splitter advice / big redoak

osagebow · Feb 29, 2012

Had to cut some potential housekillers - didn't mind killing the rotten trunked hickories, but the big 22"red oak had some huge limbs that were ready to crush cars or people, and a lean in the direction of the house. Beauty of tree though. Ring count was around 140.
Can a rental brave / iron oak 22 ton splitter handle this soon, or do I have to wait for more checking?

The one hickory (round super-rotted stump) grazed the gutters by accident, but the 2 larger ones fell just where I wanted with help from my buddy and a cable to the s-10 (big red on bottom) and my Wife (hickory on top of it) as I cut. Letting her help Made up for her seeing where the hickory fell! :bug: That hick was going where it wanted no matter what. No pics of that one on the ground, 'cause i tried to clean up the crime scene (unsuccessfully) before she got back!

I welcome comments on felling technique,or wood ID looking at the stumps - nice cuts huh ? :lol:

steeltowninwv · Feb 29, 2012

Have u tried splitting the red oak with a fiskars or maul...usually it splits nicely

osagebow · Feb 29, 2012

Steltown - Yeah, I whacked a few smaller pieces easily, but i want to get a huge pile of rounds together and rent a splitter for a day to "get ahead" with several cords so i can take my time afterwards. Also have a nieghbor to get set up - she gets wet cords every fall and wastes a lotta money boiling them in an older stove.
BTW, My parents are from Fairmont and Rivesville, if you know where that is. They moved to Pittsburgh to get in the mill "after the war".

lukem · Feb 29, 2012

Red oak is some of the easiest wood there is to split by hand. I'd be more concerned with getting the hickory split than the oak.

But to answer your question, a 22 ton splitter would have no trouble with that tree.

Jags · Feb 29, 2012

The 22 ton should handle that stuff with authority. You got yourself some mighty fine stove chow in the works.

Gunks · Feb 29, 2012

Red oak splits like a dream with a Fiskars. I won't let a gas/electric splitter have all the fun.

Woody Stover · Feb 29, 2012

osagebow said:
I welcome comments on felling technique

I'd just say be very careful when you have a hollow trunk like that; There is very little hinge to guide the tree. I'd be concerned for sure, cutting that one close to the house. :gulp:

I have a 22-ton and it handles just about anything. You will find some that are tough to split but if you try different spots you can usually find a seam that'll work. I agree with what's been said about Red Oak; Lower on the trunk where there are no branches you should be able to split the edges off with an ax or maul and then attack the remainder without much problem, especially if it's just 20".

osagebow · Feb 29, 2012

Cool guys thanks...just wanted to make sure I didn't waste time & money and still have big ol' hunks to whack at. Have a nice pile of small 6-8" locust over the hil where I can't get a vehicle to to split by hand, It's checking nicely after a few weeks bucked. Also plenty of red oak tops from that october snow bustin' them off. Glad to hear they will be easy to process out in the woods.

About 1/2 of the one hick was sound, but got only about 6 rounds out of the worst one. Discovered where American cockroaches like to hibernate, though. hate them things...

clemsonfor · Feb 29, 2012

I have split a world of wood in my time, red oak splits but not as easy as yall make it out to be. I am only 29 too, no way i want to split the 6 cords a year or whatever some do by hand. I just dont want to go out and slit for 20 mins aday for the rest of my life. I will split 30 mins to an hour sometimes when i use to have a lot built up, but i just tire so fast.

I think the OP has the right idea on renting a splitter.

I have been gathering downed wood on the side of the road 10 miles or so from my home right on the paved road. Its only elm left ( i got all the oak early to discourage the normal wood mongers) and there is no way i would bang my brains out with wedges and mauls even on the 8-10" stuff. I got a buddy we trade out favors for etc and i will either take wood to his house when near it or have been stockpiling wood and then will borrow it over a weekend and split it all up.

Hogwildz · Feb 29, 2012

22 ton will eat that stuff no prob.
Screw the Fiskars, get it done!

TreePointer · Feb 29, 2012

Around here, you can't rent a splitter under 25 tons, but a 22-ton model should do it. If you have a lot of wood, set aside a day when a helper is available to get all the wood done in your 24 hour rental period. Some local rental places will allow you to rent on Saturday and return it on Monday yet only be charged for one day.

