Easy Splitting Elm

I have run into lots of easy splitting elm (even splitting with an axe) but all of it was dead before cutting it. I've never ran into an easy splitting elm if the tree was still alive.

Rockey said:

Has anyone ever run into some easy splitting elm? I posted this a few months ago: https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/56112/

After cutting it down I proceeded to buck it and split about 5-6 of the 20-30 straight and narrow trunk section that split as easy as cherry, well at least oak, Should I consider myself lucky and quit splitting wood because I will never get that lucky again? Did I misidentify the tree? I tood the leeaf and went thru the website that narrows the tree down by the leaf characteristics. There are more sprouts on the trunk I left so i could go through it again. Has anyone experienced this?

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Last fall I scored about 1.5 cords of Elm off of Craigslist for free. It was a pretty big tree--probably 32" at the main trunk. I believe it was a Russian Elm, but not totally sure. It had been dead for a fee years before the homeowner had it cut down. After hearing all the nightmares about what a PITA it was to split, I was amazed at how well my Fiskars Super Splitter blew threw it! Even 20-24" rounds split with one whack, no problem. The larger rounds were harder, but still doable. That Elm is nice and dry now, and I look forward to burning it this winter!



NP

Backwoods Savage said:

I have run into lots of easy splitting elm (even splitting with an axe) but all of it was dead before cutting it. I've never ran into an easy splitting elm if the tree was still alive.

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+1 . . . standing dead with the bark falling off = split like a dream . . . clean splits . . . some even popped off the splitter.

Fresh cut or even dead for only a year = stringy, mangled splits in many cases.

I've given away several pickup loads of fresh cut Siberian Elm to a coworker and a neighbor and both reported it split just fine. These were healthy living trees, not standing dead. I suspect Siberian / Russian are the same thing. Lots and lots of water in it, rated BTU/cord the same as American elm. The Siberian elm around here has leaves about 50% smaller than the other elms and are always very bug eaten. Rarely find a standing dead as they are resistant to the dutch elm disease. Definately a weed tree though.

3fordasho said:

I've given away several pickup loads of fresh cut Siberian Elm to a coworker and a neighbor and both reported it split just fine. These were healthy living trees, not standing dead. I suspect Siberian / Russian are the same thing. Lots and lots of water in it, rated BTU/cord the same as American elm. The Siberian elm around here has leaves about 50% smaller than the other elms and are always very bug eaten. Rarely find a standing dead as they are resistant to the dutch elm disease. Definately a weed tree though.

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+1 This mirrors my experience. Siberian elm has a distinct dark brown heartwood and when green splits almost as easy as black walnut. Weed tree without a doubt. Here it grows fast, has long limbs that don't support weight very well at all - winds and ice storms wreck havoc on these guys. Only expect one to live for 60 years max in a temperate climate accd. to Wikipedia.

What I have found too is you will get some pieces that split better than ash going one way but when you turn it 90 degrees, it tears just like the elm we know and love.

firefighterjake said:

Backwoods Savage said:

I have run into lots of easy splitting elm (even splitting with an axe) but all of it was dead before cutting it. I've never ran into an easy splitting elm if the tree was still alive.

Click to expand...

+1 . . . standing dead with the bark falling off = split like a dream . . . clean splits . . . some even popped off the splitter.

Fresh cut or even dead for only a year = stringy, mangled splits in many cases.

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If you'd set that splitter the right way it would not pop off! Dang it Jake, I thought firefighters were all wise and did things right. Well, maybe they do when it comes to the fire fighting. We need to get together some time so I can teach you a few things. Maybe next fall if we come out to New England again.

I had a tree service take down 2 hazard Siberian elms over my house and the road and some power lines on Monday. They were supposed to cut them to 18" lengths, there were 5 guys on the crew and I think each one of them had their own notion of what 18" looks like.
The pieces at 18" within reason split pretty well with my new Fiskar toys, they didn't impress me on some white oak earlier in the week, but they handled that stringy Siberian elm pretty well. I have to split up on another block of wood or the stump to keep from splitting my leg as well. Those short handles are gonna take some gettin used to. Seems like the super splitter either kills what you swing at or bounces back at you, very little middle ground on the testing so far. The heavier one packs a little more punch and can rip through most of the ones that reject the little Fiskars Splitter. I was pleasantly surprised with the way it split the fresh elm. I will eventually get another 6 lb triangle wedge maul, but I'm in no hurry to do so at the moment. I know how effective those tri-wedge mauls are, but I also know how heavy they are as well.

I have 4 small rounds of elm in the backyard as I speak, When ever I have a bad day at work I go out and take some wacks at it, all but the last 4 rounds have given in to the 8lb maul. I hope it burns well for the
amount of time I'v invested in it.

Perhaps it is the species of elm you have that is easier. The stuff I have, dead or grean just laughs at anything I swing at it. Like trying to break concrete with a claw hammer...

I split about 1.5 cord this summer with the Fiskars. I'm not sure of the type of elm, but it was a pretty mixed bag. This stuff was as green as can be, water was pouring out of the stump for a day after being cut. The straight rounds split just fine. Twisted, crooked or lower trunk rounds were tough going. About a dozen rounds & crotches eventually got noodled-up. All-in-all it was well worth it, but I swear there are many chunks that took more energy to split than I'll ever get back in heat.

Before this summer all the elm I ever got was a PITA to split (I split by hand). This summer I got a cord of elm and it split easily. After some research I believe the easy-splitting elm was red elm, which according to the charts I found is the only elm that is listed as easy-splitting.

I'm not 100% sure on the type of Elm I picked up off Craigslist over the summer, but it was an absolute bear to split. I ended up splitting most of it with a wedge & sledge :/