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59-537: Woodsmen or lumberjack competitions have their roots in competitions that took place in logging camps among loggers. As loggers were paid for piece work , the ability to perform a specific task more quickly, or with a degree of showmanship, was something to be admired. Today the tradition survives on college campuses across Canada and the United States, as well as on various competitive circuits worldwide, including ESPN's now-defunct Great Outdoor Games . The sport

118-436: A "meet", a series of events run throughout the day of competition. Meets may take place outdoors or inside a suitably large structure to safely accommodate the potentially dangerous tools used. An entry fee is charged to cover the cost of providing timber, awards, and food. Schools compete in teams of six. A school has the option to send multiple teams, each of which pays an entry fee. Events are divided among team members at

177-480: A broader face, with more edge to cut into the wood, and are often sharpened more than an average splitting axe. The origins and design of racing axes come from the single–bit felling ax, or American ax, a standard felling axe used in field work since the late 18th century. Piece work Piece work or piecework is any type of employment in which a worker is paid a fixed piece rate for each unit produced or action performed, regardless of time. When paying

236-445: A double-bit Axe as close to the center of a target as possible from a set distance away. The axe is released in such a way that it rotates about the midpoint of the handle and, ideally, contacts the center of the target with only one edge. Scores are awarded from 1-3 or 1-5 points (depending on the target), with the highest score being a bulls-eye. Competitors are given three practice throws and three scored throws. A hit which crosses

295-400: A drinking club with chainsaws to a school sanctioned varsity sport with all the associated visibility and expectations thereof. The sport has been co-educational for all of recent memory, and female competitors are for the most part given equal treatment to men, though the professional circuit has largely chosen to ignore women. Fraternization among team members is frequent. The atmosphere at

354-483: A fire using a tool, a piece of dried wood, and strike anywhere matches. A can of soapy water is placed on top of the fire, and time is called for the event when the can boils over. The event may be run with one or two competitors and using one or two tools. When two tools are used, one tool is usually a hatchet or small axe, and the second tool is a knife. The event is scored for time. The culture on teams which participate in woodsmen competitions varies widely from that of

413-457: A line from one ring into the next is typically awarded the higher score. If an axe should contact the target with both edges, such that the handle sticks straight out, the handle is tapped downward until only one edge makes contact, which is used to calculate the score. If, during this process, the axe falls from the target, no points are awarded. Splitting can take several forms, but is typically performed with one or more bolts of hardwood and as

472-401: A metal wire choker cable (couldn't find sources that were not selling the product but would have linked it regardless). Participants start the race by unbuckling the choker, they then run through the customized obstacle course and finish by looping it around a large log, imitating strapping choker cables to logs in wood production for transport . The participants must wear gloves and a helmet, as

531-601: A per-task basis. As a term and as a common form of labor, 'piece work' had its origins in the guild system of work during the Commercial Revolution and before the Industrial Revolution . Since the phrase 'piece work' first appears in writing around the year 1549, it is likely that at about this time, the master craftsmen of the guild system began to assign their apprentices work on pieces which could be performed at home, rather than within

590-483: A piece rate. In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act requires that all employees, including piece work employees, earn at least the minimum wage . In calculating an appropriate piece work rate, employers must keep track of average productivity rates for specific activities and set a piece work rate that ensures that all workers are able to earn minimum wage. If a worker earns less than

649-583: A result, modern corporate organization. In the mid-19th century, the practice of distributing garment assembly among lower-skilled and lower-paid workers came to be known in Britain as the sweating system and arose at about the same time that a practical (foot-powered) sewing machine , was developed. Factories that collected sweating system workers at a single location, working at individual machines, and being paid piece rates became pejoratively known as sweatshops . There can be improper record keeping at

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708-411: A series of stacked disks from a log set vertically in a stanchion. A competitor is given a set area of wood to cut, and a time limit, usually two minutes. Holding the saw at eye level, the competitor saws off successive disks, leaving previous cuts stacked on top of the log. The event is scored based on the number of whole disks left on top of the log at the time the competitor announces they are done. Time

