I drove by this small pile of wood next to the road yesterday and went that way again today. I wasnt going to stop for it, but with all you FHC guys being such a wonderful influence on me (i was warned when i joined) i couldnt resist. From a distance i thought sugar or red maple but neither. I went to pick one up and said damm this is heavy. Whatever it is its as heavy as hickory. I didnt have time to split any when i got home and cringe as it looks tough. Tree was green and maybe a week old cut. Top was snapped off in either the January ice storm or wet snow last month. It was in a landscaped/mulched area in the yard by the road so im thinking some type of ornamental tree?
Looks like the Bradford Pear that I’ve seen. Moderate BTU rating I believe. Whereabouts in southern ct are you?
Yes, you too. Perhaps some time they’ll be a CT or northeast event. Or maybe a hoarding opportunity somewhere in between us.
i think there is a FHC GTG in New Hampshire in early June if im not mistaken. Its in Northern part of the state...5-6 hour ride. I try to keep my scrounges within 15 minutes of home. Although last Summer i drove to Killingly to help an aging friend cut some wood. I came home with a heaping load of wood in my F150. 1 1/2 hour ride.
I hope the name is the only commonality, Bradford...because Bradford's typically smell pretty bad... I have one in my front yard that split, cut up the half that was on the ground into firewood and was going to cut the the rest of the tree in the fall. Let us know how it burns! Nice score!
It wont get burned til 2020-2021 season. Will go in the "mixed hardwood" pile and if i remember at the time. Im wondering how it splits by hand. Mebbe give it a shot today.
Yep bradford which explains the snapping off. It has the habit of growing many branches from one spot on the trunk till it pry's itself apart. It can be a bit of work to split, but not impossible, just don't expect straight grain. That said you do have a lot of crotch wood and this can be more challenging with a maul
Yes, in northern NH. Well Seasoned had one last year and is having another this year. Seems there were a couple CT guys up there last year. saewoody is one.
I got some Bradford pear a few years ago from my neighbor. If I remember correctly it split pretty easy when I pulled the handle on the splitter. . Took about 2 years to dry.
Hate to say, but it's tough to split by hand. It doesn't have a straight grain. The face of a split peice looks like corn chips.
Urban Woods i almost didnt try to split it after reading your post, but unloaded it this morning, grabbed the Collins and in one whack , bingo in half...very much to my surprise. The rest split the same. Grain and splitting tendency reminded me of Norway maple, which i havent scrounged in 18 months. Verdict: Bradford was very happy he scrounged the Bradford! Mebbe ill change my FHC name to "buZZsaw BRADFORD"?! Nah, sounds too formal!
Midwinter it split very easy much to my surprise. I honestly was going to noodle it and not even try. Maybe its not BP?
