Surprise!

[oldspark]

I pass on Elm. I battled some last year, and won't pick up any again.

You had trouble splitting it with your huskee?

 

[blujacket]

You had trouble splitting it with your huskee?

Yes. American Elm.

 

[oldspark]

Never had a problem splitting Elm, I cut it and let the rounds set for a summer, it then split really easy with my 22 ton splitter.

 

[blujacket]

Never had a problem splitting Elm, I cut it and let the rounds set for a summer, it then split really easy with my 22 ton splitter.

I don't let rounds sit in my yard. I split them as I bring them home & stack it.

 

[Jags]

And a 22 ton unit would have barfed on this log:


Actually - I am not sure that my splitter didn't.

Sorry for the repeat posting of that pic. I am sure some of you long timers are getting tired of it.

 

[NortheastAl]

And a 22 ton unit would have barfed on this log:
View attachment 107774

Actually - I am not sure that my splitter didn't.

Sorry for the repeat posting of that pic. I am sure some of you long timers are getting tired of it.

That pic alone should scare us all off of Elm.

 

[ScotO]

And a 22 ton unit would have barfed on this log:
View attachment 107774

Actually - I am not sure that my splitter didn't.

Sorry for the repeat posting of that pic. I am sure some of you long timers are getting tired of it.

That pic alone should scare us all off of Elm.

kinda looks like he ran that piece through a Morbark chipper!!

Believe it or not, I split some ash a week ago that looked like that. Worst ash I've ever split.....

 

[blujacket]

And a 22 ton unit would have barfed on this log:
View attachment 107774

Actually - I am not sure that my splitter didn't.

Sorry for the repeat posting of that pic. I am sure some of you long timers are getting tired of it.

That is exactly what I had to deal with. No more. lol

 

[oldspark]

That is exactly what I had to deal with. No more. lol

And why I stacked the rounds for the summer. I have plenty of room.

 

[Flatbedford]

I think I'd rather burn $5.00/gallon propane than deal with Elm. Garbage wood in my opinion.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Oh yea they dry fast and well but the splitter has to basically cut/rip through them. Some I had were so springy I had to cut them the rest of the way with an axe or the saw! That's off a hydro splitter!

That is the very reason you don't split elm if it is green. Most times we wait until the bark is gone or almost all off before we cut. It gets a bit hard on the chain then because the wood is so hard. However, I've split many elm rounds by hand in the past with no problem. Yes, you'll get some that don't like to split, especially the crotches but it is amazing how many you can split with one swing of a splitting maul.

 

[stephiedoll]

Splitting some American elm that was mostly dead. Splitting like maple so far.

 

[aansorge]

As Dennis says on a regular basis, wait until the bark has fallen off to take 'em. That way they will already be dry and you hardly need to do any splitting.

A lot of dead ones around here, but still tons of young ones coming up. A very prolific tree here in southern Minnesota.

 

[oldspark]

Not a bad wood at all if you deal with it on its own terms.

 

[Jags]

Not a bad wood at all if you deal with it on its own terms.

Yep - I have burned my fair share of elm. I actually like the way it burns. Its just that once in a while you will get a real monster to deal with.

 

[lukem]

Elm isn't that bad...but every once in a while you'll get a real "character builder" tree that refuses to split. Barkless red elm is fairly easy. Green Siberian elm is torture.

 

[aansorge]

I have a giant red elm I'm just starting to dig into and I am loving it. Splitting as easy as green ash.

 

[schlot]

Grabbed my MM as I worked on splitting up what I brought back. Readings are running 16 to 19 - so at least I can plan on burning them this winter.

 

[NortheastAl]

Burn baby burn! Nice numbers on that wood, schlot.