There isn’t a lot of it in my immediate area so I have never cut and split shagbark hickory until yesterday. When I saw these few logs come in on a log truck, they jumped right out at me. Cutting the loose bark with each new cut is loud because of how it’s not all right against the wood but other than that, nothing different. It is dense stuff for sure though. Going to stack it in ibc totes along with the rest of the hickory I have.
Eye and face protection is a must when cutting shagbark hickory. I've had pieces of bark hit my face before I got the helmet with the face shield. It hurts like a MF. Now when I cut hickory and a piece of bark his the face shield, I laugh.
Damm fine looking log! I’d be hard pressed to keep that away from a mill… but on the other hand, 2 years CSS’d is an equally beautiful thing!
Congrats on your first shag! Good stuff there. Yeah that bark is the hardest IME. I've seen sparks when cutting in low light and it does shoot bark shards when bucking. Put it aside and get a premium for it. Have a couple cords myself that are ready to sell after sleeping for a couple years. Sold a regular customer a half cord of hickory last year and she marveled at the heat it put out.