Thistle · Feb 29, 2012

clemsonfor said:
I have split a world of wood in my time, red oak splits but not as easy as yall make it out to be. I am only 29 too, no way i want to split the 6 cords a year or whatever some do by hand. I just dont want to go out and slit for 20 mins aday for the rest of my life. I will split 30 mins to an hour sometimes when i use to have a lot built up, but i just tire so fast.

Yes it is.I've split 10+ cords roughly 70% Red/Black Oak by hand since April 2011,vast majority of that was after buying my X25 in late May.Except for owning a Speeco 20 ton hydro from Apr 96 to Dec 2005 when I sold it because of needing cash due to a pre Christmas layoff - I've split all my wood manually since I was 17,I'll be 49 in September.Sure I dont have the stamina I did at 30 or 35,but I can work 4-5 hrs at a time with no trouble on day's off or when I get the spare time.Plus it keeps me in shape.I know when the body tells me to stop,I listen to it then.Not like ignoring it when I was younger haha.Unless something unforseen happens I plan on continuing this for another 5 to 10 yrs,long as I feel good anyway.

Backwoods Savage · Feb 29, 2012

If that 22 ton splitter won't handle the job, call me and maybe we can bring my 20 to splitter. It handles elm pretty easy so your wood probably won't even make it work hard. Get er' done!

Wood Duck · Mar 1, 2012

I'd save that Red Oak for splitting by hand. Red Oak is one of hte most enjoyable woods to split by hand.

goosegunner · Mar 1, 2012

I bust those chunks all the time with the Fiskars. The ones that go easy I finish fast. If you do them when they are green and cold it helps. The tough ones I quarter just to make them manageable to get on the splitter.

gg

Loco Gringo · Mar 1, 2012

A man will split red oak twice as fast by hand. A splitter keeps you waiting on the ram, traveling, and lifting logs longer than its worth.

lukem · Mar 1, 2012

clemsonfor said:
I have split a world of wood in my time, red oak splits but not as easy as yall make it out to be. I am only 29 too, no way i want to split the 6 cords a year or whatever some do by hand. I just dont want to go out and slit for 20 mins aday for the rest of my life. I will split 30 mins to an hour sometimes when i use to have a lot built up, but i just tire so fast.

I think the OP has the right idea on renting a splitter.

I have been gathering downed wood on the side of the road 10 miles or so from my home right on the paved road. Its only elm left ( i got all the oak early to discourage the normal wood mongers) and there is no way i would bang my brains out with wedges and mauls even on the 8-10" stuff. I got a buddy we trade out favors for etc and i will either take wood to his house when near it or have been stockpiling wood and then will borrow it over a weekend and split it all up.

I've split 6 cord of red oak by hand. Did it last year. It wasn't bad at all.

bogydave · Mar 1, 2012

Most wood splits easiest when green.
22 ton will do a good job.
You can always run into a twisted gnarly knotty piece that won't split, but rare & memorable

Good looking wood,
Good job!

clemsonfor · Mar 1, 2012

Thistle said:
clemsonfor said:

I have split a world of wood in my time, red oak splits but not as easy as yall make it out to be. I am only 29 too, no way i want to split the 6 cords a year or whatever some do by hand. I just dont want to go out and slit for 20 mins aday for the rest of my life. I will split 30 mins to an hour sometimes when i use to have a lot built up, but i just tire so fast.

Click to expand...

Yes it is.I've split 10+ cords roughly 70% Red/Black Oak by hand since April 2011,vast majority of that was after buying my X25 in late May.Except for owning a Speeco 20 ton hydro from Apr 96 to Dec 2005 when I sold it because of needing cash due to a pre Christmas layoff - I've split all my wood manually since I was 17,I'll be 49 in September.Sure I dont have the stamina I did at 30 or 35,but I can work 4-5 hrs at a time with no trouble on day's off or when I get the spare time.Plus it keeps me in shape.I know when the body tells me to stop,I listen to it then.Not like ignoring it when I was younger haha.Unless something unforseen happens I plan on continuing this for another 5 to 10 yrs,long as I feel good anyway.

