I had a guy deliver a cord of red oak rounds (about 80-85 rounds, mostly 18-24" diameter) last week, and I've been splitting it about a half hour per day, almost done. The red oak is splitting beautifully. I'm using my friend's dad's 60-year old 8-pound maul, and I'm starting to feel like I know what I'm doing with it. I can usually crack the 24" diameter rounds in half with 3-5 good whacks, and then it gets easier from there.
But then I came across three rounds which were not the red oak. These things just wont split. I'm talking 20-25 whacks of the maul. Nothing. The maul just sinks in a bit, or bounces off. These rounds aren't even that big - about 10" diameter. I managed to break a bit of one, to show you guys a picture. So what is this wood that I can't split? I'm guessing I'll just save the rounds until I borrow or rent a splitter some time down the road.
But then I came across three rounds which were not the red oak. These things just wont split. I'm talking 20-25 whacks of the maul. Nothing. The maul just sinks in a bit, or bounces off. These rounds aren't even that big - about 10" diameter. I managed to break a bit of one, to show you guys a picture. So what is this wood that I can't split? I'm guessing I'll just save the rounds until I borrow or rent a splitter some time down the road.