767-426: A single artisan was ultimately required to rework all parts of a finished good. By the early 19th century, the accuracy of machine tools meant that piecework parts were produced fully ready for final assembly. Frederick Winslow Taylor was one of the main champions of the piece rate system in the late 19th century. Although there were many piece rate systems in use, they were largely resented and manipulative. One of

826-536: A single, double or triples event. Splitting axes in the 4-6 pound range are used, and mauls are typically prohibited as they provide a sizable competitive advantage. Logs are always placed on the ground, and occasionally within a car tire to prevent a clumsy competitor from accidentally striking their own feet or legs with the axe. Points are awarded for the time to complete the event, and penalties are assessed for incomplete splits, where fibers still connect pieces of split wood together. The Underhand, or horizontal chop

885-518: A task. In a service setting, the output of piece work can be measured by the number of operations completed, as when a telemarketer is paid by the number of calls made or completed, regardless of the outcome of the calls (pay for only certain positive outcomes is more likely to be called a sales commission or incentive pay). Crowdsourcing systems such as Mechanical Turk involve minute information-processing tasks (such as identifying photos or recognizing signatures) for which workers are compensated on

944-453: A toothed blade suspended between two long narrow handles called "cheeks" that are supported and separated by a thin stretcher in the center of the handles, making a wide H shape (the cheeks form the uprights of the H, the stretcher the crossbar of the H). The blade is kept in tension with a turnbuckle or a twisted cord that runs parallel to the blade between the two cheeks but on the opposite side of

1003-416: A well-made item is not enough to support a worker, workers will need to work faster, produce more items per hour, and sacrifice quality. Today, piece work and sweatshops remain closely linked conceptually even though each has continued to develop separately. The label "sweatshop" now refers more to long hours, poor working conditions, and low pay even if they pay an hourly or daily wage labour , instead of

1062-508: A woodsmen meet oscillates between the seriousness competition and the friendly environment of the county fair. Competitors practice specific events for weeks and months, gaining efficiency and power in every movement. The selection of equipment is not something to be taken lightly, given its considerable cost, and each piece of wood is scrutinized for imperfections and knots that might interfere with its eventual bifurcation. The weight of pulp may need to be judged solely by sight, and insights into

1121-549: A worker, employers can use various methods and combinations of methods. Some of the most prevalent methods are: wage by the hour (known as "time work"); annual salary ; salary plus commission (common in sales jobs); base salary or hourly wages plus gratuities (common in service industries); salary plus a possible bonus (used for some managerial or executive positions); salary plus stock options (used for some executives and in start-ups and some high tech firms); salary pool systems; gainsharing (also known as "profit sharing"); paid by

1180-509: Is a metal-framed crosscut saw in the shape of a bow with a coarse wide blade. This type of saw is also known as a Swede saw , bushman saw, Finn saw or bucksaw . It is a rough tool that can be used for cross-cutting branches or firewood, up to a log diameter of half the blade length, limited by the height of the frame above the blade. Bow saws are typically available with blades of 320mm, 535mm, 610mm, 750mm or 950mm lengths (14, 21, 24, 30 or 36 inches). The name 'Swede saw' probably derived from

1239-414: Is able to stay on the log or count the number of revolutions completed within a time limit due to safety concerns. This event involves a harnessed and belayed climber getting to the top of a featureless pole as quickly as possible. The pole is typically the size of a standard telephone pole, and the climber wears homemade spikes in order to make rapid upward progress. The Fire Build event involves making

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1298-436: Is an axe event which involves cutting a bolt of wood set horizontally in a stanchion into two pieces. The event is scored for time. During the event, the competitor stands on top of a log set horizontally in a stanchion. The competitor swings the axe between their feet at a 45 degree angle on two opposing faces, opening up a face that extends halfway through the diameter of the log. The competitor then switches sides and severs

1357-427: Is assessed. As a team event, each member cuts one or two disks, and team members switch after completing their cuts. This event is scored for total time to complete all cuts. This event is run as either a doubles or team event. As a crosscut saw is a two-man saw, each cut must be made with a pair of teammates. A series of cookies are sawed off for time, as in the bow saw event. The saws used for these events tend to be

