Interestingly enough, many (most?) places don't make people wear those braces anymore...they have found they really don't help that much (my experience too) stretching and building core muscles works much better (that, and proper lifting technique)
It was a rare occasion I grabbed them "as is". Was checking out the score and didn't have a saw with me.
Thinking it should easily pop in half when split. I'd say 90% of the meat was solid. I have maybe a face cord of dead ash rounds put aside and this will go with it. Normally don't mix dead with fresh cut green.
If it dried in a year I'd take it. That particular tree was on a steep hill which also shied me away more.
I replied to something he said, he replied, I deleted my reply, he deleted one of his, and now it's all fubar
I notice a difference pain wise when I wear mine. Five years ago when I hurt my back I wore it everyday for over a year. Dunno if it helps with the lifting factor, but I'll take less pain. I should wear it more often these days. Good friend of mine's sons are massage therapists and they recommended one to him.