I went out yesterday experimenting, on a lark, with splitting somelarge oak logs. They range from 3' to 4' in diameter and are about 6'long. I thought I'd just chainsaw a shallow line down the length(about 3" into the sapwood) then use sledgehammer with wedges to splitit down that line.My goal was to get a few slabs.The oak just laughed. It wouldn't budge, and I wore myself out prettyquickly slinging that 18 lb sledge. The wedges went in (maybe) 1/2"then acted as if I were hitting concrete or iron (except they weren'tdulled really). I guess the mass is just too much for a single wedgeand sledge.Do you know of other ways than sawing to split a log this thick?Portable hydraulics? Anything?Curiouser and curiouser,H.

'Round here, the old timers stand the pieces on end. Helps them keepfrom drying out and becoming hard to split. Seems like I tried someonce and it did make a BIG difference. But I am not a prowoodsplitter.

How to split a large log?

Nov 24, 2003 23 Replies

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Lawrence A. Ramsey 22 years ago

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Larry Bud 22 years ago

Obviously he would get his 12 buddies to do the work while he gets drunk on wine!

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Silvan 22 years ago

Red gum!

"We have incoming! Run!"

Those were the days. We didn't have no sissy sledge hammer either. That thing weighed close to 20 pounds. I can't even come close to swinging it anymore.

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Norman D. Crow 22 years ago

IIRC, it was either Hickory or Red Oak! 20lb.? Sounds more like a fence maul! I *think* Uncles' was more in the 10-14lb. range.

Nahmie

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