Taking off the branches

Once you’ve fallen a tree you should take off all its branches (illustration 1) Always start as shown on illustration 2. Do not proceed as shown on illustration 3. According to the size of the branch you might need to make a V gash into the wood.

Cutting up the firewood

The easy way to cut up some firewwod is to do so "in the air". Hold it up straight in one hand. Hammer a by blow into the wood on one side (illustration 4) than turn it on the other side ans repeat. Two blows should be enough to cut the wood (illustration 5)

Chopping a log

Always use a block. It should be strong, stable and flat. Hammer on the hatchet held firmly in one hand. Never use an iron mallet, prefer wood. (illustration 6)

Working with precision

In some cases you can hold your hatchet by the head and not the handle. You can then use the hatchet to smoothen a flat (chopped log) or round (a plug) surface. Push the head of the hatchet sideways (illustration 7). That way you can precisely adjust a tenon or take the bark off a log.