log splitting help

Just for fun - this page demonstrates that you can split just about anything where there's a will...

14split1.jpg


http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/tinyhatchets2.html

Cheers,

Mungo
 
The Gransfors wedge costs a lot but is amazing. The convex edge will shave hair off your arm. Although wedges are obviously not designed for normal cutting, the sharpness of the GB wedge is nice because you can start it by just sticking it in the top of a log with your hand. No need to tap it with a maul or sledge to start it.

The Gransfors wedge has a twist forged into it, which a previous poster emphasized as a desirable characteristic. It also has a number of chevron shaped indentations in the sides, which I'm told by GB are designed to reduce friction. It is my favorite wedge.

I also have a couple standard hardware store wedges. You need to tap them in to a log to start them but they work fine. Lastly, I've got a "wood grenade" that is a wedge-like device with four sort of rounded edges. It will sometimes split moderate size logs in to several pieces. However, it is often a bit too short and thick for large logs.

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK2 said:
The Gransfors wedge costs a lot but is amazing. The convex edge will shave hair off your arm. Although wedges are obviously not designed for normal cutting, the sharpness of the GB wedge is nice because you can start it by just sticking it in the top of a log with your hand. No need to tap it with a maul or sledge to start it.

The Gransfors wedge has a twist forged into it, which a previous poster emphasized as a desirable characteristic. It also has a number of chevron shaped indentations in the sides, which I'm told by GB are designed to reduce friction. It is my favorite wedge.

I also have a couple standard hardware store wedges. You need to tap them in to a log to start them but they work fine. Lastly, I've got a "wood grenade" that is a wedge-like device with four sort of rounded edges. It will sometimes split moderate size logs in to several pieces. However, it is often a bit too short and thick for large logs.

DancesWithKnives
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I would love to get one of the Gransfors wedges, but this poor college student has no money :grumpy: Maybe one day :thumbup:

For now, the two I have now will have to do :)

I will say, however, if the wedge guaranteed to split the "mystery" wood I would buy one lol
 
Ah yes, I remember those poor student days... Of course, that was so long ago for me that we were studying the Code of Hammurabi and chiseling our homework into stone tablets!

You are doing the prudent thing and someday I'm sure you'll be able to afford all the goodies that now elude you.

Best of success in school,

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK2 said:
Ah yes, I remember those poor student days... Of course, that was so long ago for me that we were studying the Code of Hammurabi and chiseling our homework into stone tablets!

You are doing the prudent thing and someday I'm sure you'll be able to afford all the goodies that now elude you.

Best of success in school,

DancesWithKnives
Click to expand...

Haha thank you my friend :thumbup:

I certainly hope so
 
Looks like Elm to me also. Just went through a bout fighting some pretty large Elm rounds. My daughter went out and bought me one of those 27 ton splitters, WOW what a difference. The neighbor asked, when I thought it would pay for itself, my response was, it already has.
 
I'd also say elm.

Only tree I've encountered with such twisted grain. A real tough SOB to split.
 
2 more votes for Elm, thanks guys!

The grain does look kinda twisted in the picture doesn't it
 
It looks like elm to me as well. However, someone else mentioned locust and I have no experience cutting or splitting that wood. So, I can't say one way or the other on that.

The final confirmation for me is the smell. Elm has a very unique smell, and I can tell a mile away :D

Different varieties of elm split different. All are more difficult than your average hardwood. It ranges from "not too bad" to "darn near impossible." Some varieties of elm are so twisted and stringy that even when two pieces are split a part, "strings" can still be attached. That type is a real pain.

The other bad thing about elm is that the greener it is, the easier it is to split. When that twisted, stringy grain starts drying, it tightens everything up making it really tough.

Sounds like you had two things working against you there....twisted grain and had been dried awhile.

B
 
briangandrews said:
It looks like elm to me as well. However, someone else mentioned locust and I have no experience cutting or splitting that wood. So, I can't say one way or the other on that.

The final confirmation for me is the smell. Elm has a very unique smell, and I can tell a mile away :D

Different varieties of elm split different. All are more difficult than your average hardwood. It ranges from "not too bad" to "darn near impossible." Some varieties of elm are so twisted and stringy that even when two pieces are split a part, "strings" can still be attached. That type is a real pain.

The other bad thing about elm is that the greener it is, the easier it is to split. When that twisted, stringy grain starts drying, it tightens everything up making it really tough.

Sounds like you had two things working against you there....twisted grain and had been dried awhile.

B
Click to expand...

Soo...what your saying is sell it to someone with a log splitter? :p
 
In my recent experience with wedges I can say that I hated them with a passion, as they would almost ALWAYS get stuck:mad:.. I was then told about Lehman's and their "wood grenade", and let me tell you this thing is AWESOME !! I've only gotten it stuck twice(both were where at limb spots in a log), and all i needed to do was hit it a couple more times and it busted right through, with a loud 'ping"...

