Cut up a downed dead tree at one of my dog training partners place on their property line about 2 weeks ago. They were out of town when I did it (had their OK), and this past Sunday when we trained at their place they said I could take a funky growing Box Elder down near where I'd cut up the dead one if I wanted to. I had seen this gnarly thing when I was cutting the other up; and stupid me I didn't take a picture before I started cutting today. Had to hack my way into the underbrush along their property line to get near the tree. Anyhow, this box elder started out of the ground at about 80*, or close to vertical. But from there it grew in a semi-circle toward the West until horizontal where it straightened out and then grew parallel with the ground. All the main branches grew out horizontal to the ground also or roughly straight up!! Had it kept growing in a semi-circle, it would've grown back around to itself and formed about a 30ft. diameter circle!! Some here poopoo the thought of box elder, but I actually like it. Great shoulder season wood as it burns quick and hot. It's abundant around here, grows like a weed and seasons in about 6-8 months. Here's the picture of about 3 hours time................... The pile is much deeper than it looks in the picture. I'm guessing about 1/2 cord here.
Nice sunny day too . When I saw the Green grass & Lawn needing mowed , thought you were in Florida LOL Some big heavy rounds there , should make several nice splits Able for you drive close to load it up ?
Yeah, I can get close; they've got a splitter in the barn just to the right out of the picture. I left everything in a pile so I could come back and split it all with their splitter and then haul it home!!!! I'm smarter than I look........................really!!! Box Elder isn't really heavy when compared to the same sized oak or mulberry rounds. I actually carried many of the big ones to the pile and rolled the others. Had the big rounds been oak or mulberry; all of big ones would've been rolled to the pile
Gonna need pictures of that operation' You gonna get spoiled, free wood & use of a splitter. Great score !
Funny thing is this though........................I HAVE NEVER, EVER USED A MECHANICAL/HYDRAULIC SPLITTER IN MY WHOLE LIFE!!!!!!!! It's was always sledge and wedge prior to Mr. Fiskars X-25. Mr. Fiskars has split probably 12 cord of wood since I got it. Not a lot by some standards, but a lot for me!!! It'll be a learning experience for sure!!! Gotta remember to bring my milk crate and heated cushion to sit on!!
Whitey, I do wish you'd had a picture of that before you cut it. But your description says a lot. I'm betting it will be a bear to split so glad you have hydraulics.
I just turned 50 in April...................I need something to help me keep my Schwarzeneggerian physique!!! I love my Mr. Fiskars X-25!! I swing a hammer for a living....................I don't have a lot of trouble splitting wood with my Fiskars. Doing what I do for a living..................one needs to be efficient with a hammer!!
That's a McCullock ProMac 610 with a 24" bar on it now. Dad bought it in the late '70's-early '80's with a 28" bar. Still starts with about 3-4 pulls and reminds me of my Dodge/Cummins with the "low end" grunt she's got!! With a sharp chain, she tries to pull you over the log!!
Got it all split and stacked. Split it yesterday, and stacked it all today. Just over 1/2 cord of the twistiest, stringiest, and gnarliest box elder I've ever split. Probably 50% of it could be considered "uglies"!!!!! It was really awkward using their splitter. I was expecting a vertical one and it was a horizontal one only 12" above the ground with no log holders on the sides. Made for some difficult stacking also.................all the twisty and gnarly splits. You can probably see that in the picture. Here's the end result though...........
