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OT - toughest wood to split

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TheRealRon

08-24-2004 10:24:24

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This came up on another board and I'd like everyone to chime in.

I've logged and split lots of different types of wood. For me, elm and osage orange are the two toughest. Anybody have any others?

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FarmerDave

08-27-2004 08:21:25

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Any body ever tried their hand at blackjack oak?

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stan

08-25-2004 10:34:21

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Here in Southern calif. About the hardest wood to split is Eucalyptus wood. The trees were imported from Australia to be used as rail road ties. A seasioned piece of wood is very hard. Some times when splitting you think the motor on the splitter will just about quit from too much pressure, then BANG both pieces go flying. Can be a little dangerious.

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Wade Burt

08-25-2004 11:12:08

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to stan, 08-25-2004 10:34:21

I didn't have time to read everyone's choice, but have you ever tried BODOCK. Proper name is Bois D' arc. You can not even drive a short staple in this stuff when it is green and if you let it dry, forget it. Matter of fact they are having the Bois d' arc or Bodock festival in Pontotoc, MS this week.

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300 Randy

08-25-2004 10:31:13

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

I think petrified wood is about the hardest wood to split. The darn stuff is almost like rock. I ruined quite a few chains and axes out in the petrified forest before the park ranger kicked me out.

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Dave 2N

08-25-2004 04:49:46

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Elm.

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Kevin (FL)

08-24-2004 20:21:06

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Live oak is the knurliest and toughest wood I've ever come across. It will stall our 24 ton splitter at a medium idle. It has to be run up to 3600 to split the larger pieces. And to think as a kid in Mississippi we used to split that stuff with 3 or 4 wedges and two mauls and a couple of axes too. Many times I can remember my 5 brothers and myself taking turns on the maul trying to drive the wedges in. We lived in an old two story frame house with two fireplaces for heat. Don't know what we would have done if we had lived on the northern plains somwhere--probably would have froze to death...

Right after Hurricane Camille hit our town, we noticed US Navy lowboy trucks running around town and after a few days we found out why they were in town--to pick up the live oak trunks and large limbs. These were used in the restoration of Old Ironsides up in Boston--the ship the British claimed to witness their cannonballs bouncing off of during battle.

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chaney creek

08-25-2004 18:41:35

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to Kevin (FL), 08-24-2004 20:21:06

You just answered the question about the oak plantation near Pensacola.
Where did you live during Camille - I lived in Bay St. Louis. Looked like an atom bomb had hit the next morning.

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Binder-Man

08-24-2004 19:56:58

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

I remember my uncle always called potatoes ,spudaters, I have always remembered that.

Binder-Man

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Bushogpapa

08-24-2004 19:26:31

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

I have spit many kinds..In my opinion Beech was the easiest, and PinOak HAS to be THE WORST to split... Anyone else tried it...it is real common here in Central Ohio.. Ash and Locust are nice to split, too...but Pinoak will only leave you with "kindling"...you have to "Beat it to death"..!! Nothing but knots..!!! Ron..

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john in la

08-24-2004 19:20:32

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

I do not know about splitting but the Oak wood in my sisters old house attic will dull a new carbide tip saw blade with one cut.

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db caseman2

08-24-2004 19:20:22

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

cottonwood,

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Shane

08-24-2004 20:14:26

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to db caseman2, 08-24-2004 19:20:22

Green cotton wood is too wet to split by hand, let it dry (has to be covered 'cause it picks up rain easily) and it will split pretty well.

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Rockin' Farmer

08-24-2004 20:30:52

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to Shane, 08-24-2004 20:14:26

Agreed, but once it is dry, not very good for fire wood. Burns like paper. Lots of fire and ash, and not much heat!

Rockin" Farmer

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Shane

08-25-2004 06:31:40

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to Rockin' Farmer, 08-24-2004 20:30:52

Yeah but city folk like all that pretty fire you get and we like all the wood they have to buy to keep that fire going.

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deny

08-24-2004 19:13:58

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Well up here in the great northeast(PA).its Beech and weeping willow.W.W. is nasty stuff when its green and it seems to get harder when it dries.make sure the head is tight on you maddock and try splitting with it some time.i've found that the tapperd head on it works nice.tried splittin some beech one time with an axe and a wedge and sledge.got mad and picked up the maddock and it worked.

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bubba

08-24-2004 18:45:00

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Aw Gee, fellows in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Ever try to split Sycamore????Thats all you can do---TRY!

