Boy, today i told the neighbor behind me, i'd bring my splitter over and help him get his wood split. He had a pickup box full of rounds. Wish i'd taken a picture of it, there was pitch balls all over it, and it was the knottiest wood i've ever seen. Big huge knots in the wood, but, my splitter got it done. Its only a 22 ton speeco, but, did the job. When i'd sink the head into the wood, the water would squeeze out, it had huge grain in the wood, its a conifer of some kind. It took us about 1.5- 2 hrs to get it done. I split it in small chunks, slabbed some of it, and made some of it into kindling for him as well. Couple of rounds of cherry in the mix, that was pretty dry. When i left, i was about 1 or 2 inches taller, the pitch build up on my boots was unbelievable , i had to take a screw driver to the tread to get it cleaned out. It was like that from heel to toe. Boy it was bad. They thanked me and thanked me, but, i told them if i wouldn't have helped them, i'd felt guilty. It would have taken him forever to split that stuff by hand. Maybe i can get a picture of the bark, and inner wood later on. All in all it was a great way to finish the day.
thank you, i didn't post to ''brag'' about it, i just wanted to post about probably the hardest splitting wood I've ever split. And, how i imagined it would have been if he'd had to split it with a maul and wedges. Plus, they seem like really good people, and need some one to help them get some things like this done. It was actually more enjoyable for me, than it was for him, lol. He didn't mess around, or stand around, same goes for his wife, they both dove in and started stacking it on the back of the patio, where it'll be in the sun about 5-6 hrs a day.
Didn't take it that way...just glad to see folks still helping others...you were blessed with a good deal on the splitter and in turn blessed your neighbor, that's the way it should be. Glad to see they jumped in and helped too. Just giving you some encouraging words. World needs more of that.
I'm sure you didn't but, i just don't want people to think i did it for that reason, and was posting for that reason, but, thanks for the reply.
Great job! Always nice to help a neighbor...especially when its something you're passionate about. Try to get pictures as im curious about the knotty and sappy wood.
I don't think anyone got that impression, I sure didn't. we all like hearing about others experiences. I also am curious as to what the wood looked like. thanks for sharing.
Same here. , i dont think anyone here would think you were bragging, theres a great bunch of people in this club and i think any one of us would do the same. Keep it up and thanks for sharing B. Brown
I have to add this, after i got my boots clean of all the pitch on the soles, i was up early this morning, 2;15 am give or take. The fire was out, so i went out back picked up some kindling, and a little bit of the pitch i scraped off my boot soles, put that in the fire, put a match to it, and it actually burst into flame. Boy, i've got split pitch that sputters and spits, but this stuff, wow, its some good stuff. I'm going to try some thing, margarine is pretty cheap, so i think i'll take a cube of it, and rub it on the soles of my boots just for the heck of it to see if it will cut the pitch on the boots like it will on your hands.
Maybe some type of Spruce? That pitch makes for a great fire starter, I carry some in my pack when out hunting just in case, stuff will light even after being in water. I have not met a piece of wood my Speeco 22 ton could not split. Great job helping someone in need!
The bark reminds me of spruce, but i seldom touch softwoods. Based on what you said it is definately some type of softwood.
Just wanted to let you know how good GOD is. We have all been commenting on this thread, the spirit of FHC is scriptural. Today's Bible verse is... March 19, 2019 Verse of the Day And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16 Thanks for all we do for each other and our neighbors.
The only spruce I've had the pleasure of trying to split was a yard/landscaping tree. It seemed kinda soft and rubbery splitting it. I tried spliiting some by hand and gave up. It looked a bit like that. Eastern white pine I can split by hand, especially if the rounds have dried out for a few months .