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It's a combination of technique and the type of wood. Even with perfect technique, some wood is simply too hard to split. I've got the bottom 5 or 6 rounds of a
by cpncrunch 3mo ago
It's a combination of technique and the type of wood. Even with perfect technique, some wood is simply too hard to split. I've got the bottom 5 or 6 rounds of a bigleaf maple sitting in my yard that I simply can't make a dent in. You're welcome to take it if you can split it :)
- helterskelter 3mo agoIf it came from the base of the tree the wood grain will probably be squirrelly and practically unsplittable. Get a chainsaw or hydraulic woodsplitter, or throw them in a bonfire. Alternatively, use them in a woodworking project or innoculate them with your favorite mushroom spores.
- grantmuller 3mo agoThese are also good for those "Swedish logs" where you drill a hole in the top and the side, and then cut grooves with a hand saw in the top and make a fire right on top.
- cpncrunch 3mo agoWell they're about 4ft diameter and not really even possible to move. My electric chainsaw would just burn up trying to cut them, and the cost of a hydraulic woodsplitter wouldn't be cost-effective. Current plan is just to leave them there until either they start drying/rotting enough to split, or I find someone who wants to take them off my hands.
- bregma 3mo agoI got some burly maple ends that even my 22-ton hydraulic splitter can't handle. Toss 'em into the woods, let nature take care of 'em.
- Merad 3mo agoAre you trying to split it with an axe? You need a sledgehammer and a few splitting wedges. The sledge lets you apply a lot more force than an axe and striking the wedge focuses that force onto a small area. The first wedge will open a crack, then you use additional wedges to expand that crack until she splits. Source: grew up in a wood burning family, helped split many stubborn hardwood trees (all by hand).
- butlike 3mo agoThe dude in the comments above suggested a maul, which seems nice (kinda like an axe and a sledge built into one tool)
- HeyLaughingBoy 3mo agoA wedge is still useful with a maul. Sometimes to split a large-diameter log, you'll want to start a split and insert the wedge to open it, then you continue the split with the maul. It's helpful if you have timber that doesn't have a straight grain and doesn't want to split open.
- jimnotgym 3mo agoIf it didn't require flights, I'd bring my maul and wedges and take on your challenge. Big rounds are the most fun.