From Tree to Firewood: Understanding the Techniques and Tools of Wood Splitting

[T i m]

Trouble is we need the space and being Ash I understand that can be burnt 'green' so we are looking to get rid asap.

As it happens my Mum has reserved a couple of bits to make plant stands, as has my sister and niece, less to have to cut up. ;-)

Me-laddo had a go with the grenade on one of the other chogs and whilst it did eventually yeald to some properly swung sledge hammer blows it didn't split as easily or the way expected (several times).

Based on the fact I like tools and cutting things up I'm considering getting one if the 10 tonne splitters like the one you ordered and not only will it help resolve this current issue it will save on any gym membership fees (should I ever get that urge etc).

Add to that a cycle powered chainsaw and deliver the wood in my boat or cycle trailer. ;-)

We don't really do either of those and haven't been beaten yet! ;-)

Cheers, T i m

[T i m]

At least one bit seems it was yes. Not sure if this shows anything:

The art is in crosscutting to avoid knots and forks in the middle of a log. I think he did take some note of that (to make cuts easier for himself etc) but we hadn't thought of the idea of the firewood thing till after (there wasn't so much coming down initially).

Heavy logs! ;-)

That was also the thought with this batch but in the heat neither of them fancied putting their PPE on. So, I de-rusted the two new steel gate posts instead (for the 3rd time now) and got some zinc primer on them at last!

If it wasn't for it being ash and being a smallish load and worse case us having a few friends who would take it (in exchange for other favours) and the owners not wanting it, I don't think they would have bothered either (the tree surgery thing is currently on the slower burner as he's van driving 6 days a week (it was supposed to have been a part time job) and she's part time in a cash office).

Cheers, T i m

[Dave Liquorice]

Where did you say you are? Bet it's not within sensible striking distance of the North Pennines.

[andrew]

staining in the log and signs of inclusions of some sort. The grain develops this curly interlocking pattern specifically to resist the bough splitting away from the trunk.

Ash has the lowest moisture content of our woods, which is why it burns well but still gets better with seasoning. It's one of the olive family and some turners prefer it when it has become stained with incipient decay because it then darkens like olive wood.

AJH

[T i m]

Sorry Dave, Norf Lundin.

Cheers, T i m

[T i m]

There is a bit of wire running through it and laddo found 3 nails at about the 4' height.

>Ash has the lowest moisture content of our woods, which is why it burns well

I tried burning some bits in the garden (just a ground campfire type thing) and it seemed ok but only after quite a bit to get it going.

That's interesting, thanks (daughter took my little woodturning lathe up to Scotland or I'm sure she'd be giving some a go. She made a few of the little mushrooms you often see at craft / country shows and made us a kitchen roll holder). ;-)

Cheers, T i m

[Steve Firth]

That happens with all wood, particularly as you get close to a major branch or to the root. Sometimes you have a deep knot from where a side branch has been lost as the tree grows and the bark eventually grows over it. This leaves the internal structure of the branch that may act as a peg holding the two sides of the tree together.

[T i m]

Fascinating isn't it, nature and that. ;-)

This morning I picked up a Machine Mart / Clarke version of the Wolf splitter the OP ordered (£15 more but I've got it today and it's easier to take back if required etc):

I've already tested it on some of the bigger chogs. It seems to work well as_long as the chogs are reasonably square cut.

On the smaller diameter of this Ash (~6") you can normally crack them with the fast action.

I might also make some 'grippy' spacers to fill out the space between the ram and the shorter chogs and am using offcuts for now with no real problems.

Just come in for a cool down!

Cheers, T i m

[John Rumm]

I saw one a while back which used a double sided ram and a splitting wedge at both ends of the splitter. Hence you can drive it one way and split, then drop a log in the other end a drive it back. Made it about twice as quick as the ones that require the ram to retract for the next log.

[Jules Richardson]

Hmm, I like that approach. My in-law's splitter will take anything we've thrown at at, but it certainly is a time-consuming process still.

cheers

Jules

[Dave Liquorice]

No problem I guess from the fact you where having trouble getting rid that you'd be south and urban. Wood suitable for burning is snapped up very quickly up here.

[T i m]

I'm not sure we are 'having trouble' quite as yet (I said 'get rid' with reference to out of our back garden!) but more finding a suitable / keen and ideally very local outlet for this batch and anything that may follow. I do have several mates with wood burning fires / stoves and when I've finished getting this batch split (so I can see what I've got) I'll offer it about and see who is the most interested. ;-)

The last batch we gave to the guy who rebuilt the engine for daughters MZ motorbike so that was a 'good cause'. (He had previously let daughter practice her chainsaw use ready for her test in the wood at the bottom of their garden [1]. Practice for her, firewood for them and exercise for me). ;-)

Cheers, T i m.

[1] I dug a hole and was able to keep replanting a reasonably sized trunk so she could keep felling it. ;-)