White Oak

[Henz]

Probably been discussed to death, but does white oak compare to sugar maple as fuel and about how long should it be stacked prior to burning?

 

[babalu87]

White Oak is one of the best burning woods, High BTUs

It is pretty tough splitting and as for drying I dont know but I think it is less than Red Oak but longer than Maple

 

[Henz]

I thought that it split really well (with a gas 31ton splitter)...alittle stringy but not bad..Not as nice as hard maple though.

 

[Corie]

I've got quite a stack of it and it burns wondeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerful!

I wish i had more.

 

[Henz]

I will be pre-dominately burninf oak, hard maple and beech..I should be good. all for free too!

 

[babalu87]

I thought that it split really well (with a gas 31ton splitter)...alittle stringy but not bad..Not as nice as hard maple though.

Well I split it with a 6lb maul

I now feel like Superman with the 8lb maul
Surprising difference 2lbs makes

 

[Henz]

why dont you get a splitter????

 

[babalu87]

Im fat enough as it is, pushing a wheelbarrow and swinging a maul is helping

 

[Henz]

wow, you must be retired.

 

[babalu87]

No 39
Retired???????

 

[Henz]

oh..haha..jsut figured that anyone that has enough time to split wood the traditional way in this day and age must be retired!

 

[babalu87]

Maybe Eric will chime in, he splits over 10 cord/year

It is tough to find time with two toddlers, a garden, working on the house, chickens etc.
Just have to do what I can and when, I think the splitter would only save time on the tough pieces.
I know my cycle time is alot faster than 12 seconds

 

[Henz]

huh..I guess, whatever works really. My splitter has a 6sec return, but it also cost me 3k

 

[Henz]

good point..I do it because I absolutly love doing it..if I didnt, then I would probably jsut buy split wood.

 

[carpniels]

Hi babalu,

Can you elaborate a little more about the difference between the 6 and 8# maul?

Eric was over at the house this weekend, and I tried both. I had a really hard time lifting the 8# maul as I am used to a 3# Fiskars maul. The 8# split well, but I think a 6# is easier to manage for me. But I would hate to buy something and then have to decide that 8# is best so I have another piece of equim=pment sitting useless in the garage.

Please explain.

Thanks

Carpniels

PS. I split everything my hand and I do it in the spring with my 3 year old stacking the splits. Make it a fun family thing, and the work goes fast. Also, if the wife complains, explain that what you do must be done to provide heat for the entire winter. She will back off and let you work.

 

[Henz]

I agree with you there..My chitlin is only 2 but my wife helps stack. we jsut bought our house last september and spent 3k heating it and froze all winter. with our new avalon rainier this winter we are determined not to freeze!

 

[Geoff]

Eric was over at the house this weekend, and I tried both. I had a really hard time lifting the 8# maul as I am used to a 3# Fiskars maul.

I have an 8lb maul but I prefer my father's 12lb Monster Maul. Steel handle, wide angle on the head. Just lift and let it drop. And I'm not very big at 5'11" and 160lb. Throw that 3 pounder away and get a real maul! ;-)

Also, if the wife complains, explain that what you do must be done to provide heat for the entire winter. She will back off and let you work.

Nobody in the house has any right to complain about someone processing firewood and they should all pitch in!

 

[babalu87]

huh..I guess, whatever works really. My splitter has a 6sec return, but it also cost me 3k

Your splitter will split and return cycle in 6 seconds?????????
Thats crazy fast.

Hi babalu,

Can you elaborate a little more about the difference between the 6 and 8# maul?

There is a scientific formula for mass (weight) in movement, maybe Dylan has it handy but I only know that I can piss through wood alot quicker with the 8lb.

I didnt notice any difference when swinging it but at my size I dont think I would.

 

[wg_bent]

Maybe Eric will chime in, he splits over 10 cord/year

It is tough to find time with two toddlers, a garden, working on the house, chickens etc.
Just have to do what I can and when, I think the splitter would only save time on the tough pieces.
I know my cycle time is alot faster than 12 seconds

I find that kids and splitting wood is very compatable. While out in the yard watching them play, I split wood. doesn't take much attention to split wood. Also, My neighbor splits wood with two people and a ryobi splitter. Unless it's Elm, I'm way faster then they are, but I also split wood roughly 4-5 days a week and I like doing it. I'm splitting at the rate of about 1/4 cord a day, and if I had to fart around with getting the splitter out, pluggin it in or gassing it up, etc...vs walking out picking up the maul and going at it, I think I'd be less efficient.

I split with an old craftsman 6 lb maul, and I think I'm going to go get an 8lb one soon. Having about 15 cords under my belt so far in the last year has me a lot stronger in my forearms where I think you feel the weight in just moving the maul around. I think the 8 would do nice on the Elm and apple. Most other woods split with 1 or two hits with the 6, so I think I'll keep the 6 for the lighter duty of ash, cherry and white oak.

 

[Harley]

Actually, Babalou, mine has an advertised cycle time of 2 seconds.... It's starting to slow down a little bit... I clock it at about 3. But That's not too bad either. You can't be having too many beers while splitting, though.... But leaves you lots of time afterward for a few :cheese:

 

[BrotherBart]

I wouldn't have a two OR six second cycle time splitter on the property. Fourteen to fifteen seconds is plenty fast and I am real fond of my extremities. We have been together a long time. I split vertically and while it is cycling I am tossing splits in the direction of the stacks.

 

[Henz]

huh, I leave my splitter outside next to the pile with one of those 12'x12' EZ-UP canopies over it..rain or shine I can split wood while being confortable..

 

[carpniels]

Hi Geoff,

I think i have seen one of those 12# mauls on Ebay. The head sort of looks like a slice of cheesecake???? There is even a 15# one they sell locally (Hud-Son) and on Ebay.

I don't know what to think. I am about your size, so it should not be a problem. Just getting used to it is such a pain.

carpniels

 

[Harley]

Actually, BortherBart... Its worked really well so far... You just have to pay attention, but As long as you have your hand in the right place when you throw the lever, its really not a safety issue. Believe it or not, when you think about it 3 seconds is a faily good chunk of time when you are paying attention to it. I've had it about 5 years, on average split about 8 cord for myself, and another 8-10 for the parents, and I still have all 12 fingers :lol: And to think I did that by hand before.... Don't think I could do that now

 

[babalu87]

Actually, Babalou, mine has an advertised cycle time of 2 seconds.... It's starting to slow down a little bit... I clock it at about 3. But That's not too bad either. You can't be having too many beers while splitting, though.... But leaves you lots of time afterward for a few :cheese:

Whats the name and model number of that splitter?