In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Soggy spring splitting session with a twice-scored American elm

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by Eric Wanderweg, Mar 26, 2022.

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  1. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Ah, but there is lots of easy splitting elm but it must be handled right. Too many get in a hurry to cut the tree because it is dead. Have patience and wait; then it will split easy.
     
    Backwoods Savage, Mar 27, 2022
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  2. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

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    The bark was loose, but fully attached when it was cut down. He peeled it off in sheets as he bucked the wood. I remember him telling me the tree tried to put out leaves but died soon there after. It didnt debark while standing. IMG_5613.JPG
     
    buZZsaw BRAD, Mar 27, 2022
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  3. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Now we know why it didn't split so easy.
     
    Backwoods Savage, Mar 27, 2022
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  4. Horkn

    Horkn

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    I think our soil here doesn't allow for this to happen. I wait to harvest most elm only after the bark has completely fallen off. Wait much longer than that and it starts to go bad.
     
    Horkn, Mar 27, 2022
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  5. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    I can wait a long, long time before they start going bad. Perhaps one reason it makes such good firewood.
     
    Backwoods Savage, Mar 27, 2022
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  6. Horkn

    Horkn

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    Yes, they don't rot very easy either, but there's a point they get to eventually.
     
    Horkn, Mar 27, 2022
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  7. Eric Wanderweg

    Eric Wanderweg

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    I finished splitting and stacking all the elm. It ended up being exactly a face cord and a half. Now I’ll have to finish out this stack with some more 2 year drying time wood. This stack will be the last one in succession, before I start building my wood shed around them all.
    C94AA1C6-2B26-4F1E-8260-B0E093D73DDC.jpeg
    7D62E82C-5437-40AE-B357-B55FA8616C3C.jpeg
    This was the gnarliest piece and it still plowed through without issue.
    27465378-562C-494D-85A0-35A623AB28AA.jpeg
     
    Eric Wanderweg, Mar 27, 2022
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  8. huskihl

    huskihl

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    From cut up live and green, split in 1 year is 50% the work. 2 years splits like most other wood. In 3 years it’s getting mealy in the center and splits like other slightly punky wood.

    As far as standing dead, no idea on how long til they lose the bark or split well
     
    huskihl, Mar 27, 2022
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