This was my first experience with Sycamore and I say gimme more. It split like pulp wood. I’ve had Pine put up more resistance than this Sycamore. It made a lot of nice splits in a short amount of time. The scaly bark section of the trunk took a little more pressure but still not bad. This was a yard tree and I processed it less than a month after being cut. I don’t know if that was the difference maker or not because this is the first. I didn’t experience anything outside of straight grain. Every knot defect split open easily. I was thinking maybe the scaly bark lower portion of the trunk would be difficult but the difference was minimal. Maybe NC has superior Sycamore or vertical splitting is superior and not gay like horizontal.
Better get yourself a lotto ticket I got some once in spring 2024. Mine was a little gnarlier but still better than black gum or live American elm. I burned it this past winter and enjoyed it for the little time it spent in my stove before going to ash. I'd take it again in small quantities.
It definitely feels and splits like a BTU lightweight. The Bald Cypress I split a few years ago dried to the weight of a paper towel roll center tube.
maybe it being a solo yard tree affected things, perhaps Good sun lessened the twists and interlocking grain. I tangled with half a cord of shady searching for sun twisted sycamore few years ago and it was tough splitting. Even ten inch stubs were making the monster maul work overtime. I then looked it up and learned the wood is often used in butcher blocks
Oh boy. Some may get upset. It's been many, many moons since I've split ant sycamore and then I never did much. I do not remember it splitting clean like yours. Perhaps those trees grow a bit different down there? I say good for you.
