Ok, some of you wanted to see the "Sweet Gum" we have around here split, well heres the pics! It put's a load on the splitter!!! You gotta split it from the outside in or else it may not split at all! It's very stingy and a REAL Pain in the A$$! This is from the pile I got about 2 weeks ago. I normally don't get this stuff and usually refuse it but it had some Cherry mixed in with it, so I took it...
I'll take that Cherry and all that Mulberry off your hands for the smoker if it's getting in your way
The Wood Wolverine , check these pictures out. Yuck right? Yeah, that's definitely hydraulic splitter work. Burn the evidence!
Actually not as bad as I expected. I've seen other pics on here and a lot worse. Not that ill be taking any anytime soon. I was brave (or dumb) enough to take elm at three different scores in 2024 and last year. Just sold the last of it. Way to get it done there! I still think you need a "Firewood parking only" sign there.
I saved some splits from last weeks delivery and used them in bundles. One year dries and they split very clean. I make splits smaller for bundle wood.
I admire you wood burning hoarders who live urban areas, like obviously WeldrDave does after looking at this thread and pictures. Firewood in the street...awesome. Hats off my man.
Thank you Sir! Gotta do what you gotta do! Lucky the Code enforcement guy leaves me alone, he drives by and just smiles.
This wood has been down for a couple months, (so I understand). Fresh cut gum is REAL BAD! I don't believe it's as bad as elm, but I'll tell you this it works my 35 ton splitter!
I had a bit of that from my old boss a few years ago... didn't know what the heck it was! Other than a fugly mess!
Try splitting from the edges to the middle. If you split gum like from center, it does the same thing as your pictures ! If you look at the one picture of me splitting, With Gum, start out on the edges.
Honestly, that was the last straw. I won't bother with it no mo. Done. If it's goldilocks size, not needing split, cool. If it's bigger, it'll get noodled. No wood is worth that kind of frustration. There's so many conditions with elm.. leave it standing till the bark comes off (I don't have my own woods to allow something like that), some have said, and I tried, let it deep freeze (didn't work), now go around the edges... . I'm glad I'm not in a region where I have to deal with it. There's so many better choices I can snob it.
Gum is right in the middle of the BTU chart, and I said before I normally won't mess with it because it's just more work. BUT, free is free and "Beggers ain't choosers" I'm lucky I get the wood delivered to the front of the house, let along cut up most of the time. So, I can't complain...
I've never dealt with Elm. I think Gum is as close as I'll get. But your right on choices, (If you have it) Sometimes I gotta take what I can get unless I go get it, And I have before. I am a member of a gun club with about 80 acres and occasionaly we get a "Blow over" tree, usually a swamp Maple. I'll go get it... Sadly we just had a nice Oak come down back, partially rotten, but some good wood in it in the woods farther back a few hundred yards, It was just too much to pull out.