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Shane

08-24-2004 20:01:05

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Re: Aw Gee, fellows in reply to bubba, 08-24-2004 18:45:00

Is that really white with a light gray bark with deep channels in the bark?

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Sid

08-24-2004 18:41:14

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

I vote for the elm. In my opinion hedge or Osage Orange is easy to split compared to that stuff. I do like to have a bunch of elm that is dry in smaller pieces. I find that thorn splits fairly easy. But my vote for the easiest goes to tamarac.

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KURT (mi)

08-24-2004 18:02:18

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Hickory (shag bark) is very tough to split, many swings of the axe to get the wedge 1/2 way threw.

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Shane

08-24-2004 20:11:23

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to KURT (mi), 08-24-2004 18:02:18

Is it just that particular Hickory? I split some Hickory last winter (in the 30's) and it would pop open easy with no knots in it. Hit a knot and it was put the campfire pile.

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Bus Driver

08-24-2004 16:59:13

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Not all species grow everywhere this forum reaches. I have seen only one small sample of Osage orange- that is some heavy stuff! None of it grows here. Gum and Elm are about tied in difficulty. In 1980, I built a splitter with a 5 1/2" dia cylinder and can get the pressure up to about 3300 PSI. It will crosscut through knots up to about 4" diameter. No knots, no problem.

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Missouri Boy

08-24-2004 16:39:45

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Here in Southeast Missouri one variety of elm is very difficult or impossible. Here Hedge(AKA Osage Orange) splits pretty good. I have neve rbeen able to split black gum but my daddy could . He would strige a glancing lick near the edge and a slab about an inch and a half would fall off for usi in a cook stove. He called this "Boxing" it off. Inever tried this. Sycamore is hard to slit and i guess red cedar Sassafrass and walnut among the easier ones. I guess locations and local names comes into play

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thurlow

08-24-2004 16:46:25

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to Missouri Boy, 08-24-2004 16:39:45

YES..... local names; everyone in my Dad's (and earlier) generations pronounced elm "ellum"....

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geok

08-24-2004 19:09:18

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to thurlow, 08-24-2004 16:46:25

I wondered where that word came from. An older friend of mine use the word ellum and I couldn't figure out how he pronouced it from elm.

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Missouri Boy

08-24-2004 16:56:27

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to thurlow, 08-24-2004 16:46:25

Here in Missouri Ozarks we did too! also called Sassafrass (SP?) SASSY FRASS. also persimmon SIMMON also Hickory HIKKERY I love this!!!

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G-MAN

08-24-2004 17:11:10

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to Missouri Boy, 08-24-2004 16:56:27

Let me guess, you also "go down to the crick", right? Same where I come from in southeast Nebraska. I've been down in your neck of the woods at Table Rock Lake. Pretty country and a darn nice lake down there.

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Rockin' Farmer

08-24-2004 20:19:45

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to G-MAN, 08-24-2004 17:11:10

You"re right, G-MAN! Down the road in Wilber, by Turkey Crick, some of the old boys get up in the morning and "Throw the cows over the fence...some hay!"

On the off topic, topic, always had a heck of a time splitting Locust (or whatever the local name for that miserable tree with the huge thorns on it is). Not so much splitting, but getting it up on the block without skewering a hand or two!

Rockin" Farmer

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G-MAN

08-25-2004 10:27:53

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to Rockin' Farmer, 08-24-2004 20:19:45

Wilber, NE? Been through there a ton of times, but haven't ever had the nerve to make it to the Czech Festival yet. Something about having access to that much beer makes me nervous, although I have been to Octoberfest out in Sidney a few times, and I think they go through something like 200 kegs out there. BTW, do you know there are like 50 Turkey Creeks in NE? There's no way they can all be connected, lol.

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Paul Munger

08-24-2004 18:53:54

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to G-MAN, 08-24-2004 17:11:10

Well down here in Georgia the old boys call tomatoes "maters" That outta count for something.

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paul

08-24-2004 16:00:07

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Elm.

--->Paul

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Jim in michigan

08-24-2004 15:59:35

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Either pisselm or ironwood,,hardest I have ever tried to drive nails into is nice dried Poplar boards,., had to drill the holes then put a nail in,,,Jim

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acorange

08-24-2004 15:14:33

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

There are many diffrent kinds of elm.
Some split like most hardwoods. Then there is
what is known in Iowa as piselm. That is VERY
stringy and crossgrained.
Hedge can be split if it is dry and the air temp.
is below 10 degrees. It sounds like a gunshot
when it is split with a maul.
Very interesting reading about the other kinds of wood around the country.

