Bit of introduction. My name is Mark, I am a chainsaw addict (any kind of tools really, or guns) and a dedicated firewood hoarder. From Dodge City, KS so envious of all of you with the great firewood species. Been lurking here for a while and have really enjoyed reading all of the tips and tricks….think I’m up to page 64 on the Woodpile, lol. Great bunch of folks on here…none of the bickering and name calling like some of the other sites. Anyway, to the subject of my post: Grew up in south central panhandle of Nebraska. Dad installed a fireplace when I was about 8, so helped him hoard for years. Everything in that part of the country is elm or cottonwood. When I was a kid I would watch westerns on tv a see those guys split firewood with one stroke of an axe. I thought for years that either those were some tough SB’s or that I was a wuss. Didn’t find out till years later that those are 2 or the worst splitting species on the planet. Still burn mostly elm cause that’s what we have here, but have learned to cut the dead bark less stuff and have hydraulics now as well. Anyone else grow up thinking they were a wuss trying to split elm or cottonwood?
Welcome to the club. Lots of great folks here sharing knowledge and humor. Glad you joined up. Yes, this the BEST site around. Never cut any cottonwood, have a bit of elm now and hydraulics...lol Grew up hand splitting with axe, finally got a maul years later. Black gum and sycamore will give ya fits trying to split also.
Welcome to the forum. Can’t say that I’ve ever seen either of those species. Grew up on red oak and black birch.
Welcome to the forum Mark. I see you are one of the few who learned the right way of handling elm! I split wood with an axe until probably in the 80's. Tough stuff got split with sledge and wedge. Can't do that any more and now enjoying hydraulics.
Thanks for the welcomes guys. Have really enjoyed the humor and friendly banter. Also enjoy reading how everyone seems to do things just a bit differently, but all with the same goal in the end.
Welcome Mark It sounds like you moved from the land of few trees to the land of few or fewer tress. I have spent lots time driving thru both those parts of each state while in in the truck. They seem rather similar except Dodge City may be a bit windier & smellier. I used to split or attempt to split elm with an 8# splitting maul. I figured out right quick that dried & frozen (0* or below ) splits much better than green & unfrozen. I now have a hydraulic splitter. I have never even given thought to Cottonwood for firewood but a person has to burn what they have.
Welcome Mark! And hello from central Nebraska. I’m new-ish to wood burning and hoarding but have always enjoyed campfires so have split a few species in my area. When traveling, I occasionally split wood when visiting someone and was always amazed how much easier wood split with a certain maul and splitting block! Figured out later that it was more due to the type of wood I was splitting, so use hydro for much of my wood hoarding but love to swing my fiskars splitting axe or it’s big brother when I have the right kind and grain of wood. Lots of elm and some ash where I’m at. Throw in occasional hackberry, honey locust, mulberry, and a few pin oaks. I like splitting ash, mulberry, and the pin the best. Glad you joined
Welcome to the club, Mr Fudd. Too bad your region has only a few species. Happy scrounging and hoard on!
Welcome Elmer (I mean Mark). Growing up my dad hand split everything. When I decided to start heating with wood, part of the stipulation was buying a hydro splitter. Only time I'm hand splitting is for kindling or cooking wood. I live in a region with so many premium woods I can snob off the tough splitting stuff, and I do. W/ the oaks I'm used to, the wedge goes in the round about 2-3" and its apart. Any pics of your wood stacks?
Another welcome from Nebraska, been here my whole life so far. Started doing firewood in earnest about 15-20 at the place I work. Then about 8 years ago bought this house, removed the open fireplace and put in a stove. Joined up here in March of 2019, now things have gotten really serious. Standing dead elm is my staple firewood, but I’ve never tried hand splitting, always had hydraulics available. Where about did you grow up? Ogalalla? Be sure and let us know if you are mentally struggling with spending a bunch of money on firewood hoarding equipment, we will be glad to help you reach a decision.
Started to get a little interest in burning wood when we purchased this house with a fireplace in 2006. Tried hand splitting at first but didn't take long to know it's not for me. Still dabble in it a little and try to stay 3+ years ahead on wood, but that's about it. Grew up in Greeley, middle of Nebraska just north of Grand Island and lived in the state my entire life.
Another welcome. Always glad to see new people find and join. Grew up cutting and splitting lots of Elm because so much was dying off due to Dutch Elm Disease. Standing dead is GREAT firewood and about 90 percent of what I burn through my stove. We used to split with a mail and wedges and Dad would always try to wait for the coldest temps to ease the process. We have hydraulics now and burn most of the big ones on outdoor boilers for parents and brothers location. If we can lift em they go right in...... Sent from my SM-G930VL using Tapatalk
Welcome to the forum, glad you joined the conversation! Never thought of myself being a wuss the first time i split elm (think i was early teens or younger), i just learned not to cut any of it for firewood as its miserable to hand split. Still avoid it as i enjoy making firewood, not being POed at split quality!
Welcome! As you have already found out this is a great site and it sounds like you will fit right in! You are right, Some wood will make you feel like a wuss,. I can split red oak almost one handed with the iso core and you feel good about your self, then lately I have been splitting Burr oak... That stuff takes some grunt to power through, and then the willow I am working on... That stuff just eats the mual and laughs. Man, you got some tough junk mail or some hefty bills
Welcome, Elm-er. I'm pretty new to the wood burning game. I just had a bunch of elm dropped off at my house and I started splitting some of it this week. I'm not enjoying it. I'm going to try to wait out the rest of it until the bark starts falling off. For now it's just in the way. Post some pics of your set up. My elm splits (using a splitter):
Elm-er Fudd Welcome to the site. You may have noticed, while reading thru this thread, there are those who will pounce on any typo's, like Redneckchevy did above. Let me assure you, it is all in fun It helps keep our reading skills sharp
Been there, done that. Hence the signature. 34T of hydro's but to me it's just not worth the time messing with it. I understand if it's all ya got.
Maybe yooperdave can chime in and give him all the "rules & regulations" regarding typos and picture posting??? I was not given these when i signed up. All in fun Elm-er Fudd, all in fun.
