Worked on some of these this weekend. They split like a hot knife in butter with a 16 ton splitter once I figured out how to jockey them into place and align the crack in the round. Rolling them up and plopping them over onto the splitter was hit or miss. Took a pickaroon to twist them to align the flaw with the wedge and a pry bar to get the round tight up against the beam. Once I did that they popped in half and my prybar could finish off a few hanging splinters. No noodling at all. 25-35 splits per, depends on if I was making 6x6s or 2x4s. Might be a PITA to get the round into place for the first split but once that is done they certainly stack up fast.
What you got there, red oak? That's the only tricky part rolling the round to the beam and hoping it lands perfectly and then lifting it tight against. I use a block of wood after I lay down the round, and that seems to work. Looks like you'll end up with close to a cord with all that. Looking good!
Yes, red oak. I don't think maple would pop apart quite as nice. My guess is that those rounds weigh about 400 pounds. Maybe even 500 for the biggest one. There is gallons and gallons of water in them. The Ramsplitter looks quite small with one of those rounds on it. I didn't take any pictures of it loaded. I'll have to next weekend. Still got plenty to go.
I have red oak that I have been quartering with my maul, for exercise purposes... and will split them with the huskee soon and add to the stack. They split so nicely.
They should split pretty easily with a maul. Maybe you can make the first split by hand then move to the splitter. That would save the effort of moving the whole round.
Impressive what the 16 ton Ram will split. You got the electric one? Heavy is an understatement, Many gallons of water ! !
There's an ad for a vertical splitter if I've ever seen one. Nice work! I've handled more of those oak rounds than I care to remember. Great fire wood in 3 years though. A C
Nice! The pickeroon does indeed work well for moving those critters around. A very handy tool to own.
If you are using a vertical splitter, try laying s sheet of 3/4" plywood on the ground next to the base. Place a 24" length of pipe about where the middle of the round will be when you flop it over. With the pipe as roller you will be amazed how much easier it to move those big pieces.
Good work Paul Bunion. How much wood do you go through in year? What are you heating? Is this wood for 15/16?
Pipe sounds like a great idea. I have some old 2" pipe that might just allow me to not even need the plywood. And multiple pieces might make it real easy to slide the round in. I'm using 3-4 cords a year in an insert burning 24/7 when it is cold enough. Can't do the house 100% due to the layout but I can keep the gas bill at or below $120 in January, summer gas bills are something like $35. This wood will be for 16/17 and possibly the last sticks will make it to '18. All depends on how cold it is. The way this year is starting out it will on the longer side.
Paul, those big rounds are by long and far my FAVORITE firewood to process and stack. Lots and LOTS of splits in one round. Yes, wrestling them around can be a hassle, but worth it in the end. I really REALLY like Oliver's suggestion of the pipe and plywood for maneuvering the rounds into position.....something I may try myself when I start splitting up all those monster sugar maple/red oak/white oak rounds sitting at the processing area right now....
I split up another 6 or so this morning. Without any exaggeration the pipe trick makes it about 10 times easier to get the round jockeyed into position. Incredibly easier to move and position the rounds with a little roller beneath. Thanks Oliver.
