Had some time this afternoon to split and stack another 10x5 row. Mix of beech, red oak, and maple. Man that beech can take a lot of beating before it splits!
I had a number of beech logs, three years ago. I agree. It was a difficult wood to hand split. I got through them, but, no pain no gain. Not stringy. Not knotty. Just hard, dense wood to split. I recall needing to break my splitting wedges and sledge. Three years later, it burns like a charm. And it retains feeling heavy. I'd like more of it, if I could get it.
Your description is spot on! Seems like the stuff without knots splits like other varieties of wood does with knots and the beech with knots is often just downright impossible to hand split I can’t get away from the stuff though. Very thin bark,really pretty colors, and like you said, it heats like a dream
Nice work! If i cut beech i try to split it fresh cut. IME with most wood if allowed to dry and check on the ends its harder to hand split. Classic case...split the ash i cut late yesterday this morning. Split easily from the fresh cut ends while the few week old ends were harder. Hickory i cut pver the weekend was the same...very easy. Knots and gnarlies can be a different story of course.
This year, I changed my method by cutting and hauling rounds home to split at a later time. I’ll have to take my splitting maul with me next time I go get wood to split some freshly cut stuff. Maybe I need to go back to splitting it right after I cut. I had switched because I have read you can get more wood loaded in round I split form, but might be worth more trips if easier to split! Thanks for the info Maybe my maul will refresh my memory!
This was some fresh cut beech from Thanksgiving i cut and split a few days later. I think it was below freezing which was a huge plus. I love splitting frozen green wood. Here's the link. A Beech Named Eileen!
I gotta admit, most of the beech I’ve split in the past has been frozen and freshly cut as well, so maybe that’s why the stuff seemed extra hard today! Bet Eileen would have been a real nasty beech if you’d have waited too long to split
The mound of splits is still sitting just off her driveway four months later. Stacking is the one thing i fail to complete in a timely fashion of the four main hoarding tasks.
I've read that too. But then if you buy a load of logs that are, say, 8 cord why do you never end up with 8 cord once it is cut split and stacked?
Got almost 3 more face split and stacked. Last row on the end and then the row in front to cap off all the rows coming out from the wall. Keeps things more stable once I get on top of the stack. Gonna be starting up there next time. Should have room for almost 10 more face on top.
Got out to the woods with the family again today for another kid of red oak. Had most of it cut already so just had to cut one tanks worth of fuel then load all of it. Ended up getting stuck and in all the chaos, forgot to get pics until tonight first two pics are what I got today, so with rain in the forecast for the next two days, I’d like to get a bunch split and stacked! Got most of my smalls thrown up on top to start stacking. Beautiful time of year!
The stacked wood uses up a little more than 1/4 of the space. Gonna put the rest outdoors. It is nice to be able to utilize the space on wet days.
Got another three rows split and stacked! Ended up being a rain free beautiful day here. I’m sure because I Planned for splitting inside. Ended up measuring out to almost 4 face cord. Happy Easter to all of you.
Leave it open. Windows and doors. Keep the fans going too, or else yes, starts to get pretty moist in there! Something else I’m gonna do is get a cable attic fan with a humidistat on it for additional air movement.
Another row added today. 3 more Rows and I’m done with the wood I’m storing inside. Then it’s on to splitting and stacking all the stuff I’m gonna store outdoors. Slowly but surely BTW, got a lightbulb with my shoulder buZZsawBRAD You and your crystal ball! First time I’ve done that too!