Had this pile for a few years I figured most of it was rotten, which is why I left it. But once I started digging into the pile I found some nice wood inside. Figured I'd make some firewood out of it. This first round almost went thru the 6 way wedge the first time. I had to smack it with the sledge then rotate it and it went right thru. View from the cab. Surprisingly this went thru the splitter no problem. Perhaps since the logs were so old? Unidentified wood, but it burns hotter than a snowball. After cutting and splitting it was really light and cut and split easy, so I'm thinking Basswood? (Linden) This hackberry log is perfect, Just the right size, straight, no crotches. Some cool spalting inside. One last log before dark. What's the worst that could happen? Of course it didn't fall right, It's the last log of the day. Had to reposition it. Of course it got stuck, it's the last log of the day. A few hits and it came loose. Oddly enough it half split and all the pieces were small enough for the owb.
I have no experience with hackberry but its my understanding it has a short "shelf life" once cut. The other log is basswood/linden.
Thanks for chiming in, with hackberry if you keep it up off the ground it lasts ok. I don't do near as much as you do with processing, so I appreciate you taking the time to comment on this post.
Glad to help. Ive seen hackberry around here but few and far between. Kind of a bucket list score if anything.
That is a correct statement.....at least down her in the south. Once split, the bugs eat it up fast. When I weigh the time and effort of working it up, it's just not worth it for me.
Wow that's interesting what happens in different areas. Here bugs don't bother hackberry at all, it does rot away if left on the ground. In this area, Hickory and Honey Locust get eaten up by bugs.
I have some hackberry in the stacks, seasoning now to sell next year. Hope to see no rot. I haven't noticed any bugs in honey locust by me in WI but definitely in the hickory!
I deal with lots of hackberry. My experience suggests that it needs split within a year of being taken alive. You can kinda get by awhile longer if you buck it into rounds and keep em off the ground. It lasts a long time in a covered stack after splitting, but bugs will make a dusty mess in it. Don’t really eat it up per se, just make a nuisance mess. I rarely see one that straight and crotch free.
I like hackberry. It drys pretty fast and burns similar to cherry. Ive never had any go to rot in the stacks, but I keep it top covered and usually burn it in 2-3 years. I haven't come across any for awhile. I do have several hackberry trees in my woods. I dig the warty bark.
Wow it's strange how different things are in different areas. This stack was put here about 6 years ago. I thought it would be rotten but it's fine. Also hackberry grows super straight and tall, with lots of long straight limbs here. It frequently grows wild in fence rows and towers over the hedge/cherry/mulberry fence rows. Also many people have them as yard trees in town.
Surprisingly these crotches split fine. A little crooked but its ok. I can't believe how thick these pieces of bark are, very unusual.
I've had Hackberry before. Splits decent, I think it was a little stringy. Dries fast, burned almost about like elm, not quite ash
Wow, thank you!! I'm trying to get a video uploaded of some cedar I processed today. It's hard when I'm the cameraman/operator.
