Posted on 01/02/2010 3:01:30 PM PST by incredulous joe
Natural wonders never cease!
I was just splitting firewood.
It is about 20 degrees with a 10 to 15 degree chill factor, and noticed a spark come off the head of my ax while I spilt one particular log.
I examined the log, but did not find any metal in the wood.
Is it possible that a spark can be generated from steel to wood contact. I have split a lot of wood in my day and I have to say that I have never had this occur previously ~ ever.
Has anyone else? Theories?
A tiny piece of sand will do it.
I have seen the same thing when hitting a golf ball.
I’ve seen sparks before when cutting locust, which is a very hard wood.
You’re creating friction, which generates heat. Sparks coming from such a process really isn’t that odd, if you think about it.
If the cherry you were splitting was already seasoned and dry, it makes even more sense.
Tiger is that you.
My husband gets lots of sparks when he cuts frozen wood with a chain saw (not recommended, by the way).
Conversely, I've seen that many times. Guess it depends on the ax, the wood and the several other factors. I've always thought it had to do with a fleck of metal - coming from the ax itself.
Enjoy your wood stove, I really miss mine. I now live where the envirowackos have deemed you have to have a gas fireplace. And it sure ain’t the same.
Many materials, both natural and man-made, exhibit piezoelectricity:
Wood due to piezoelectric texture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectricity#Other_natural_materials
Those who manufacture products from hickory can tell you stories about the wear on equipment, etc.
Appalachian oak will have a lot of mineral.
Although I have never heard of mineral in cherry, that does not mean anything. I would bet that cherry grown in the mountains would have some.
But the answer is yes, if it is a wood that has high mineral content, you can get a spark without nails, metal chips, gravel, etc.
I presumed it might be the extreme cold. In an effort to get it done quickly, I was wacking the stuff pretty fast and hard.
The wood, which is cherry, is already very hard and dense, but I assume also with crystals of water in it.
I guess you can generate a spark off steel and organic matter ~ I think the stone theory is plausible, as well ~ I’d be curious to know thereal X’s and O’s of such a theory.
With the chainsaw, that's probably from a little side pressure misalignment or metal to metal contact between the chain and the bar.
I checked with my dad, and he says it is very possible to have those sparks. Says trees grow around stuff, gravel, sand, you already knew a nail or other metal was possible. I think the friction of the axe hitting the dense wood could do it. I wonder if the cold and dry winter air makes it more possible to throw off a spark when chopping wood? I bet dry winter air makes it a lot more likely to happen.
We used to heat our farm house with a Ben Franklin stove when I was a kid, so we all spent plenty of time getting wood for the fire.
Ah the good old days!
It’s static electricity.
Ironwood?
dirt on the axe head?
Don’t axe me!
I think it is possible. I see sparks downhill skiing sometimes when I believe it is only interaction b/n the metal edge of the ski and hard ice.
Mesquite sometimes has grit in its grain. I’ve never seen it spark, though. But it’s possible there was some grit or sand.
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