Got a text yesterday from a guy who has given me logs from tree removals in the past few years. Four more trees taken down. Stopped to check it out this morning as he's less than five minutes from me. He had cut one up and moved it to the front all bucked to the right length. How could I say no even though its elm? He's retired and cut all the trees up with an electric chain saw. I'll grab it over the next couple days. Hoping it splits like the last elm I scrounged. He was keeping most of the other wood which was red maple.
One thing I’ve learned about Brad is that he can eventually be persuaded Remember when he said he’d NEVER get a splitter too? Pepperidge Farm remembers
He knew what he was doing. Keep the easy stuff for himself and make the elm just tempting enough to not pass up.
The elm I gave you came from the same yard. They guy said he may even quarter up the big ones with his hydro.
You might get lucky again like you did in New Haven. If not, leave them stacked up on pallets uncovered for the winter and try splitting in the spring. That worked for me on the last sizable elm score I got back in 22’ August 2022: April 2023:
From my experience, splitting American elm sucks whether green or dry. Most Siberian elm I’ve dealt with splits very easily if green, like water running out or if it is dead standing, but anything between green and very dry sucks.
Nice grab, Brad! Any elm that I’ve ever split has been a breeze. Even when splitting by hand. But I always wait until it’s good and seasoned before I split it.
Grabbed the rounds today. I was going to noodle the big ones in half for ease of handling but he didn't want a mess so loaded them as is. Rather than noodle I decided to try one as is to see the results. Had the hatchet handy. Entry wound Exit wound. Went a lot better than expected. Some stringiness but nowhere near as bad as I've seen here. Took longer than typical easy splitting woods as I had to use the full stroke of the hydro on a good portion of the splits. Would I want to split it all the time?...no, but I wont shy away from it as before. I'm guessing the fact that it was very fresh cut and no checking on the ends made the difference based on my two recent experiences with it. Topped off a half cord stack of elm. Horkn would be proud! Not quite a half cord for the score. Nice cool day here. First I've had the sweatshirt on all day.
It wasn't and again I was surprised. I'm thinking it will be within the relm of probabilities now! If its Goldilocks sized and straight I'll take it!
I’m guessing the straightness helps. Most of my elm scores are out in the open and have been pummeled by wind for decades. I think that has a lot to do with splitting ease or lack there of.
Have you ever cut any fresh elm or you cut strictly dead? Two months ago if someone told me I'd have close to a cord of elm in stock right now id've told them they're crazy. I do have maybe 10-20% of a cord of elm from last December.
Yes, I’ve cut some green ones. I did a couple fire scorched ones in the summer of ‘23. It was green and I’m sure it would have lived, but property owner wanted it gone. I have all the rounds to split yet. Probably this winter sometime