1416-407: Is awarded 100 points, and runners-up receive a percentage of the winner's score based on their performance in comparison. A second system calculates a winning team's place based solely on placement, and does not take into consideration the spread between each team's performance. The following is a list of typical events run at collegiate woodsmen competitions: This event requires a thrower to place

1475-505: Is most popular in areas of the world with a strong logging tradition. The following is a partial list of colleges in Canada with active teams: The following is a partial list of colleges in the US with active teams: Unlike many college sports which have some degree of seasonality, members of collegiate woodsman teams compete throughout the academic year. Competitions typically take the form of

1534-412: Is required to make a single cut or cookie through one large log. These logs are typically the largest diameter wood present at the competition. A competitor is allowed a starting cut, usually measured to be no more than 6-8 inches, or the width of a US One Dollar bill. A teammate is allowed to straddle the log and place a wedge to ease the competitor's progress and prevent binding of the saw. This event

1593-463: Is scored for time. A competitor wearing appropriate safety gear makes a series of cuts in a log. The event can be designed in various ways to emphasize visual accuracy or the ability to run their chainsaw at the peak of its power band. In the interest of fairness, the same saw is typically used throughout the day to eliminate any variables between saws (which can be significant, even for the same model saw). The chainsaw Disk Stack event involves cutting

1652-519: Is used as a secondary tie-breaker. Performed well, it is not unusual for a competitor to cut in excess of 20 disks. During the event, the competitor is not allowed to manipulate the disks in any fashion other than sawing off additional disks. The mechanics of the Obstacle Pole simulate a fallen tree. The pole is 25 feet long, one end is in the dirt and the other is raised 4-5 feet off the ground. The participants are timed, and whoever can run from

1711-633: The M-Tooth and the Peg and Raker. Most beginners will start on an M-Tooth because it is a more forgiving saw and move up to a Peg and Raker as they improve. Competition bow saws, unlike commercial bow saws, have frames and blades that are 42" long. Many different grinds and makes of competition axes are available, with some of the more popular types including Tuatara, Keech, and Brute Force. For Horizontal Speed chop, Hard hit, and vertical speed chop and hard hit, heavier, and sharper race axes are used. These Axes have

1770-457: The advent of machine tools, such as the machine lathe in 1751. Machine tools made possible by the American system of manufacturing (attributed to Eli Whitney ) in 1799 in which workers could truly make just a single part but make many copies of it for later assembly by others. The reality of the earlier English system had been that handcrafted pieces rarely fit together on the first try, and

1829-416: The average items produced by equivalent workers, this is divided by 1.2 to reach the agreed average figure, and the fair rate is set to ensure each worker achieves the minimum wage. There are several software programs that determine the time that a trained operator should take to perform an operation. These make unit estimations based on the individual motions that an operator is required to make to complete

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1888-411: The competitors must push the log along a track of wooden beams and usually up to the top of a ramp. In log rolling, the competitors may either have a straight course or a course which requires a series of turns in order to maneuver a log to its finish line along the ground. This event is typically run as either a doubles or team event. A timed race where participants navigate an obstacle course carrying

1947-412: The cost and viability of monitoring output in a way that accurately measures production so that quality doesn't decrease is first. Variable skill level is second, where piece rates are more effective in a more homogenous workforce. Thirdly, there may be more invasive managerial relations as management attempts to test how fast the workers can produce. Employees decide whether to work for piece rate pay if

2006-449: The discretion of the entering schools. There are, however, a series of team events in which every member is expected to participate fully. Men and Women's team typically utilize the same equipment, however in competition some rules are adjusted by gender. If a school chooses to send a mixed-gender, or Jack and Jill team, Men's rules apply. Each team is coordinated by a captain. Events may be run as single, double, triple or team events at

2065-413: The discretion of the hosting school. The list and structure of the competition is typically published beforehand in order to allow team members to prepare for their assigned events. Most events are scored based on the time taken by the competitor to complete. Teams are scored as a whole, and each event is generally weighted equally. A point system for scoring may be used, where the first place competitor

2124-480: The employee will see increased benefits with effort. Workers tended to be suspicious of pay packages that were too heavy on variable pay and were concerned it might be a concession to remove cost-of living wage adjustments or to secure wage rollbacks. Under UK law, piece workers must be paid either at least the minimum wage for every hour worked or on the basis of a ‘fair rate’ for each task or piece of work they do. Output work can only be used in limited situations when

