So hot and muggy. Used the wedge and sledge to break down these huge rounds into pieces I can handle but it's getting too hot and I keep finding these awesome nuggets of knots buried in the trunk of this white oak. Whipped out the Champion 34-ton hydro and got to work. Dripping sweat like a shower head. Nonstop breaks every 5 minutes and tons of water.
Looks like a sweaty mess... If I were you, I’d start a round like we see in your second pic. Thirds is easier than onced in half.
Depends on the situation but given the knots and the huge crack I saw, I went with going with the crack. It wasn't too bad to split that round but I have quite a few nasty ones with huge limbs that healed over so that will be a pleasure to deal with. Sweaty mess is an understatement!!! Even the wood is sweating!!
Yep, way too hot to wrestle that stuff! I did about a cord of campfire wood to length so it's ready for splitting next week though. Humidity did drop some here, way better than yesterday.
Finished off the white oak today. Got ALL of it done except one round that is a perfect height chopping block. Gonna keep that intact. Worked out to be under 2 cords, not a full holz hausen stack. This is why I love having the option to use the splitter. When I need to, it's there if I want it. Still had to use the wedge and sledge to get the pieces small enough to lift onto the splitter. Those buggers were big.
Nice work. I finished a White Oak yesterday that was all wavy, twisted and knotty. Maybe one round gave me straight splits and a few rounds I knew would be futile trying to split, so I sliced em up with a saw.
Some primo split for sure. Nice to have the hydro around. Not fond of big oak...nor is my back, hernia and hemorrhoids. I like that axe. Make/model? My Collins axe died and been kinda looking for a replacement. I like the longer cutting edge vs. the X27
I just love the smell of white oak! You're gonna love the way it splits. It's a Basque axe, made by THE last forger of Basque axes. I made a post about it in the axe subforum HERE. It's got a huge edge on it and came razor sharp. Handle is 30" and made of beech. Thinner/flatter than the x27 and I thought I wouldn't like it at first.....super head heavy...but I absolutely love it. It's a beast and dare I say it splits with more power than the x27.
That is a gorgeous axe but im too cheap to spend that kind of money on one. Have to find a used Collins one somewhere.
Good looking stuff LordOfTheFlies When I see knotty/gnarly splits like that, I see them destined for long brutally cold overnight burning.
How did your axe die btw? Thanks. If they break apart on the splitter I just chuck 'em the giveaway bins. Otherwise I'll definitely keep 'em.
Got stuck in a round and i pounded on it with the Isocore like a wedge. It open up the eye socket and loosened the handle. I show no mercy on equipment.
Where was your sledge and wedge?? I did that to a cheap yellow plastic handled home depot axe I got when we first moved in 16 years ago. Learned my lesson!!
