I hav e about 20 rounds of elm sitting in the woods stacked because I can't split. They are about 18 inches long and was wondering if it would be easier if I cut into 3 rounds of 6 inches and sit them in the sun all summer? Or maybe after I cut into 6 inch rounds I may be able to split a couple. Just don't want to waste the wood.
Elm
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nrford
Minister of Fire
Ram 1500 with an axe...
Minister of Fire
claydogg84
Minister of Fire
Not usually. American Elm can be really bad. I've got a bunch of it designated to holding down the tarps on top of my stacks. Even with my splitter I still need my hatchet nearby. Nmaho, is it possible to borrow someone's splitter for the day? You could noodle them, as previously mentioned.
ZZ Tom
Burning Hunk
Like Ram 1500 said, 2 wedges and a maul. If it still doesn't split, you're not working hard enough.
Stock up firewood that needs to be split, then rent a splitter and get it dun.
Elm is awesome, but splitting it is a bear, Hydraulics, is my vote.
Elm is awesome, but splitting it is a bear, Hydraulics, is my vote.
If it's not enough to bother renting a splitter, just noodle them. That means slicing them up with the chainsaw. It's called noodling because of the noodley shavings that the saw makes. You want to put the saw parallel to the bark & slice through the round lengthwise, not from one end to the other like splitting. The chain cuts much better that way.
claydogg84
Minister of Fire
How much Elm have you split using this tactic? I'm going to guess very little, or none.
ZZ Tom
Burning Hunk
Yes, I would call it very little. Scored two truck loads a year ago, and various amounts previous. Probably under two cords. Took a few weekends but I got it all using this method. Never noodled, ripped nor used hydraulics.
claydogg84
Minister of Fire
Osagebndr
Minister of Fire
I rented a splitter for 2 cords if red elm, stuff is very rough . Noodle them down is a great idea.
You can work as hard as you want but it still will be a real pain in the ass the last time i split elm i kept stalling the splitter and i said screw it it isnt that great of wood anyway so i tossed most of it back into the woods
what kind of elm was it? There are many different yes and some dont split that bad
drz1050
Minister of Fire
Either noodle them, or cut those 18" rounds into 9" rounds, then smack em with a 8 lb maul.
Recently split about a cord of elm, don't try to split it down the center. Work from the edges in, and it's much easier that way.
Recently split about a cord of elm, don't try to split it down the center. Work from the edges in, and it's much easier that way.
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Stack it in the round and let it season for 2 years and try it again. They are tougher if they were alive when cut down. Dont toss it.
I have a 26T hydraulic splitter and it pulverizes Elm. And not all the parts of the tree will be the same. The interlocking grain is random.
Let it sit.
I have a 26T hydraulic splitter and it pulverizes Elm. And not all the parts of the tree will be the same. The interlocking grain is random.
Let it sit.
Coog
Burning Hunk
Yah, elm doesn't split, it tears.
It is mostly all I burn. Get a 30T plus splitter and it will handle most all of it. Hand splitting is painful. I once tried hand splitting a 2.5' red elm round. 5 wedges got stuck and starting splitting the round circular. I had to noodle the rounds just to get the wedges back out.
It is mostly all I burn. Get a 30T plus splitter and it will handle most all of it. Hand splitting is painful. I once tried hand splitting a 2.5' red elm round. 5 wedges got stuck and starting splitting the round circular. I had to noodle the rounds just to get the wedges back out.
JRHAWK9
Minister of Fire
Making wood shavings for the horse stalls. AKA...wasting good firewood.
And gas.
And gas.
Osagebndr
Minister of Fire
I totally agree with bholler it ain't that great a wood. Some will split and some won't even if you talk nice to it.if you have not so well seasoned wood it will help it along and it's great for a short chill breaker
Coog
Burning Hunk
I disagree, elm burns great and we have a lot of it around here. Especially Rock and red elm. American and Chinese elm, not so much. It's not oak or hard maple but it does well. If you are a hand splitter, you might pass. With a good hydraulic splitter, it is manageable.
Osagebndr
Minister of Fire
I get a lot if Siberian and American elm haven't really noticed a lot of btus with it by itself . It's all real dry so I mix it with oak and cherry which I have plenty of
Elm is one of the few hardwoods that can be found around here so I take it any time I can.
It is a pain to split and sometimes I just noodle the crap out of it like I do spruce. I have 40 acres on the high plains and take the noodles and spread it around the grass lands.
It is a pain to split and sometimes I just noodle the crap out of it like I do spruce. I have 40 acres on the high plains and take the noodles and spread it around the grass lands.
husky345 vermont resolute
Feeling the Heat
I found i just dont get that many btus out of it so i dont bother with it anymore i have some this year because i was clearing a fence row for the neighbor and had to take everything but i wouldn't cut it otherwise.
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