went to our grand daughters to day and dropped a "danger tree" here are some pictures of it. The reason I ask, is that the tree fell exactly where I planned on it falling. And ,to show how easy it was to split, I showed some split wood. Each split took ONE blow with my 4lb single bit axe. What a great day! Thank you Jesus! ! I should add this is Very straight grained wood.
Actually, wood that is super straight grained makes for bad saw logs (lumber) on some species...ash and smooth bark hickory in particular. Once you cut into the log a lot of tension is released and there aren't enough knots and/or grain in the wood to hold the log together...they split like crazy. I have access to sawmill reject logs and this is the reason I get most of them. You did that log right by turning it into firewood.
I know what you are talking about, i actually posted this with a ''tongue in cheek'' With the exception of the tree being crooked as a dogs hind leg, it fell just where i planned it to fall, and after bucking it up, it split so darned nice, i was almost ashamed, lol. But, it made a nice load of wood, for as little time as it took me to put it down, limb it up, pile the limbs and load the wood.
Try not looking at the grain and it won't bother your conscience as much when it's burning! (trust me)
I've split some oak and cherry that sure looked like it would have made nice floor boards. But I don't have a mill, and the cherry really doesn't grow nice and straight here. So firewood it is.
Yep, definitely ash. I’ve had some really straight ones out of the woods and they were a joy to split. Actually split some while they were laying on their side using the fiskars and a golf swing. A lot of fun, not so safe.
Yes SIR, we have a WINNER!! lol. Ash it is. This stuff splits like peanut bridle breaks, no kidding. there was a little twisted grain, and some , but, not many knots, even then it still splits so nice.
I've cringed at some of the trees I've turned into firewood over the years, but I've done my fair share of saving some good ones too. Logs that are just too big and hard to get off of a location without damaging the property, yet too nice to cut up for firewood? I take the mill to the tree instead! Like this big honey locust we took down back in October......
Very nice Scotty Overkill !! Thoughtful that you placed a sawdust catching tarp down....homeowners must've really like that. What'cha gonna do with the slabs? Very nice!
The tarp is a huge help, and a big timesaver! We milled that log while the homeowner was at work, when he came home to absolutely ZERO mess, he had no idea that I milled that log where it laid! He thought we bucked it up for cordwood! I'm going to make some live edge benches and maybe a table from some of that stuff, but I wanna make a shaving horse out of some of it too. And I made a thick slab to use for some shovel, sledgehammer, axe and cant hook handles down the road. It's not often you have a chance to get honey locust lumber....should be good for handles!!
Oh boy, THAT IS nice wood, to say the least!! I'd love to have some wood like that for benches, very nice grain.
Thanks guys, am I the only one that has a hard time with ID in pics without leaves, between ash and Norway maple. Norway bark is similar, no heart wood, and color all seem similar. Great pics Scotty.
You definitely are not the only one. But this one was super easy for me. Perhaps because I've cut so much ash over the years. Actually the first one I remember working on was when I was milling and that was many, many, many moons ago.
