Scrounged some Live Oak today

Pictures later but I got a load of Live Oak that had been cut down at a city park to make room for some construction project. Despite being tough on a chain and a PITA to split (even with hydraulics) I love Live Oak and it's 36.5 BTUs. Even in the hot South, it takes a full 3 years to season and even dry, it is extremely heavy. Just to humor myself, I hit one round with 4-5 licks with my splitting maul and it bounced off.
Very dense with an extremely twisted and narley grain much like I've heard Elm is.

 

Looking forward to the pics, The USS Constitution aka " Old Ironsides" the oldest still commissioned warship in the world was made from live Oak. That's how she got her nickname as British cannonballs literally bounced off of her. She is docked in Boston and can be toured daily. God bless the US Navy. Maybe Midwinter can post a pic.

 

USS Constitution, launched in 1797. "In total, 60 acres (24 ha) of trees were needed for her construction.[18] Primary materials used consisted of pine and oak, including southern live oak which was cut from Gascoigne Bluffand milled near St. Simons, Georgia."

 

Oldest live oak east of the Mississippi, at 1400 years. The Angel Oak outside of Charleston, SC.

 

Midwinter , YOU are the best, thanks. That's what I was talking about! Looking forward to seeing you again this week!!!!!!!!!!

 

They are all limb

 

Every year on the the 4th of July the USS Constitution sets sail for her annual "turn around cruise" at that time the navy sends messages to all navy ships in the Atlantic that the Constitution is "operational" meaning she is considered an active warship on duty. Brings tears to my eyes as an old patriot. Proud to be an American, and proud to say it!

 

Two birds of a feather, two patriots together!See you soon buddy!

 

She’s 304 feet from the bowsprit to the spanker and 207 feet from the billethead to the taffrail. What a mighty one!