Just look at some of that elm with very loose bark. That could be prime! You might have to stack it for a while before splitting but may not. It might split easy now. If so, you are passing up good firewood.
Okay, I can drop dead now, I've seen everything! buZZsaw BRAD won't take a pile of free logs! Who'd ah thunk hit?!?
Brad I'd grab that and sit on it till this winter when the wood market gets tight. Just buck it up and stack it and sell it unsplit.
Didn't somebody say that Elm splits OK when you slab it with a splitting axe? A lot of that could be cut without knots. Might be worth an exploratory try!
Not that I know of. If I did it split easy but I doubt I’ve ever had any. That’s a New Haven wood LOL
It's almost tempting because I don't have any in my stacks yet, but it's a bit far for me (for elm anyway). There's enough free wood on the roadsides where I'm at and on my work commute though. I do have a certain curiosity about elm. Other than being notoriously hard to hand split green, enough people on here seem to like burning it that I'm willing to try it someday. Maybe buck it, stack it, let it sit until the bark falls off then split it with hydraulics as has been mentioned previously.
Elm is hard to spit because it’s stringy and makes you cuss a lot. Got to run the splitter multiple times to get it to separate. Doesn’t smell too nice when burning. Does give a good amount of heat though. I always call it “the dreaded elm” when I even get it for free.
I've had Elm that split hard and I've had Elm that splits easy that looks like it would split easy. I would give it a try for sure! Especially if it is green!
Yeah, almost looks like if you screwed an eye in the end of a log and winched it up on a trailer, the log would just shed all the bark in one big sleeve Too bad you don't know anyone with a trailer and a winch...
If i were to take it the wood is perfect size for one of my "BuZZsaw" loads...bucked rounds neatly stacked. Havent been doing that in the heat. Getting lazy in my old age!
Geeze Al, one could get the idea you don't like it. lol But the way you describe it, you've only had green elm. As I've stated many times, don't cut it when it is alive and for sure don't try splitting it then. Also, I don't have to run the splitter multiple times to split it; only one stroke and that is with a 20 ton machine. Cutting dead elm you also miss out on the stringy mess. Also, wait on that elm and you also bypass the smell.
Ahhh. Elm. I like the stuff personally. All fire wood is work, but then again, I like to remember the final result of how it burns instead of if it was a PITA to process or not. I won't cut any elm if it's green. I wait until it's losing or lost all bark and starts getting cracks lengthwise. When it's like that, it's practically ready to burn once cut, at least after you get up 8-10ft from the ground. Yeah it can be stringy. But if you cut out the big knots and go for the straight stuff it's totally worth it. Having a push through splitter is the best for elm, but there can be a ton of factors in ease or pain in splitting elm.
Dennis, I had gotten that elm from a road crew that was cutting trees along the road behind my house. The town didn’t mind anyone taking the wood, so I did. It was in the early fall and I had split it right away. I didn’t even know what it was until I showed a pic here. Now, I’m on the lookout to avoid it. My son knows a guy who had an elm fall in his yard and no one would come and take the wood for free. He asked us, and I passed. Once bitten, if you know what I mean. The two cord I got the other day is about 95% oak and most of that is white oak. A little ash and a small mount of maple. Only saw a couple pieces of elm, and that was more than enough. I've got to find my moisture meter and slit a fresh one. A lot of the wood is checked already, so I may have some to burn by next season. Wish I had room for a three year plan. I’ve still got a big fallen maple I’ve put off bucking for two years. Maybe when it’s cooler. I’m really feeling it this year and not sure how much longer my body can stave off this progressive arthritis before I have to buy all of my wood. Still, it’s better than oil heat for the warmth it gives.
Stopped yesterdayand was going to buck some rounds and try splitting. State had come by and taken some and/or pushed it down the bank. I can still get it, but was in a hurry yesterday.
