my limited experience with elm has always been "stringy" when splitting, the hydraulics handled it well but it wasn't as easy splitting as red maple
When I got to any elm over about 12", I left them sit until they froze through. My one a night approach had me wondering because they were stringy and rubbery, 8# maul just bounced. I hadn't messed with elm before just because of the stories I had heard and was very nervous about how much will freezing help. After 48+ hours straight below freezing, in the dark after work on Friday, it happened. I hit a round probably close to the 18-20 inch diameter mark. In two solid no bounce swings it popped almost like an ash. AMAZING! Let er rip on Sat and made short work of it!
Amen to that one! Red maple is so easy to split that most times you barely more than tough the wedge into the wood and it is split! Sweet. That also is a great way to make kindling using the hydraulics and red maple is one of the best for kindling.
