Manual log splitter

[mscheer772]

wait until its -25 F and it will all bust apart-no problems

 

[Baby Grand]

The northern hardwoods I deal with all split easier green. Mostly maple, yellow birch, ash, and beech. Beech can be a bear. I cut some apple once in a while and don't even attemp to split it usually. I use a 6 lb maul for stuff up to about 12" and go to 8 lbs after that. Then wedges and an 8 lb sledge if it won't crack. I can split a lot of wood with a high speed 6 lb maul. I think a 12 pounder would wear me out in a hurry. Frozen wood splits easier. If I have some tough blocks I'll save them for when it is below zero.

wait until its -25 F and it will all bust apart-no problems

Green & frozen works best for me! 6# or 8# maul. Feel like a young-un after a few hours of that on a clear, calm, 20 degree day!

 

[North Country]

For those of you that split frozen - are you burning it the same winter or next? I never seem to be far enough ahead to cut & split next year's while I'm burning this year's.

 

[Baby Grand]

For those of you that split frozen - are you burning it the same winter or next? I never seem to be far enough ahead to cut & split next year's while I'm burning this year's.

Next. We had our chimney relined this Summer - it was in bad shape and I didn't dare run the wood stove until it was all better. This Winter I hope to recover some of that inve$tment in the chimney by reducing my fuel oil use.

The plan is to consume this Winter what I split and stacked last Winter and to split and stack this Winter what I will consume next Winter. That's the plan anyways. Sounds like who's on first, doesn't it?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

"Manual log splitter"....So THAT'S what dad thought I was....I was 16 before I found out my name wasn't "get wood".

 

[Gordon Gould]

I try to start each winter with two years supply in the wood shed. I burn the oldest first. I figure that if something should happen and I can't get wood one year then at least we will be able to stay warm because we're one year ahead. Plus the added drying time dosn't hurt anything.

 

[groundcover]

Gordon I'm surprised you don't stack your wood bark side up . Helps to shed rain , then again could be an old wives tale !:laughing:

 

[Gordon Gould]

Everyone swears by thier own system when it comes to wood - I think it is a way of justifying all the work to yourself :laughing:
I stack it rough like that where I split it to get it out of my way and let the sun and wind get at it for a couple months. During a good dry spell in July I put it in the wood shed. I never noticed the rain being a problem. Only the top couple rows are real wet after a day of rain but they also get the best sun and dry out quick. Bark side up may be better, I don't know. To me air and sun are the most important for green wood. If I needed to keep it dry I would cover the rows with tin roofing.

 

[jake98]

Locust splits easier green, never been around Osage og and beech was the same either way if I remember right, it has only been 40 yrs since I was around those kind of trees. I never was too fond of a sledge and wedge, I always prefered a maul and especially one of those monster mauls(never gets stuck) just be sure to rubber wrap the handle as it is steel and gives quite a bit of shock.
Rick

Those origional monster mauls were great! I remember being as excited about mine as I was later on about a splitter.. :thumbsup:

 

[newbury]

I know that my 12 lb sledge hammer and splitting wedge are not a tractor attachment but because I do not have a hydraulic log splitter I have a question. Is it easier to split wood when it is green or should I let it dry for a year or so first?

Since you are all talking about mauls now, I bought one of these.
A Wel-Bilt Horizontal Log Splitter

from Northern tools.

It's not good for BIG logs, but I put it in the basement (on a piece of tarp to catch the "fines"), drop a log in it, and with some NordicTack motion split the wood while I watch TV and the fire, with a favorite beverage.

This let's me split wood indoors, where I can't swing a maul. It's on rollers and stands up to take about as much space as a golf bag. And I got it on sale about 2 yrs ago for about $90.

Not for splitting 10 cord a year, but keeps my fire fed, and is only a little slower than a maul.