Pickaroon: Cool Tool Show & Tell

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[falconeer]

I love the concept "let me clean it up to show respect"

[johna]

Scott, because of your urging, I will leave a comment. As a 66 y.o. retired contractor I can categorically state that if I had used a pickaroon for the 38 years I was active, I would have lasted a few more years. I have no idea how much lumber I moved the wrong way, but it was enough to wear my back out by the time I hit 60. Young men and women who do this kind work for living take heed.

[louislarose]

Interesting timing - Just came in from my shop, where I put a handle on a pickaroon that I forged.

[SaturdayNiteSpecial]

We use the smaller pickaroons for firewood stacking.

[duanelundgren]

At 75, I'm pleased to remember my younger days in Cottage Grove, Oregon, just out of high school (and before Vietnam).... I was selling firewood... Pond Lillys they were called. Yes, I had a pickaroon and also a pike pole.... (and a splitting Though no longer needed, it'd fun to still have them!! Thanks for the trip!!

[GeorgeSmith-gupy]

Thanks for the pickaroon,
"it'll help an old man work a little longer"
In my working years I have learned more from old men than I have learned from young chargers.
Eyes and ears open, mouth shut...

[elffirrdesign]

Remember turning on some hippie landscapers to the pickaroon moving railroad tie up a hill for a staircase Back in the late seventies. A lot better than creosote burns on your forearms! Had to fabricate one for them and as you said in my youth I had not paid attention to the tip. Thanks I am going to address and redress my tips to chisel, I learned to use these while living in Eugene and living out on the rural fringes while being a U of O student from California. My neighbors were wonderful folks like you who were eager to share the joy and satisfaction of the simple tasks and work...essential indeed! Even used one out at Coach Bowerman's place trying to stack firewood. He was a wizard with one and could pick and throw up a stack exquisitely being of Oregonain stock and all. He used a short one like you showed and yes there was a lanyard on it as well that allowed you to let it go to use two hand for adjusting things with two hand s and not loosing it.

[vikingnorm]

This is by far my favorite channel, I use picaroons & a hookaroon while splitting my firewood

[GridIndustries]

I picked one up at a flea market a few years back! It looks about like yours do - neglected, sitting in a corner somewhere for who knows how long until it's called upon again to save our backs. Next time i'm taking a tree down i'll be sure to use it to handle the various lengths I'd otherwise have to pick up. We don't do any commercial logging here in Kansas for obvious reasons, but plenty of firewood cutting, clearing for pasture or cleaning up storm damage, etc. When I'm processing and stacking my firewood this year for the inevitable winter, I'll take the time to appreciate this too. I was super excited when I found it and have added it to my collection of axes - ready to be used, whenever that may be.

[WibbyKDX]

We use them in plywood mill for clearing jam ups

[derekmills]

Very interesting. I live in Bolton, UK. I've never heard of a pickaroon, although Stihl, for example, make a small 'hookaroon' for similar use.
I do have a similar tool with a three foot handle (we aren't all metric people here!). It came from the old Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Locomotive Works at nearby Horwich (now demolished). It was a platelayer's* tool and had three uses:
1 there is a ¾" wide rounded chisel tipped spike similar to yours for 'picking and moving' wooden railway sleepers.
2 the chisel tip is also a rough 'chisel' for gouging out areas on a sleeper to help level the plates or chairs.
3 on the opposite side of the forged head is a stubby axehead for chopping out the area of a sleeper to be levelled for the plate or chair.
*Platelayer is a general term (less in use now) for a person who works on the railway (permanent way or railroad in the US). In the early days of the railway their skill was in placing the plates or chairs as level as possible on the wooden sleepers, onto which the track was laid.

[Chuck-U-Farlie]

'The Pickaroons' -sounds like a great bluegrass band name.

[paulbisceglia]

I admire your wisdom. You seam to always be teaching something

[stevehansen]

Good time of the year to frame up a spec house.

[johnduffy]

TOTAL back saver. Wish I had known about this tool 47 years ago...My neighbor bought me one this Christmas. My back is sooo happy!

[greatitbroke]

I had seen one before never knew what it was. Thanks Scott.

[jway]

Picked one up at an estate sale last year, they had no idea what it was. Brought it home, cleaned it up and use boiled linseed oil on the handle and on the end. The head tightened up after several applications on the end. It works great and like you said it does save your back.

[scottfurlong]

I had no idea these tools even existed until a couple of days ago when I stumbled upon another video. My back is sore every time I move around firewood mostly because I'm bending over all the time picking you up off the ground. This would help me out a lot and this video is helping me choose the correct type to purchase. Thanks!

[riverrat]

I grew up using the shorter ones for processing firewood. Game changer splitting wood. I to this day use my fiberglass handled framing hammer to stand up and move chord wood. You do not have to bend over and wrap your hands around every piece. Big difference.

[DeliveryMcGee]

My brother, an avid collector/restorer of old axes and chainsaws, once bought a cheap new hatchet and cut/ground it into a pickaroon just like the small one you showed, for handling firewood after splitting.