I split a 3 foot long chunk of oak just for the experience. I cant imagine getting any joy from an 8 foot chunk of locust.
we did the rails with 3 wedges. start one and pound till it was stuck and then start the second one and pounded till it freed the first one. the 3rd wedge was for backup. we did cheat a little and used the tip of the chainsaw bar to make a spot to start the wedge.
So you pounded all the wedges from the top? I found it easy to start one at the top, the go in with more wedges down the side. It got through any knots easier. I was splitting oak poles.
No we worked from the sides. Dad wood eyeball the log to figure how it would split to get the straightest rails. Some of the trees were30 or more inches across. Split them in half then split the halves into 3 or 4 rails.
Wow that's impressive! They probably still exist, unless someone burned them. I saw a Craigslist ad for some, quite the deal for someone local. Black Locust hand-split rails Hand-split, 11-foot Black Locust rails. Un-treated, naturally rot-resistant, family-friendly fencing. Approximately 100 available. Rails are NOT paddled (no tapered tab at ends). $15.00 each, loaded on your vehicle. 10 pcs. minimum please. The oak poles I split were saplings, cut under a power line. I used them for slats in a wood crib.
I think we got $8-9 apiece back in the late 80's. I still have some short ones in our flower bed but they are covered in snow at the moment. We also cut locust posts for President Eisenhower farm at G-burg. The old posts had to be removed and the new put in the same hole so as not to disturb any of the battlefield. I like your oak wood crib. Very nice.
