Since I spent a few hours up in my woods doing some spring cleaning, I decided to check this large uprooted beech that has been down for at least two years in my woods. Much to my surprise, it was not hollow and the wood 2 inches in from the bark was hard as a rock. Since the diameter at the base was 26-30 inches, I am beyond happy I checked it. I got 10 or 12 20 inch blocks of beech from that old pig before it got too rotten.
As requested. Brought out one piece quickly and split it up. 22 inches on the large side. Pics speak for themselves. Stuff split very hard, and I mean very hard. Ash tree with peavey is next.
Beech, fantastic BTU's, but sometimes it splits so stringy. Your UTV load looks like giant hunks of "pulled" chicken ready for the BBQ sauce. I look at stacking wood like that as a test of patience and practice. Good save, the Beech around here is usually done by the time it falls down, kinda like birch. I think it's the tight bark.
Is that what you'd call " summon a beech" ? Lol Beech amazes me how much it it can resist completely rotting even if out in the elements.
I don't know papadave, some seems fine, and some looks like you stuck a stick of dynamite up a chicken's…… I wonder if it has to do with the temps at splitting time?
Dave, don't sweat it. The beech I have pops open splitting like oak. Hopefully you don't have that string cheese american elm beech.
You can tell how well they will probably split by looking at the grain. Those 3-4 rounds from the base of the tree with the wavy grain probably won't be very nice. I actually don't mind stacking splits like that - they have built in "air space". If the splits are too nice, I have to be careful to "stack in some air".
I had a beech recently that I wasn't so sure of when I dropped it. Turned out to be nicely "seasoned", just needs to dry a bit. Split fairly easy too. How do you like that Gator?? Is it an 825i? Elec over hydro dump?
The official FHC drying time page shows Beech dries in 12 months......is that the experience you guys have?
