How to Split This ?

[Jim Ignatowski]

I've been lucky to get a lot of free wood from the local tree companies. I usually split everything by hand and leave whatever I can't split ... Once I have enough, I rent a splitter (planning on buying one eventually, but don't have one now). Anyway, I have got a bunch of pieces that looks like the picture and although I rent a 25 ton splitter - based upon my previous experience, I don't think it will get through this. Curious what others do ... Do you use a chainsaw to cut this down? Thanks

 

[firefighterjake]

Split a small slab or two off the sides opposite of where the branches used to be ... once you've slabbed off a few splits the rest of it may split easier ... although it may be a bit more challenging than say splitting up a round of white ash.

 

[TheAardvark]

Chainsaw or landfill.

 

[woodhog73]

I use my chainsaw. Noodle it lay the log on it's side and slice it in half.

 

[Jags]

I think I just saw a 22 ton splitter leave a little puddle of hydraulic fluid under it.

A big splitter will work that up. Some will be ugly, some will be fine. On stuff like that I just put it on the beam and start pulling the handle. After a few strokes you get to where you can start to read the wood to make the best of it.

 

[Montanalocal]

I think it is simpler to saw it crosswise into 3 or 4 inch cookies. Most of them can be thrown into your stove whole.

 

[ElmBurner]

Unless you really need the wood, I'd use it for a splitting stump or put a flower pot on it or something along those lines.

Hacking at it with a chainsaw or renting a splitter to bust it up seems like investing more time/money than it is worth (although twisted up wood like this will burn forever).

 

[Fred Wright]

We got several large forks and gnarly red oak rounds from a tree company last year. Noodled 'em into smaller chunks with the saw, then split. They still came out ugly as sin but broke up without much effort.

Cut downward into the round with the cutoff limb facing horizontally. Lay the cut piece on the splitter beam with the limb facing upward. Limb crotches seem to split better this way.

 

[Grateful11]

I know what we'd do with, leave it or dump it in the woods.

 

[heavy hammer]

Those are the ones you just get small enough to fit in the stove because they burn forever. I split everything by hand so I would just start with the maul wedges and big sledge. Once you figure the grain or twists just get it to the point where you can load in your stove and your done. I'm one of those people who just won't give in you hit it long and hard enough it will split, maybe not the best advise but I haven't lost yet. If to terrible to split get a loop of mill chain for pieces like that will go through it like a hot knife through butter.

 

[Kevin*]

One word : noodle

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[Jim Ignatowski]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'll chop it up with the saw . it would be more of a hassle to dump it as opposed to burn it. I have several like this but it was free, so can't complain. Thanks again!

 

[AmbDrvr253]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'll chop it up with the saw . it would be more of a hassle to dump it as opposed to burn it. I have several like this but it was free, so can't complain. Thanks again!

I do not like to see good wood wasted.......LOL

 

[billb3]

big sharp saw

 

[jeffesonm]

Might be a good piece for a wood turner somewhere. Otherwise, throw it in the woods. I don't bother with that crap anymore.

 

[peakbagger]

I helped a friend build a two stage splitter years ago, he set the pump up so he could shear logs in half going 90 degrees to the grain. As long as he didn't break a weld, he could usually split/shear anything.

 

[Tom Wallace]

Like others mentioned, I'd noodle it. Just carve a notch in the top with the chainsaw about 1-2" deep. Then insert a wedge and start pounding it through. Or just noodle it all the way through depending on how twisted the grain is within it.