This is why I split green

[SawdustSA]

I cut down some young, thin bluegum trees last year September with the idea of using them during the shoulder season. Now, when fairly dry, they are rather light and I thought the wood would not give off much heat. I am very surprised to see how hot they burn. So today I thought of making some kindling for fire starters. To my surprise the Husqvarna splitting axe got horribly stuck in a thin round, and then the Stihl maul could not split them either.

Yet the bigger rounds from a tree I cut yesterday, can be split with the maul. This bluegum just gets more stubborn as they dry. I try to CSS within 3 days and will keep going with this method in future.

 

[red oak]

Gum is one of the hardest splitting woods I've come across. It does give off pretty good heat though. I had a gum tree come down during a storm a few years back. I got the larger pieces split eventually with a couple of wedges, but rounds 7" and under I just threw in the stove. Don't know if I'd take it again unless I had to.

 

[SawdustSA]

It is pretty much the only decent firewood in my area and we have plenty. Without a splitter they keep me fit. About to start splitting 1/2 a cord right now.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Gum is named right. It's like hard chewing gum to split.

 

[xman23]

When to split what wood needs to be another thread. I do mostly oak and they split best when dried until the ends splits. Even better when a bit frozen.

 

[Auzzie Gumtree]

Not all gum trees are the same - if your Blue Gum is anything like the Australia Blue gum it is rated as fair for splitting. In my experience it is quite hard to split by hand but it is worth the effort.

(broken image removed)

 

[Bret Chase]

When to split what wood needs to be another thread. I do mostly oak and they split best when dried until the ends splits. Even better when a bit frozen.

most split better when frozen.... I've got 7+ cord of cordwood that is is about half hickory (shag and bitternut) and young elm.... I need to get those split before they turn completely into a stringy mess...

 

[Applesister]

most split better when frozen.... I've got 7+ cord of cordwood that is is about half hickory (shag and bitternut) and young elm.... I need to get those split before they turn completely into a stringy mess...

Send us some pics of the bitternut if you can remember. I have a few hickories I cant ID yet. Would like to see.

 

[SawdustSA]

Well in South Africa the wood will never freeze, especially along the coast where I am. I found the River Red Gum to slit easier than than the gum I have now. I am still not sure which gum I have at the moment. Generally over hear, all gum are called Blue Gum, which I know is not the case all the time.

Here is a photo of the tree.

 

[Auzzie Gumtree]

not sure what that is - this is one of ours - hardly any lower limbs nice and straight and very heavy......

 

[SawdustSA]

I'm no expert but that one looks similar to our River Gum with the smooth bark and the foliage is not as dense. The type I am cutting at the moment has a thick fluffy bark. It looks rough and coarse but is kind of soft and velvet-like to the touch.