I split it all with an 8lb maul. Think this is leading to my earyl fatigue? Im no muscle man but not really lazy either. I have gained 10lbs in the last few years but still am 219ish lbs and 6'2" tall just to give you an idea of my build.

I hear yall talking about these x-whater # (handle length i think) axes and other than a few splits with my older ax with fiberglass handle i really never split with an axe, altough i know its possible. I seem to get a lot of white oak that i seem to barely split with the 8lb maul so i think it would just catch the ax and stick it?

Anyway i guess i need to get one of these fiskers for the red oak when i get it. I still do not argue with the fact that in the same 30 minute period with good straight grained wood i can double a splitter output with one man on splitter, i can probly come colose to the same output or a bit more even with 2 people on a splitter. Hopefully with one of these i can split for a bit longer. But i have tons of elm to split and its a groan with the maul, im saving it for a splitter even though its doable its not the best use of my energy. I also end up with a world of post oak and white oak that seems to always have twisted grain and dosent split as well as red even when straight-grained anyway.

Thistle · Mar 1, 2012

clemsonfor said:
Thistle said:

clemsonfor said:

I have split a world of wood in my time, red oak splits but not as easy as yall make it out to be. I am only 29 too, no way i want to split the 6 cords a year or whatever some do by hand. I just dont want to go out and slit for 20 mins aday for the rest of my life. I will split 30 mins to an hour sometimes when i use to have a lot built up, but i just tire so fast.

Click to expand...

Yes it is.I've split 10+ cords roughly 70% Red/Black Oak by hand since April 2011,vast majority of that was after buying my X25 in late May.Except for owning a Speeco 20 ton hydro from Apr 96 to Dec 2005 when I sold it because of needing cash due to a pre Christmas layoff - I've split all my wood manually since I was 17,I'll be 49 in September.Sure I dont have the stamina I did at 30 or 35,but I can work 4-5 hrs at a time with no trouble on day's off or when I get the spare time.Plus it keeps me in shape.I know when the body tells me to stop,I listen to it then.Not like ignoring it when I was younger haha.Unless something unforseen happens I plan on continuing this for another 5 to 10 yrs,long as I feel good anyway.

Click to expand...

I split it all with an 8lb maul. Think this is leading to my earyl fatigue? Im no muscle man but not really lazy either. I have gained 10lbs in the last few years but still am 219ish lbs and 6'2" tall just to give you an idea of my build.

I hear yall talking about these x-whater # (handle length i think) axes and other than a few splits with my older ax with fiberglass handle i really never split with an axe, altough i know its possible. I seem to get a lot of white oak that i seem to barely split with the 8lb maul so i think it would just catch the ax and stick it?

Anyway i guess i need to get one of these fiskers for the red oak when i get it. I still do not argue with the fact that in the same 30 minute period with good straight grained wood i can double a splitter output with one man on splitter, i can probly come colose to the same output or a bit more even with 2 people on a splitter. Hopefully with one of these i can split for a bit longer. But i have tons of elm to split and its a groan with the maul, im saving it for a splitter even though its doable its not the best use of my energy. I also end up with a world of post oak and white oak that seems to always have twisted grain and dosent split as well as red even when straight-grained anyway.

I'm no muscle man either at 5'7 & 170lbs.I've split tons of American/White Elm over the years (not much left of any size around here thanks to Dutch Elm Disease that hit hard in the 1970's & again about 10 yrs ago) and its indeed a groan.Really pulled my 20 ton hydro down at times,never killed the engine though.For what little standing dead Elm I still get each year (3-5 trees normally) I use the ol' trusty 20 lb Monster Maul or sledge/wedges for real stubborn ones & the X25 for the smaller logs.What others here have said & I agree 100% - When you have standing dead elm,wait a couple years until the bark is totally gone & you see long vertical cracks in the wood.Makes it easier splitting.White Oak & to a lesser extent Bur Oak,can be somewhat stringy like you said.Even straight grained knot free stuff is tougher splitting than Red/Black.

lukem · Mar 1, 2012

clemsonfor said:
Thistle said:

clemsonfor said:

I have split a world of wood in my time, red oak splits but not as easy as yall make it out to be. I am only 29 too, no way i want to split the 6 cords a year or whatever some do by hand. I just dont want to go out and slit for 20 mins aday for the rest of my life. I will split 30 mins to an hour sometimes when i use to have a lot built up, but i just tire so fast.

