It's been a while since I had to deal with slippery elm(also known as p&^% elm). Now I realize why I swore I would not deal with it again... One stringy and smelly mess! My 22t splitter handled it, but it's not pretty! This was a neighbors tree that fell last fall. He asked me a few weeks ago to help him get it out of his back yard, which was only 100' or so from my stacks. I like how elm burns, just not how it splits!
Im not a big fan either for the same reason. The splits from my recent cut of it were similar. I scored some a couple years ago that split very clean much to my surprise. Ill take it now if not too big and don't want it in quantity. There was maybe a couple face cord at this cut. Im letting a face cord of it sit for a year then try splitting. Supposedly it will split cleaner and easier. Maple Jackpot
In log form, after a year it’s about half as much work to split. Another year and it’s not stringy at all
I had a few pieces that looked like that too. They are going to the neighbors campfire pile(he wanted it!). The trunk was mostly suspended off the ground by the top, but that didn't seem to help much(although it was only down for about 8 months).
I have a couple like that sitting in the hot sun destined for the fire pit. This was the elm I scored Fall 24. Split like hickory.
My sig line is going to double with this thread. All honesty, I’m spoiled and have a plethora of premium hardwoods to select from so I don’t have to put myself through the frustration. Let it sit you say?
