want to cover with painters masking tape.

Then spray 7-10 coats of Plasti-Dip on the exposed metal that you want to insulate. Let dry at least 30 minutes between coats. When finished, let the axe dry for a couple of days.

Remove the masking tape to reveal the insulated axe.

Before you remove the tape, cut the boundary between the tape and the uncoated bare metal portion with a razor blaze. Plastic-Dip forms a continuous skin over the exposed metal and the tape, so it's important to slice through the boundary so it doesn't peel off when you take off the tape.

Carefully peel the tape off. Ta dah! You now have an insulated ice axe head that you can bare hand in warm weather or hold with a high dexterity, lightly insulated glove.

The insulated ice axe head can be barehanded in warmer weather or gripped with a lightly insulated glove.

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Amazon US

~~$7.49~~ $5.82

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Last updated: 2018-12-19 22:30:05

Disclosure: The author purchased Plasti-Dip.

The post Ice Axe Insulation Hack for the CAMP Corsa appeared first on Section Hikers Backpacking Blog.

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Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Book Review: The Hidden Tracks by Cam Honan

I've never met Cam Honan in person, but I think we'd hit it off if our paths ever do cross. He's an exceptionally well-travelled backpacker who's walked across 56 countries and 6 continents, he can write well, and he visits a lot of off the beaten track places, which is probably what I admire most about him. Hiking long trails is all well and good, but the hikers that impress me the most are people who journey to unique destinations, plan their own routes, and enjoy mastering the unknown. Cam has always struck me as resourceful and humble fellow traveller who can land on his feet, which is a useful skill if you like to backpack in strange new places.

The Hidden Tracks is a compendium of destinations that Cam has travelled to and hiked, illustrated with fantastic large format photos of the unique landscapes he's experienced. Each chapter describes one journey, and includes an overview map, helpful travel and equipment tips, and other pertinent information. While there are a few long distance trails described like the Pyrenean Haute Route (45 days) and the Hayduke Trail (60 days) the majority of hikes are under one or two weeks in duration and accessible to moderately experienced hikers and backpackers.

Can Honan Hidden Tracks

But The Hidden Tracks is first and foremost a picture book full of scenic photos with the size and heft of a good coffee table book. If you're looking for a last-minute holiday gift to inspire a budding backpacker or your passport is feeling unloved and underutilized, get yourself a copy of The Hidden Tracks by Cam Honan.

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Amazon US

~~$60.00~~ $44.03

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Last updated: 2018-12-18 20:03:57

Disclosure: The author received a sample book for this review.

The post Book Review: The Hidden Tracks by Cam Honan appeared first on Section Hikers Backpacking Blog.

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