How to split a log, not a round

I am talking about a tree of, say, six inch DBH and, a log stem off that tree of, say, nine feet long. When I do a stack of firewood, I sometimes use small trees (saplings?) as the runners to put the first layer of wood on. I saw someone on here had done what I am talking about and I wondered how he split the stems so that the crack propagates all the way down the log.

 

I've just used the chainsaw a couple times. Worked well.

 

There are multiple ways to do it. Best when the log you're trying to split is fresh green. The age old method is to use a riving froe, made for the purpose. You can steer the split as you go. Nobody demonstrates this better than Curtis Buchanan, Master Chairmaker.

You can also start at the end with a hatchet hammered into the end and then start hammering felling wedges or DIY hardwood wedges, into the crack, working down the log as you go. Go slow and let the cracks fully develope before going further and it should go right along the grain.
If you look on Curtis's channel, he has a video on this too.

 

never really tried to do that. Post pics if you do. Be interested to see the results.

 

Split Rail fence video pretty much shows how to do it.

 

Or you could try blackpowder!

 

I was expecting a lot of kindling with that technique. Surprisingly it didn't create any that I could see.

 

If that cat had been a little earlier in getting over there it sure would have gone for a ride!

 

It was featured on one of the 2009 Lincoln bicentennial cent reverses
File:Formative Years in Indiana Reverse.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

 

looks like a blast doing it that way!

 

Good one!

 

Yahh.... No. My blackpowder is reserved for finer things.

Interesting how clean it split though.