You knocked it out of the park with those pics! Nice looking stacks so far: flush face, tightly arranged, just the way I like them. Can't wait to watch them grow! Proper splitter, sawbuck, reliable chainsaw and sharp chain. Cute dog and firewood hoarder too! Welcome home!
You just earned some bonus points!! Here's my Jeep....it's a 1949 Willys wagon 4x4.....IL going to make it run again this winter. FORD POWERED!!
Oh wow that odometer is slick as heck! Now I see where the Overland title originates. Very cool! Thanks again guys!
Sorry I'm late but for some odd reason I missed this thread. Welcome to the forum Dusky. Thanks for the pictures and that is a beautiful ash you have. Cherry is great too. I much prefer the ash over the cherry. Cherry is okay but lots more heat (that is, longer burn) with ash over cherry but cherry works great in warmer weather. You did mention your chain saw with 18" bar. You can cut some mighty big stuff with that. Shoot, we have 2 saws and the longest bar is 16" but then we don't have many trees over 30" diameter at the stump. A 16" bar does us just fine. Just remember that the bar doesn't have to go all the way through as you can cut on both sides. Typically when cutting, say a 30 or larger log, I'll start the cut on top then saw down the far side (I stay put rather than moving over the log. Not necessary to change sides normally.) Then finish up on the side where you are standing. Hope that made sense. On splitting, it appears you hit that log many times in different places. My guess is that it didn't split so you hit a different spot. Most times when splitting those larger logs, I'll either split through the middle or perhaps take about 1/3 off one side. To do that usually requires you strike the log several times. Try to draw an imaginary line where you want it to split. I will usually hit the far side 2 or 3 times, many times in the same place. Then do the same in the center and finally on the side where you are standing. That sounds like a lot of work but in the end, if you compare the total wood you get from a large round to wood you split that was easier, you'll usually end up with about the same amount of strikes with the splitting maul. Some folks get discouraged when they have to strike several times to make the wood come apart but that is just how it has to be done with large logs when splitting by hand. You will also learn that different types of wood splits differently. That ash and cherry are a couple of the easier splitting woods there are. No stove yet?! Good that you are getting some wood ready rather than waiting. This is one mistake most people make when starting to burn wood is to put their stove in then think about the fuel. Wrong! Here is some good information on wood for fuel: http://firewoodhoardersclub.com/forums/resources/primer-on-woodburning-by-backwoods-savage.6/ Keep watch for more meteors. They are neat, huh?! Glad you got to see one.
I see what you are saying about splitting. I have a wedge now and that helps out immensely. Some of those pics are from when I first got the maul, and my aim has really improved. I have learned it really helps to hit the same crack repeatedly to bust 'em open. *also drawing the line like you mentioned. Now that I am cutting rounds how I like, I make sure the knots are near the ends. Those middle knots suck!
Dusky, you are correct to try to keep the knots on the ends. Glad things are working out good for you.
If the knot was from a small branch, I find it easier to split if the branch is pointing downwards. Sometimes it's hard to tell which way it's going, especially if the knot was cut flush to the trunk. So if you're not making much progress, try flipping the round over. If it's a crotch, you still want the branched end pointing down, and believe it or not, it's easier to split it in half 'the long way' - into 2 'Y' shaped splits. These days however, I don't bother splitting crotches with the axe nor wedge and sledge - I 'noodle' them with the chainsaw. Lay the round on it's side, and cut it in half lengthwise with the chainsaw.
I have noticed the difference in splitting difficulty between species. A month ago, I could barely identify different trees standing with leaves. I knew just the basics. Logs looked like logs, I could tell they were different but had no idea how to classify the bark features. Now, I have an eye for a few different barks. I need to take pics of this one type of wood I have that is crazy hard to split. It has no bark left on it, dead and dry. I will snap some pics in a bit.
Aaaaahhhh, you're coming along just fine, young lady! You'll have a great time at any one of the upcoming GTG's dusky
After the rain let up today, I refilled my work area. I hauled back the two Jeep loads of rounds that were waiting out front of my house. Almost all the rounds in the pictures, except the far end by the stacks, were cut and hauled home over two days this week. Gonna have some fun busting up that ash this weekend!!
This is the mystery wood. It is very dry, and ha no bark left. Even short rounds with straight grain are hard to split. The one on the bottom with the bump on the side. There were more pieces with rounded bumps.
You're a real go-getter dusky Not sure about the bark less pics, tho... Maybe Paul bunion could chime in?
Nicely organized and off the ground! Don't forget your chainsaw tool though - don't want to lose that! I was going to guess white elm when you said it was difficult to split. Hard to say without seeing any bark or leaves, but I don't see anything in the pics to change my guess. But really, any species of yard tree can be tough splitting, especially when they have weird knots like that.
That was a strangely, well healed up knot.... Perhaps WV Mountaineer might be able to lend some insight.
The pic of the split seems similar to yellow (or black) Locust grain, but I'm not familiar with Honey Locust- it's wood has a warm color no, Shawn Curry?
There are a few pieces like that. Like a round bump. I can dig out some better pieces tomorrow, even take a pic of the stump end which is about 20+". The split pic is of the mystery wood. Dry it is reddish pink, wet very red.