2183-409: The employer doesn't know which hours the worker does (e.g. some home workers). If an employer sets the working hours and the workers have to clock in and out, this counts as time work, not as output work. The fair rate is the amount that allows an average worker to be paid the minimum wage per hour if they work at an average rate. This must be calculated in a set way, a control trial is run to determine

2242-429: The event is completed. As competitors rarely have any experience in woodsmen before entering college competition, novice competitors are actively recruited from students with no previous wood chopping experience. In woodsmen competitions, the required equipment consists of cross-cut saws, bow saws, axes, peaveys, helmets, gloves, foot and leg protection, and climbing gear for the pole climb. Common types of saws include

2301-402: The hands of supervisors attempting to cheat employees, to build piece rate systems that prevent workers from earning higher wages. That is often at the cost of both the worker and the enterprise, however, as the quality and the sustainability of the business will be threatened by decreases in quality or productivity of workers attempting to stay afloat. Put another way, if the payment for producing

2360-407: The horizontal in order to create the same two faces that are needed to chop one side of the log. This event is a variation on the underhand chop which scores a competitor not on time, but on the number of axe swings needed to sever the log. The least amount of swings used to cut through the log determines the winner. If two contestants tie, then time is taken into consideration, and whomever completed

2419-411: The line before they begin their climb. The pulpwood toss event is typically run as a team event, and requires all competitors to throw a set of four pieces of pulpwood between two pairs of stakes, typically set 15–20 feet apart. The event is typically timed until 48 qualifying pieces of pulpwood have been thrown. A piece of wood earns a point toward the 48 possible points if it breaks the plane between

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2478-483: The log by opening a face on the opposite side, working only on the second side until the two meet. The mechanics of wood removal for the Standing Block or Vertical chop are similar to those of the underhand, however, because the log is set vertically, the technique involved is different from the underhand chop. A competitor must angle their axe swings to open a face at 45 degrees skyward, and at 45 degrees below

2537-405: The log by sprinting, kicking the log, and using a variety of techniques as they attempt to cause the opponent to fall off. Due to a lack of a body of water nearby, some schools will use a swimming pool to house a log or build a "dry birling" station using a log on a spindle, allowing it to spin freely. Some schools will run this event in a tournament style, while others will time how long a competitor

2596-399: The log faster wins. The Bow Saw event is most typically run as a singles or as a team event. A 36-inch bow saw fitted with a competition-grade peg and raker blade is most frequently used. In a singles event, a competitor is typically asked to cut a series of thin slices, called cookies, from a log, which is chained down to a stanchion. Each disk of wood sawn must be complete, or a penalty

2655-421: The loose cable can weigh more than 40 pounds. There is no standardization for the orientation of the obstacle course and is left up to the venue. Courses must allow at least 12 feet wide of room for participants, and the course has limitations for difficulty and safety.   This event traditionally involves two competitors, each on one end of a free-floating log in a body of water. The athletes battle to stay on

2714-496: The master's workshop. In the British factory system , workers mass-produced parts from a fixed design as part of a division of labor , but did not have the advantage of machine tools or metalworking jigs. Simply counting the number of pieces produced by a worker was likely easier than accounting for that worker's time, as would have been required for the computation of an hourly wage . Piece work took on new importance with

2773-450: The minimum wage, the employer has to pay the difference. Exceptions to this rule include instances where: (i) the worker is a family member of the employer; (ii) if in any calendar quarter of the preceding year there were fewer than 500 person-days of work lasting at least one hour; (iii) in agricultural businesses, if a worker primarily takes care of livestock on the range; (iv) if non-local hand-harvesting workers are under 16, are employed on

2832-428: The most expensive individual pieces of equipment for a woodsman team, running into thousands of dollars for a competition-filed peg and raker or M tooth saw . Great pains are taken before the event is run to examine the log being cut for knots or imperfections which can damage these very expensive and delicate instruments. Jack and Jill is a double crosscut saw event that has one male and one female participant following

