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  1. rdust Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 9, 2009
    3,356 posts
    Michigan
    Today I started splitting some red oak I scored a while back. After splitting yard trees lately I almost forgot how nice it is to split some straight grained red oak, the stuff splits like a dream. I didn't get into the 30"+ rounds today, if I have time to get after them tomorrow those should produce some nice blocks.

    Here are a couple pictures of some 6-7 inches blocks. I don't like splitting oak much bigger since I'd like to be able to burn it before I die. ;lol

    Attached Files:

    #1

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  2. bogydave Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 4, 2009
    7,992 posts
    So Cent ALASKA
    I bet that was/is fun ;)
    Will be some great overnighters in a few years.
    Great for cross stack row ends :)
    rdust likes this.
  3. BucksCounty Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 11, 2009
    264 posts
    Southeast PA
    I agree. That is when spiltting is really a pleasure and rewarding. I have red oak that is almost 2 years seasoned. Splits are about the same. They have produced some nice secondary burns. Some of the rounds were 30, like yours. Shouldn't be a problem for you. Enjoy
    rdust likes this.
  4. red oak Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 7, 2011
    616 posts
    northwest Virginia
    No doubt it's my favorite wood to work with. I haven't split much larger than 30" though. A lot of the stuff I've gathered lately has been like yours, straight and easy.
    rdust likes this.
  5. infinitymike Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 23, 2011
    1,275 posts
    Long Island, NY
    Beautiful. It splits like you can make perfect lumber out of it.

    I have about 10 cord of red oak split since December/January, still gotta wait 2 years.
    Although I did split a piece yesterday and it was 24-26% mc.
    That was just one piece and off the top of the stack. Who knows what its like in the middle of the pile!
    rdust and Backwoods Savage like this.
  6. rkofler Member

    joined: Nov 15, 2011
    93 posts
    Long Island
    I have a love/hate relationship with oak, love how it splits, hate how long it takes to season, love the way it burns...
    Split some pretty large oak rounds taken down by Sandy in the last couple of weeks using nothing more than Fiskars x25
    rdust and Backwoods Savage like this.
  7. Boom Stick Feeling the Heat

    joined: Oct 26, 2011
    283 posts
    Capital Region, NY
    Oak is a dream Just c/s/s a cord plus with my x25.....at times I was using one had and busting nice square blocks off the big rounds...made for a beautiful stack. 2 years from now it will be sweet!
    rdust likes this.
  8. Backwoods Savage Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 14, 2007
    24,520 posts
    Michigan
    Ah, the joys of oak. I too have always loved the way it splits. You can almost make lumber using the hydraulics.
    rdust likes this.
  9. buggyspapa New Member

    joined: Nov 26, 2011
    62 posts
    Scarborough, Maine
    After bludgeoning through several nasty red maple crotch sections with wedge & sledge, I love to reward myself with some of the 20" straight oak rounds I picked up in September that fly apart on one whack of the x27. A feral "YAWWWWP" is always appropriate. No, I do not flex after the oak. Well, maybe once in a while...;)
    rdust likes this.
  10. rdust Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 9, 2009
    3,356 posts
    Michigan
    Split some more of it yesterday, as Dennis said you can almost make lumber using the hydraulics. I even split a couple by hand with my cheap no name splitting axe just for "fun". I can't remember the last time I did that. ::-)
    Backwoods Savage likes this.
  11. TimJ Minister of Fire

    joined: Apr 10, 2012
    1,074 posts
    Southeast Indiana
    I split some very good red oak this year and have split alot of good white oak, but the big rounds I am dealing with now do what they want to do.
  12. jeff_t Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 14, 2008
    2,718 posts
    SE MI
    I whack those with a Fiskars, just because.

    I don't get many tall, straight ones, either. I seem to have no problem getting hold of four footers out of the middle of a farm field or back yard. You know, the ones with a straight trunk of about, four feet.
  13. Flatbedford Minister of Fire

    You gotta love splitting Red Oak! Makes me feel like a super hero!
  14. MasterMech Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 2, 2011
    4,976 posts
    Hudson Valley NY
    I love how oak emits a supremely satisfying crunch when it splits. The drier it is, the better the crunch.==c
  15. Flatbedford Minister of Fire

    ...or sometimes a splash in the face when it splits.

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