Click to expand...

Yes it is.I've split 10+ cords roughly 70% Red/Black Oak by hand since April 2011,vast majority of that was after buying my X25 in late May.Except for owning a Speeco 20 ton hydro from Apr 96 to Dec 2005 when I sold it because of needing cash due to a pre Christmas layoff - I've split all my wood manually since I was 17,I'll be 49 in September.Sure I dont have the stamina I did at 30 or 35,but I can work 4-5 hrs at a time with no trouble on day's off or when I get the spare time.Plus it keeps me in shape.I know when the body tells me to stop,I listen to it then.Not like ignoring it when I was younger haha.Unless something unforseen happens I plan on continuing this for another 5 to 10 yrs,long as I feel good anyway.

Click to expand...

I split it all with an 8lb maul. Think this is leading to my earyl fatigue? Im no muscle man but not really lazy either. I have gained 10lbs in the last few years but still am 219ish lbs and 6'2" tall just to give you an idea of my build.

I hear yall talking about these x-whater # (handle length i think) axes and other than a few splits with my older ax with fiberglass handle i really never split with an axe, altough i know its possible. I seem to get a lot of white oak that i seem to barely split with the 8lb maul so i think it would just catch the ax and stick it?

Anyway i guess i need to get one of these fiskers for the red oak when i get it. I still do not argue with the fact that in the same 30 minute period with good straight grained wood i can double a splitter output with one man on splitter, i can probly come colose to the same output or a bit more even with 2 people on a splitter. Hopefully with one of these i can split for a bit longer. But i have tons of elm to split and its a groan with the maul, im saving it for a splitter even though its doable its not the best use of my energy. I also end up with a world of post oak and white oak that seems to always have twisted grain and dosent split as well as red even when straight-grained anyway.

I'm about your age (30) and close to your build (6'3" and 185). I think the 8lb maul is the best tool for splitting wood manually. I've used 6lb mauls and monster mauls and didn't really like either...kinda a too hot, too cold thing...8 lbs is just right. I've used a splitting axe before (not a true fiskars, but same concept) and didn't care for it either. This is all MY personal preferance...not trying to start a war on what is better.

My dad always used to say "let the tool do the work" and the 8lb maul is not exception. Just lift it up, give it some extra umph on the way down, but let the weight work for you. I'm not saying you just let the head drop on the round and it will fly apart, but you don't have to swing for the fences on every swing either.

I'm good for about 3-4 hours of splitting at a casual pace with a few 5 minute breaks sprinkled in before I get fatigued, and 5-6 before I'm totally gassed.

Flatbedford · Mar 1, 2012

Split the Red Oak green. As said above, Red Oak is about the easiest splitting wood out there. You can split it faster by hand than with a machine and you won't have to suffer with the noise of the machine either. I have never split Hickory so I can't comment on that, but most woods split easiest when green.

osagebow · Mar 1, 2012

Well, i want to do about 4-6 cords with 1 helper with a day's rental (hopefully get a weekend for a day rate - did that with a ditchwitch from the same guy. Will still do lots of hand splitting with a maul once I get goin" Got white oak, maple and some other stuff to do, including some big 6" sassafrass that was in the wrong place at the right time....

Red oak SMASH..... :coolgrin:

bioman · Mar 2, 2012

That will be a long day, and lots of exercise. Thats alot of splittin no matter what you use !

osagebow · Mar 2, 2012

I'm 5' 9", 205 pounds, 41 years old fighting out of Mount Jackson, VA. professional record - none. have an 8 lb. maul,and slugged it out with some hick and 20' red oak a bit today....Don't think my technique is good enough YET.

I shoot 65 lb long bows for fun and still kinda popeye armed for an old guy. If I get some help,I wanna try the "John Henry vs. the machine" thing once we get a big pile going. I'll do the smaller red rounds and sass and small locust last after all the hick white oak and maple is chewed up, see if I can keep pace.

*Beano Cook says: "BET ON THE SPLITTER, GIVE THE POINTS." (Current Line has me losing by 1/2 a face cord at HOME... how embarassing.) :mad:

splitter advice / big redoak

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