Yeah I doubt this habit is going anywhere. I was looking at an ad for free wood, the description wrote “frightening amount”. My choice would be “appalling”.
An update on my tree service oak. This what I've split so far, and what I'll split today... And this is what is left. There is various metal hiding in it. I understand now why the tree service guy didn't want to keep it. Ive already wrecked one chain, so I'm saving the worst for last. I wonder if they wrapped cable around the section in the last pic. I'm going to remove some bark, so I can see what's going on. Other than the chain, and flooding it and taking it back to the dealer to unflood it, the new MS250 is great to use.
It's probably not possible, but would you be able to split that without cutting into rounds? If the splitter you're using can go vertical, you might be able to split it just as it is. Just start at one end, and move the splitter down the length, a little at a time. I'm probably displaying my ignorance of splitters. But, I'd give it a shot, unless some one else's experience talked me out of it.
Molly, I've had pieces with chain, fence and cable in them. If you want to try and salvage the piece, find the "In and out" of the cable. Next put a wedge or two spaced center between them and start beating. Yes, on the side as I'm looking. Sometimes you'll get lucky and the log will split apart. It may take a little work but it'll be good exercise anyway! Also, a little tip about the 250. Try starting it on full choke, "No throttle" if it spits and sputters quickly, move the choke to 1/2 position and try again. "No Throttle". It should fire up. Let it run like that about 10 seconds then go ahead and give it throttle. Mine was finicky when it was new, it'll smooth out and you'll learn it.
Did I mention slim picking at my honey dump. Well they are even slimmer now. I got the last splittable oak round and some oak sticks and random splits that were short enough. I might need to drive on by until I see some fresh material.
The chunk is 4' long and 16" in diameter. I don't think I could stand it up, and if I did, it would probably fall right over. The splitter only takes pieces up to 24". It's a lot harder to sledge and wedge sideways. That is a possibility. I have lots of steel wedges, I could line 5 or 6 of them up, and go at it like a slab of stone. I'll try your method starting the 250. The 180 was a challenge to start when it was new, but now it's easy.