So there’s a couple other hard woods at my locust scrounge. For now I’m trying to focus on the locust, but there some other stuff in the way so I figured I’d buck and split it. Nice straight grained about 24” should be no problem! I buck a bunch up and try to split, not a chance 10 plus swings with the ISO core and nothing! I put 2 noodles in one round, try to split again... no chance!
Elm's a b!tch, try working your way around the outside edges of the rounds and you might be able to get it split with the maul.
Thanks guys! That’s what I figured after hiting it way to many times with the maul. Tried every angle, working outside in, noodles... no luck. Think I’ll leave until I get everything else CSS!
That there is Honey Locust for sure. Cut a bunch up last year. Bark looks the same, same dark center, the split looks the same as well, jagged and sharp. The stuff split almost as hard as sweet gum.
And right there is the key to handling elm. This way it will also make excellent firewood. Cut and split it green though and you will not like it.
RUN!!! RUN AWAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN! That is the handsplitters nightmare...elm! Great firewood, but if you have to hand split youre going to hate it real fast. I wouldnt touch it with a ten foot axe! Its great firewood, but ask The Wood Wolverine what he thinks!
Smart move! One other option would be to cut cookies. Odd shape but would you rather hand split the stuff??? Id take all the HL and leave the elm for the next guy. I have a good PU full of elm roadkill right down the street from me and wont touch it.
Ive had frozen green rounds that split very clean and easy, where as ive had a 6" round that i MFed and could barely split after mutiple whacks. Your 37 ton will handle them with ease but will/can be stringy as hell. Maybe The Wood Wolverine can post his infamous hydro shredded (split) elm??? There was some on Warner and there is PU full by the power lines at Honeywell on 22.
I did notice the pile near the power lines . My problem is wood ID. Brad can drive by a pile with his eyes closed and tell what it is , me on the other hand not so much. I have a LOT to learn. Time for some homework for sure.
American Elm for sure. When I used lurk I thought guys were being dramatic about splitting it until I got my hands on some.
buzz-saw you will get zero good things to say from me about elm or gum. I am spoiled with top shelf hardwoods where I live so I can simply snob off anything I don’t want. Visit this thread and scroll down for my pics. Splitting elm.
