If it is dry or almost dry it won't work, but I've had really good luck if it is frozen and still has a fair amount of moisture. It actually pops apart.
I've never experienced dry or really dry elm. Both my experiences were fresh cut, the first one was dead standing but not for a really long time. It was a huge tree and the core was... very wet. That's the one I let deep freeze from advice here. It still fought me tooth and nail. YMMV Just sharing my experience that the freeze thing isn't a consistent end all "fix".
My top wood would be red oak. In fact it’s all I’ve cut this fall as a wind storm in September brought down some really big red oak trees in the National forest. Second would be ash - I cut a lot last year but have not come across any down this year. Third would be soft maple that I cut last year for the first time and found out it splits great and puts out decent heat. Fourth would be small amounts of pine and maybe some poplar. I’d say 90% of my 25 cords are red oak or ash. I do wish I had more black locust around me though.
The next 6 to 7 years already processed! I've already taken an entire year off of processing wood and it's nice to be able to do that... Plus, I'm a HOARDER. You may have seen one or two of those around here.....lmao... You should see my chainsaw collection.....
Lets see.... #1 Red Oak #2 Red Oak #3 Red Oak and #4....Red Oak lol. For my most common I'd say Red Oak, REd Maple, Black Birch, and White Pine. Not my favorites, just the ones I get the most.
It has been a different year. Usually, Ash is the majority of my wood. This year it is running 60% sugar maple, 25% Locus,1o% Walnut, and 5% Ash
It always worked for me.Of course I use the hard to find Oregon splitting wedges which are the best I've ever used.
This year, ash, silver maple, buckthorn, and some black locust. Cut a bunch of long dead ash last year along with some silver maple. The buckthorn and locust is a couple years old. Next year will be different, but will include ash and buckthorn. Some of my oak and hickory are coming due next year. Yay. I think the best wood around here is hickory, oak, locust (either one), and maybe mulberry?
Oh okay your problem is messing around with still wet Elm.Elm has to be covered well otherwise it's a sponge no matter how long it's been drying.Even with it being bone dry and frozen you'll still need to put the work in.Elm splitting is not for one used to easy splitting.
Currently sitting heavy on mulberry, honey and black locust and ash. Also have elm, maple and others.
I'll have to spend half a day getting all the girls in the same spot.....I've probably got close to 40 saws.....not to mention the boxes upon boxes of parts saws....
Just say NO to Elm. It may entice you; it may even be "free" but that is just to get you hooked. You know it will be a pain to split and it'll smell bad when you burn it Just say NO!
