It was a silver maple that humbled me a few years back. Still makes me wonder. About all silver maple splits easily,the bark starts separating almost instantly and it gets such stress cracks you think it might split itself. Then you run into that rogue maple.
I see a lot of sweet gum votes. It's all about working outside in, if you catch it on a growth ring the stuff pops right a part - full bore down the middle and you've picked a worthless fight. only two species that have ever stopped my splitter are Hickory and Pecan
I tried both routes. It sucked either way. I had to cut the wedge out of the wood with my saw. It was ugly.
That picture got me to thinking about an easier way to split elm. What do you think about pounding a lightening rod in it and waiting for a thunderstorm?
I don't know about that, but I have seen people use black powder to split wood! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I burn a good bit of elm myself. Maybe it's just me but does it seem to leave a ton of real fluffy ash in the stove?
The worst I've ever split was Tupelo (black gum). The stuff literally balled up like tangled rope. MISERABLE to split. Second worst was elm......almost as bad. Third was knotty spruce. The knots make it a real pain......
I forgot that I actually have some blocks of wood my cousin gave to me. The wood comes from trees from the rain forest. They use the wood underwater for dock building and pier repairs because it doesn't rot. It's ridiculously heavy. It's called greenheart wood. I'm not even going to try to split it on my splitter.
I came up with this idea to use while splitting elm. The space in the middle allows for the edge of the wedge to go completely thru the wood. Easy on-easy off, too.
Sweet Gum is from Hades. Maple and Sycamore not far behind. I have found free standing trees are also hard to split. My dad would would say the wood is cross checked from wind. Trees in large groves or forrest seem to be less stressed and easier to split. Also I think soil type has an influence also. I have cut wild cherry trees in poor soil that was hard to split but in rich soil would split with a butter knife.
Normally splitting Sitka Spruce is pretty easy! This particular one had been topped at 45 feet and had four tops that reached a total height of 120 feet. The tops were a breeze to split but the lower trunk was a challenge. Lots of big knots. Making rounds out of the limbs down to a 2 inch diameter netted around 1 1/2 cords before starting on the main trunks. Lots of noodles. Letting the machinery do the work. Slowly whittling it down to size.
Unlike you fellas, I primarily only burn wood for alcohol consumption....lol....not for warmth. I stumbled on some Sycamore (downed from Hurricane Irma) and sawed a couple pieces to split. WOW.......was hard as hell to split those 2" rounds with a boys axe. I was shocked. Right now, the hardest are: Sweet Gum, Sycamore and Live Oak
Growing up in Maine I can heartily agree with all the elm votes. BTDT !! I kinda sadly smiled reading the comments about guy burying 2 good steel wedges into a round . Then having to saw them out. My dad tried all the tricks he could think up . Then laid a round on its side and noodles it with his McCullough. Since its not uncommon to have to saw out wedges. He figured , why even try wedges , mauls , ax , ect. . The only way to split big Sitka Spruce knots is with a saw. This spiral grained White Spruce wasn't any kind of fun to split. But Not in league with American or Dutch Elm.
I've been doing OK with my elm. I just have one more big chunk to go. Maybe it's easier when it's still wet. My vote for the hardest to split are sycamore, hickory, and dry maple.
I have some red yard maple pieces left from this past spring, the bottom sections of the tree were just a tangled mess, the grain went everywhere. I gave up and threw them to the side. They will meet their fate in the firepit in the next month or two.
