Dang, I’m sorry to hear that and hope you’ve healed up good as new since then. Thank you for the reminder on safety though. I know how life gets sometimes and we might start rushing to get one more split or become complacent, so it’s always good to be reminded that no one is immune to accidents. I’m always mindful about hands/fingers when actually bringing the ram to the round and then splitting it but I probably am less focused as it’s returning, so thank you for sharing.
Thanks! I finally had some time to work on a couple black cherry trees I scrounged this spring. I don’t know if it’s common for them but the bark was a real pain and wouldn’t let go, I’d split a piece and the bark would be holding the 2 splits together? I eventually had to take my knife and start cutting the bark between them , it was “cherry annoying” Sorry but it was right there!
I've had more than a couple people ask me why I quarter/split rounds with a maul, then put those quarters on the splitter (stuff over 18-20" mainly). Split size & shape. I half everything as far as small rounds. Down to about 6". Those I will do thirds of. I tend to cut out crotches and junk spots when bucking if I can, which saves a lot of headache on the splitter (and why I have so many a-hole pieces, cause I process the cutout crotches and stuff too). Seems like I prefer to make triangles, though I don't have any solid reasoning for that. However the round 'reads' when I plop it on the beam is how it gets split. I do try to make as many barkless splits as I can.
Makes sense to get them into smaller more manageable sizes, I like it. What do you do with your A-hole pieces then? IBC tote? Homemade contraption? Thanks for sharing.
Yes that's choke cherry also called wild cherry IINM. The bark looks like black birch bark on steroids. Black cherry bark splits very clean.
Good to know, I’ve now learned something new today. I will have to add that to my list and I’ll probably always remember “BB on steroids” moving forward, so thank you!
I have a huge 'jenga' pile of them...around a cord. It doesn't seem like they'll stack until you throw caution to the wind and just do it. I just keep it tarped, not up on skids or anything. Gonna try to sell some soon. Many in the past have just been chucked into the brush fire when I have them, which seems a waste.
UncleCub I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. I am not too good at drawing but thought perhaps this might be the easiest way to describe how I split. For the example let's say you have a 20" log but this can work with many sizes; just use your imagination. I will start with split #1, then #2 then #3, etc. across the log. The first and last split might be good as it is but if too big just split it in half the other way or make kindling wood from it. Also, it depends on what size splits you want. I usually space the splits so they are from 3" to 5" wide in size, but if I am making kindling, each split will be only about 1" wide. Once you are finished there you can then finish off the size split you want for your stove. I will usually put 2 or more of the slices on the splitter so I finish several splits at ones. If making kindling (which is fun!) I grab however many slices I can handle and just chop, chop, chop and the kindling piles up fast. The instructions may seem complicated but if you try it out you will find it is really simple and you end up with mostly square or rectangle pieces which makes stacking much easier and makes loading the stove much better. I will add that I do not use this for all the splitting but do it at least enough so I have plenty for cribbing and I use the squares especially for those long cold winter nights because the burn will last a bit longer because you can pack the stove better. If you have questions please feel free to ask. Also If I've left off something in the steps. let me know. Thank you. Also, this is not the only right way to split and it may not work well for those who only know how to split horizontally. Splitting vertically allows you to be more precise in where you want the wedge to hit the log. Besides, our good Lord grew the tree vertically so that is how the wood is best split.
Yep, kinda let the round speak to me... and it gets split how it gets split... then stacked... hopefully!!!
In the don’t think about it much crowd. When loading the stove small splits for getting the fire going and filling in spaces and large splits for over night or during the day. I will try to take off knots and branch stubs with as little wood from the round as I can. They and any that didn’t split nice go on top of the stack. And when I have a large strait grain round I’ll make slabs for cribbing and throw off to the side. Tho I really dislike cribbing and will use cribbed ends for several years if they are stable. a buddy that shares scores is very particular about his splits. It’s always a power struggle when we are splitting together for his portion. I’ll throw off splits that are too big just to watch him bring it back! I tell him he makes toothpicks!
