Traditional Firewood
Watch Alan Waters give a fascinating and entertaining demo of traditional wood cutting in a Woodlands TV video.
Under the slightly dodgy title of “Pimps, Faggots and Benders” Alan gives a demonstration of cutting traditional firewood. In case you’re wondering, a pimp is a bundle of kindling and a faggot a bundle of sticks. He explains how they were traditionally used and how they are used today. The bender is what he’s standing underneath, a temporary shelter in other words!
He also demonstrates making a thatching spar. Watching a skilled woodsman splitting, or “cleaving” a 29 inch “gad” into slender spars without breaking them or letting the split run off in the wrong direction is impressive stuff. Definitely worth a look …
See more demos and tips at http://www.woodlandstv.co.uk/
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4 comments so far
Mike
27 January, 2009
I love the title! I’ve come across a bundle of sticks being called a faggot, but never heard of a collection of kindling being referred to as a pimp before!
Alan Waters
10 February, 2009
We do not know the definitve meaning of the word pimp.One plausible theory is that ‘pimp’ is Welsh for five,and since 5×5=25,one pimp
Pete
7 January, 2011
How does a pimp differ from a Bavin? Or are they the same thing?
Alan Sage
13 February, 2011
A Bavin is bigger than a Pimp & was used mostly in ovens or kilns. Faggots & Bavins are also used ‘to fuel’ where as Pimps are used ‘to light’ fires.
Faggots also have other uses besides fuel.