Jack the Giant Killer :)

[Shari]

Well, I had two 'ugly' crotch pieces yesterday. Both had cable in them. Glad I'm not the one that had to saw them.

Hubby wanted me to noodle them saying "The splitter can't handle something like that."

"Ah," says I, "but it can. Just watch."

Above: Here's our 'victim' with cable attached. The branched areas ran right around 14". Sorry, I forgot to measure the trunk section.

Above: So here's a little better closeup of that cable. That push plate looks small, doesn't it? That's because it is.

Above: Here's the wedge. Looking small also, isn't it? Again, it is. I think it is right around 6".

Above: Here's the wedge after running it through.

Above: After just a little coaxing by hand, the split separated. I did attempt to noodle this (just a bit) but I'm not up to speed on doing that yet...

 

[ikessky]

Very nice! My splitter laughs at stuff like that.

 

[Adabiviak]

Splitter can't handle something like that?! I save those crotch pieces up for special occasions (namely the day I rent a splitter).

 

[Mt Ski Bum]

I usually just hack at those "crotch" sections with my Fiskars/Gerber Splitting Axe... usually splits in 1 to 3 hacks.

 

[firefighterjake]

Non issue with my splitter . . . although the cable might be a bit tough to split into separate strands with the splitter.

 

[smokinj]

Nice pic's! Very Well Done. Thats the way it works around here to...I have one idea and she quickly changes what I was thinking, and gets the job done.

 

[Shari]

Nice pic's! Very Well Done. Thats the way it works around here to...I have one idea and she quickly changes what I was thinking, and gets the job done.

Heh heh - Hubby had 'quit' on me about 10 rounds before this one. Yes, I could have sliced off edges from the individual branches but that stinker was heavy, I was getting tired from splitting/stacking most of the day so I just wanted to get it done. We were both pooped out by the time the day was done - and then we had to be up at 4am for something the next day.

 

[quads]

Nice job Shari!

I usually just hack at those "crotch" sections with my Fiskars/Gerber Splitting Axe... usually splits in 1 to 3 hacks.

Wow, 1 to 3 hacks is wonderful! Would love to see a little video of that....

 

[thewoodlands]

Crotch/Split = Pain




Bad Girl Shari! :shut:




GIBIR

 

[Mt Ski Bum]

Nice job Shari!

I usually just hack at those "crotch" sections with my Fiskars/Gerber Splitting Axe... usually splits in 1 to 3 hacks.

Wow, 1 to 3 hacks is wonderful! Would love to see a little video of that....

if I ever get someone to take video of me, I'll post it here. Most of what I split is softwoods- like pine, fir, spruce, cottonwood, aspen, etc... so that might make a difference... migh not be able to do it in 1-3 hacks on a hardwood...

 

[ohlongarm]

Very nice my 34 ton Brave with a Honda 9 horse is unstoppable,glad you goter done.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Shari, that is some very easy splitting wood and in no time flat you will be able to spy those easy ones. You also split it right the first time. We usually don't cut them that way but if so it is best split like you did it. We like to cut the limbs flush with the trunk so we don't have crotches like that. You might think then that those would be hard to split because you would not have a flat top on the log but it doesn't matter to the splitter. It does the job as if the log were cut straight.

 

[Shari]

Shari, that is some very easy splitting wood and in no time flat you will be able to spy those easy ones. You also split it right the first time. We usually don't cut them that way but if so it is best split like you did it. We like to cut the limbs flush with the trunk so we don't have crotches like that. You might think then that those would be hard to split because you would not have a flat top on the log but it doesn't matter to the splitter. It does the job as if the log were cut straight.

Backwoods - I understand what you are saying but this is all scrounged wood (free!) and that's the way it came. The way it was cut was the right length for my stove so I opted to leave it cut the way it was but your way does sound much easier for splitting.

 

[Flatbedford]

That is the magic of hydraulics. Being a hand splitter, I leave those in the woods and let mother nature extract the carbon herself.

 

[Shari]

The main reason I posted this was to show that one does not always have to have the biggest/best/meanest log splitter out there to accomplish the task at hand. My splitter is only rated at 12 ton with a 5.1HP B&S engine - and it splits 99.9% of what I run through it. I also know its limitations and don't beat it to death either.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

You do just fine too Shari.

 

[WOODBUTCHER]

Nice pics.....Sugar Maple eh?

WoodButcher

 

[Shari]

Yes, that particular piece was what we call around here Silver Maple - not the best BTU but, hey, it's still free BTU's. I was also working on Elm the same day.

 

[heatwise]

nice pics, looks like the kind of stuff i find all the time. i also had some stringy elm this week. and i like how the splitter has the support metal, looks like a great set up.

 

[ohlongarm]

Not to detract any integrity from the thread but anyone who's split alot of wood hydraulically knows the crotch pieces are the weakest link in a tree,and split easily.