Got a text the other day from someone I've scored wood from a few times since 2022. Originally from FBM. They took more trees down. Looked like oak and elm from the pics and sure enough pin oak and American elm. (smelled like hospital bandages Eric Wanderweg) I questioned my sanity taking the elm but it was nice and straight grained and I noodled them in half figuring it would be "easier" to split vs a full round. Less stringiness to fight. Off to storage. Wanted to try splitting a few elm chunks. I couldn't believe how easily and clean it split. Reminded me of hickory. I was shocked...and very happy. The oak to split yet. What's left for the next time. That oak is 24"+ DBH. 500i with a 25" bar will make the trip. Oh and this was in New Haven which is also known as the elm city hence the thread title. I live in the bordering town North of it. Im not taking these. Independent of the yard wood. The two elms in front of the house are dead and tagged for removal. One was 36"+ DBH and the other 24" Look like ideal Sandhillbilly trees. Boatload of wood in the two.
I knew you wouldn't be happy Jason. I took a chance and it paid off. Did you see the splits pic? I was totally floored. Didn't think the tree was that big based on the pics. Only one gnarlier round was tough and the splitter grunted. Remove me from your sign line if you must!
That's a nice looking pin oak, and that's easily the best splitting fresh-cut elm I've ever seen! You never know, I suppose.
I still can't believe it myself. I was cutting it up and saying WTH am I doing taking this. The oak a was another thing. One two cord customer likes half of it in oak and I've sold him 2-3 year stuff in the past. Heartwood will go to a friend who likes it barkless. 26-27 season of course.
I had cut fresh elm before maybe 20 years ago. It was frozen and popped in half easily in the cold as I was hand splitting at the time. The last elm I took in December was smaller but stringy when it went through the hydro. Do I temp fate and take it in the future? I had also thought of letting the rounds sit for 6-12 months then split but that wont do me any good for next years sales.
If I was you I'd take only the dead elm that will split easier and dry faster. Of course it's hard to say no to live elm when you can back your truck right up to it. Tough call. I think in the future bucking one round and seeing how it reacts to the Isocore should steer your decision. I'm still floored that this one went that well
I was gonna try halving one round with the Isocore but why bother I said. There's three big elm rounds there yet to buck. For chits & giggles I'll give it a try. Going back next week.
I have had Elm like that but it’s the exception to the norm. It’s great it turned out that way. I really like burning Elm, it’s good stuff.
I haven't had a bad time splitting Slippery Elm or Siberian Elm. American Elm has been another story though.
I didn’t know there were any street tree am elms left. They were removed from our street in St Paul in the 70’s.
Stacked all the elm splits today. Not quite a quarter cord. It's a half cord rack. Interesting aroma emulating for the woodyard today with my cherry from Saturday combined with the pin oak and elm from Friday.
Hit the score late this afternoon. All the trunk wood was gone. I told them I was coming back this week. WTH! What do I have to do...BEG? Log truck came yesterday and took them. Had I known I wouldve went Saturday instead. Rather than go home empty handed I cut up what limb wood I could find in the brush pile there. Luckily most was easily accessed. Husband came out and helped me. Showed him the pickeroon and log tongs. He seemed to like using them. He only spoke Spanish.Made for an interesting cut. Never a dull moment at my scores it seems. He had saved some other logs and offered them to me to top off the load. 500i not your ideal saw for what I cut! Lots of smalls under there. Had I known the 241 would've come along. Not exactly what I wanted but it'll suffice. Better than going home with an empty truck. They have a few more trees to take down in the future, but don't know when. I did talk to the English speaking daughter after and hopefully will get dibs. I have their phone numbers and will learn how to beg in Spanish! por favor realmente quiero esta madera