2891-450: The most influential tenets of Scientific Management was Taylor's popularization of the "differential piece rate system", which relied on accurate measurements of productivity rates to create a "standard" production output target. Those who were not able to meet the target suffered a penalty and were likely fired. Taylor spread that in published papers in 1895, and the timed piece rate system gave birth to creating modern cost control and, as

2950-485: The ovate metal tubular frame version, invented in the 1920s by the Swedish company Sandvikens Jernverk , and additional patents by two Swedish immigrants to the US. Modern versions all share those common features. Traditionally, a bow saw is a woodworking tool used for straight or curved cuts. A bow saw is a type of frame saw . Its thin blade is held in tension by a frame. In English and American vocabulary it denotes

3009-656: The piece – the number of things they make, or tasks they complete (known as ‘output work’); or paid in other ways (known as ‘unmeasured work’ ). Some industries where piece rate pay jobs are common are agricultural work, cable installation, call centers, writing, editing, translation, truck driving, data entry, carpet cleaning, craftwork, garment production, and manufacturing. Working for a piece rate does not mean that employers are exempt from paying minimum wage or overtime requirements, which vary among nations and states. Employers may find it in their interest to use piece rate pay after examining three theoretical considerations;

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3068-493: The quality of goods or services produced. Risk of Exploitation: Some employers may set piece rates unfairly low, leading to workers being underpaid for their labor, especially in industries with low barriers to entry. Lack of Stability: Piece rate pay may not provide a stable income, as earnings can fluctuate based on factors such as demand for the product or service and individual productivity levels. Footnotes Citations Bibliography Bow saw A modern bow saw

3127-478: The quirks of a log roll log can be garnered from watching other competitors. On the lighter side, these events are frequently attended by friends and family, who mingle freely with the woodsmen. Actual hostility between teams is rare and most competitors come to know each other by name. Booing is unheard of at woodsmen competitions: competitors cheer loudly for their own team members and for members of other teams. Those competitors that finish last are urged on until

3186-412: The relative earnings are high, and if other physical and psychological conditions are favorable. Some of these might be job stress, physicality, risks, degree of supervision and ability to work with peers or family members. Employees may also be more or less welcoming to performance pay depending on the leverage and risk. Leverage was defined as ratio of variable pay to base pay, and risk is the probability

3245-702: The same farm as their parent, and receive the piece work rate for those over 16. Incentivizes Productivity: Piece rate pay encourages workers to increase their output as they directly benefit from producing more. Flexibility: Piece rate pay can offer flexibility to workers as they can often choose their own hours and work at their own pace, especially in jobs such as freelance writing or data entry. Potential for Higher Earnings: Skilled workers who are efficient in their tasks can potentially earn more through piece rate pay than through traditional hourly wages. Quality Concerns: Workers may sacrifice quality for quantity to maximize their earnings, leading to potential issues with

3304-403: The same rules as the two-man saw. The name originates from the male term lumberjack and the female term lumberjill . The single buck event utilizes a two-man crosscut saw operated by one individual, and is almost universally run as a singles event. The saw is typically of the same grade as the crosscut saw used in the two man event, but may be custom filed for one person operation. The competitor

3363-411: The stretcher. If a cord is used, the cord is twisted with a toggle attached to one loop of the cord, adding tension . The toggle hits the stretcher, which keeps the cord from untwisting. A finer version of the saw uses a narrow blade of a 1 ⁄ 4 inch (6 mm) or less, with handles that allow the user to hold the saw and turn the blade. In this context it is also known as a turning saw , which

3422-434: The tip of the pole to the base, up the length of the pole as it ascends in elevation, and cut the end of the pole off with a chainsaw, without falling, is the winner. The chainsaw is only allowed to be running in the last 5 feet of the pole and is indicated by a line painted on the pole. The runner must also enter the climb of the pole behind a marked line at the base, which indicates participants must place one whole foot behind

3481-432: The two stakes after the competitor is done throwing. This means that pulpwood thrown too far, not far enough, or not between the stakes is not counted. Sticks which a competitor can knock into place with subsequent throws are counted. Log rolling or log decking (not to be confused with birling ) are two events that involve the use of peaveys and a pair of competitors to maneuver a log to a set destination. In log decking,

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