Split Rails with Simple Tools

A colonial approach to split rail processing
We take hand made gluts out of dogwood along with an single bit axe to split a hollowed out black locust into rails for a split rail fence.
Our favorite fictional book about Kentucky living in the early 1800's. amzn.to/2GwhfWd
Check out our website www.ramshacklehomesteadsurviv...
Instagram @ramshacklehomesteadsurvive
Facebook Ramshackle Homestead with Keith and Jen

[@bobnancymiller4931]

When you see the effort involved in splitting rails and building your fences, it really puts some context to historical accounts of armies/ invaders coming in to a colony and taking down the rail fences for campfires !

[@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen]

Bob & Nancy Miller that would be terrible an entire fence is very labor intensive.

[@erichusayn]

The way you two work together and know exactly what to do without even speaking. Very cool.

[@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen]

Eric Husayn thank you , we spend most our time working together.

[@erichusayn]

@@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen welcome. It shows. Lol

[@kowalski363]

Great video

[@1rdgrnnr]

you two are phenominal , love you,ns !!!!

[@guns4funcajanajustin]

Nice team work

[@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen]

Survival Mindset thanks!

[@danjennings6817]

Now I know how you 2 stay in awesome shape! Wow that was a lot of hard work. The part that you guys always make my day is you can work hard together and get along so well. Thanks for that also. Love your vids guys! Dan from Jersey

[@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen]

Dan Jennings crop fit 😂😂

[@ciphercode2298]

I took out a wooden walk bridge that went across the creek behind my house that was built back in the 1980s. The main poles that laid across the creek were locust and about 16 feet long. They were still solid as a rock. Solid enough that I cut them down to fence post size for future repurposing. Good stuff.

[@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen]

They last forever

[@kevinroberts9580]

You guys are awesome, she has got to be the most amazing lady with a voice that is so soothing to listen to... Got to see if we can clone her😁

[@davidveale]

Perfect idea for a hollow locust! I've developed a fondness for ironwood mallets and gluts, which are even more durable (though usually tougher to find) than dogwood. Worth trying if you can locate some anyway.

[@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen]

David Veale is rare here, thought about trying Osage.

[@hillbillynick2000]

Good work! I've made tens of thousands of rails exactly the same way (except with metal wedges and a post maul!) We sold fence posts every spring when I was a kid on the farm. Mostly Ash but plenty of Locust as well. Around 5,000 a year! BTW, if you haven't tried it yet, the inner bark of locust makes nice cordage. Can't wait to see that fence!

[@jeffgrier8488]

Great video, I would love to see how the fence turns out!

[@Ukepa]

we have beautiful split-rail fences at the Pea Ridge (Arkansas) Military Park. I wondered how the rails were made. Good video!

[@Pirateforliberty]

Just so y'all know, a great tool for getting that bark off easily is called a Barking Spud. It's a large chisel like tool that is wide (4-5 in) and curved to form to a log and it has a handle about 2.5 - 3 ft long. You can scrape the bark right off with one. And yes they are period. Rail splitters used to use them.

[@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen]

Jonathan Whiting yes , we have one somewhere around here .

[@dungeonmaster6292]

The cross cut saw they're using is a felling saw. A bucking saw would have been more appropriate but of course what would you fell the tree with? They're doing great

[@oldschoolwithamoderntwist6074]

,,,nice job on splitting rails for your fence very nice indeed ,,,

[@rowanfernsler9725]

Make sure you always start the split dead center to avoid runout

[@therealbigfoot3076]

I can't even get my wife off the couch

[@srdoberman]

I like the way you work///do you have any single sisters////impressive

[@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen]

Lol , no the one and only !

[@danielkohli1542]

That looks like it's fun.

[@georgewallacejr5644]

good video like it very much 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏼

[@archenema6792]

I subscribed when I saw you on the Townsends, and I haven't been disappointed. I love your wooden splitting wedges, very smart. I've seen folks use stone ones that shattered like grenade when hit at the wrong angle. Have you made an adze or a maul? I'd love to see more building construction. :)

[@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen]

ArchEnema 67 we have a few cool building videos planned this year.

[@archenema6792]

@@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen Awesome! I can't wait to see some authentic frontier building!

[@zoemeow7677]

Are neat hmm neat 💖

[@AM1015-]

with proper planning this fence will be done in the year 2074

[@jstewart627]

Now how was Abraham Lincoln able to make 400 of those, 10 foot long, in a day for $0.25 per day!?

[@kaseyhyde6503]

Very interesting to see how you done the split rail. Jenn, you're ruining a good right handed mallet. Lol, do they have right handed dogwood there, or no ? Thanks for sharing. 😉

[@kenweis2291]

Id hate to be on the recieving end

[@myminifarm5700]

Very intresting tools. New subscriber. Pleased to have your support

[@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen]

Mo. Small backyard And Worm casting thanks so much!

[@thewombat8039]

Very cool! How many rails did you get, and how much time involved?

[@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen]

Jim Gifford 6 rails in that log and about an hour and 10 minutes

[@Cosmo0114]

Isn’t there a Home Depot near by??

[@tonycamaro1677]

Great video. What axes are you using there?

[@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen]

Tony Camaro they are both antiques. One actually is forged welded with a bit.

[@WorldsOkayestFarmer]

Pretty cool way to make a fence #WorldsOkayestFarmer

[@j.c.delich5520]

You might have an easier and safer time using steel wedges and hammers instead of axes. The technology to make steel axes is the same technology one needs for steel hammers and wedges and has been common since the 1600s. Before that they would have had wrought iron wedges and hammers commonly and perhaps steel in lesser quantity.