Hope this link works..:o

http://www.lehmans.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=3334&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=671&iSubCat=1279&iProductID=3334
 
Bringing this thread back from the dust...

Sadly, my maul broke. After many many years of use, the weld seems to have given at the bottom portion of the widened part of the handle (the thick part below the head of the maul). Here is the picture in case you don't catch it on the first page...
P1000510.jpg


Right now I just have the Fiskars Super Splitting Axe, and it's great for the smaller to medium sized logs, but doesn't have enough behind it to be as effective as I would like it on the big boys.

So, what should I get?! I am leaning towards a fiberglass or metal handled maul as of now...but if someone has a solid reason as to why I shouldn't get one I am certainly open to consideration.


P.S. for those who have participated in the thread the first time around or just got in the action, I still havent split the mystery wood :foot:
 
I also had some real hard wood to split. I have a chain saw, and cut it cross section into about 12" lengths. I did not have a maul, only an axe that I rehandled with fiberglass. I like it, since that axe endures outdoor storage. I like the yeller handled fiberglass for my beater, but will eventually a nice hickory folksy one as well. This one is my beater. I bought it a garage sale for 5, and stuck that fiberglass handle on it, and have been using it for about 15 yrs. now. I was splitting some pine, and there is energy released when I do, the chunks tend to fly apart. One happened to fly into my shins. 44 yr. old shins on a tall guy of 6'5" are not pretty already, but with a gash that takes a month to heal that is even worse. Just be safe, do not get too tired and enjoy! Wood splitting gives a power up on your man card.
 
cj65 said:
I also had some real hard wood to split. I have a chain saw, and cut it cross section into about 12" lengths. I did not have a maul, only an axe that I rehandled with fiberglass. I like it, since that axe endures outdoor storage. I like the yeller handled fiberglass for my beater, but will eventually a nice hickory folksy one as well. This one is my beater. I bought it a garage sale for 5, and stuck that fiberglass handle on it, and have been using it for about 15 yrs. now. I was splitting some pine, and there is energy released when I do, the chunks tend to fly apart. One happened to fly into my shins. 44 yr. old shins on a tall guy of 6'5" are not pretty already, but with a gash that takes a month to heal that is even worse. Just be safe, do not get too tired and enjoy! Wood splitting gives a power up on your man card.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about doing the same thing, in regards to the fiberglass transplant handle. Sorry to hear about your shin! We have had some close calls when it comes to flying chunks of wood.
 
I used to cut wood for a living. Most wood can be split with a splitting axe, maul, and some wedges.

However there are some touch woods out the that refuse to be spilt. I cut something my Grand Dad said was Iron wood or something of that nature. I lost 3 wedges in one log trying to split it. It was just to wet and fibrous.

We had to let those trees set for an entire year before we could even think about cuting them up and splitting them. They ate chainsaw blades for braekfast. The old mad did quite a bit of hacking on them with his double bit axe. Now you could shave with that thing and I received a couple sets of stitches to prove it.

So you may haveto dry it and then chainsaw it into wafers....
 
CDHumiston said:
I used to cut wood for a living. Most wood can be split with a splitting axe, maul, and some wedges.

However there are some touch woods out the that refuse to be spilt. I cut something my Grand Dad said was Iron wood or something of that nature. I lost 3 wedges in one log trying to split it. It was just to wet and fibrous.

We had to let those trees set for an entire year before we could even think about cuting them up and splitting them. They ate chainsaw blades for braekfast. The old mad did quite a bit of hacking on them with his double bit axe. Now you could shave with that thing and I received a couple sets of stitches to prove it.

So you may haveto dry it and then chainsaw it into wafers....
Click to expand...

This wood has been on the ground at least 3 years...according to multiple sources, if it is indeed Elm, the longer it dries out the harder to split it becomes

P.s. If I knew I could make a living cutting wood...I wouldnt be going to school right now!
 
ok, someday I GOTTA learn to look at the dates on the posts in a thread. :(

Two ways: One is a hydraulic splitter

The other is waiting for sub-zero weather. Makes the average guy feel like Hercules, even knotted wood cracks in the cold under a maul. Zero degree weather is astonishing for wood splitting.

WHAT year is it? :)
 
Looks like it may be elm but I am unsure. If you have any volume of wood to split, do yourself a favor and rent a splitter. The time and the energy you save will amaze you. I used to work for a tree service and I've spent weeks splitting wood. Some stuff splits easier after it has aged. Some stuff splits easier when it is freshly cut. I've split a bunch of Eucalyptus which is pretty hard and twisty. That stuff would have sucked with a maul and wedges. Get a splitter.
 
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