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08-24-2004 15:01:48

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Black Gum. It WON"T spilt, period.

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gatractorman

08-25-2004 17:38:19

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to KX, 08-24-2004 15:01:48

I agree but go ahead and put Sweet Gum in there too.

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JEFF F.

08-24-2004 14:51:42

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

I would have to vote for gum. I was down in western Arkansas awhile back when I was young and dumb and my buddy and I decided to split a piece from my uncle's wood pile.(I believe we may have been led down the path a bit by my uncle). To make a long story short, we got that piece split once, but not before it wore me, my buddy and the axe down to a nub.

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Paul in Mich

08-24-2004 14:40:24

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

I agree with you on the Elm. I havent had to deal with the others mentioned here, but Elm is never called Elm by itself, its always that ()*&^(*&%^#$()*(&@$&^ Elm. When the Dutch Elm disease came through Michigan, there was more (*&^$@&*)(*& Elm to cut up and split than anyone wanted to deal with, but it was either cut it orlook at a barren, dead tree. They sure were beautiful before disease set in tho.

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G-MAN

08-24-2004 13:47:59

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Hedge.

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Leland

08-24-2004 13:39:30

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Elm without a doubt, once blew a pump in half tring to split a chunk of it.

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buickanddeere

08-24-2004 11:50:06

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Elm, Iron wood and Hawthorn which can get to 8" plus dia. Or just about any wood around a knot. Only orange trees here are in autumn after the frost hits the leaves.

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RZ(WA)

08-24-2004 11:26:19

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

By far, in the NW, Madrona is the worst to try to split if it is allowed to dry a day or more. The stuff seems to be both cross grained and screw grained.

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dhermesc

08-24-2004 11:24:18

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Without a doubt, HEDGE.

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G-MAN

08-24-2004 13:46:47

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to dhermesc, 08-24-2004 11:24:18

I'm a southeast Nebraska boy and I'll agree with you there. Cutting hedge posts is a big deal down there, and we usually cut some for deer camp firewood too. Nothing like hedge for a fencepost you want to last oh, 60 or 70 years, and the hottest campfire you've ever seen. I need to get a picture and post it here of a fence corner a friend of mine built with hedgeposts. It was kind of a macho-man thing, and the CROSSBRACE is a chunk of hedge 14 inches in diameter. I don't think God himself could move that corner, lol.

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Gerald J.

08-24-2004 18:34:48

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Re: In Texan called Bo Dark in reply to G-MAN, 08-24-2004 13:46:47

Proper pronunciation actually for the French words "Boise D'Arc". Also known as Hedge Apple and Osage Orange.

The fruits are supposed to repel insects from houses and some are on sale at the local (central Iowa) grocery store right now.

Gerald J.

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buickanddeere

08-24-2004 16:08:51

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to G-MAN, 08-24-2004 13:46:47

Hedge wood?

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G-MAN

08-24-2004 17:09:16

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to buickanddeere, 08-24-2004 16:08:51

aka Osage Orange, buickanddeere. It was in the back of my mind that they were the same tree as I think we've talked about it on YT before, but it's plain old Hedge and not Osage Orange where I come from. Darndest trees you'll ever see. It's planted in rows all over down home, and has spread out from there. You can cut it down to 4 inches of stump and it will grow back full trees ready to be cut for posts again within 40-50 years. Big nasty thorns and big green seedballs that cows occasionally chew on/choke to death on. Hard as a rock when you cut it green, and gets harder as it cures. From a good "straight" tree - they're usually pretty curvy and gnarly - you can get maybe 2 or 2 big corner posts and 6 or 7 good-sized line posts. I've never cut much of it myself, but there are guys down home that make a living cutting hedgeposts and building fence, and at every little town consignment sale, there's usually pile after pile of posts for sale.

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rustyfarmall

08-24-2004 17:08:06

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to buickanddeere, 08-24-2004 16:08:51

Hedge wood, proper name is Osage Orange, it was planted pretty much everywhere many years ago to provide a "living" fence. It is a very dense wood, will last almost indefinately when cut up and used for fence posts.

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buickanddeere

08-24-2004 20:33:59

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to rustyfarmall, 08-24-2004 17:08:06

Sounds like a relative of the Hawthorn tree family. Suprisingly enough, Iron wood is a type of beech.

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dhermesc

08-25-2004 11:25:00

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to buickanddeere, 08-24-2004 20:33:59

Burns so hot - you have to be careful of what kind of stove you put it in. Saw one dumb### try to use it in his stove made from a 55 gallon drum - one peice and it burned through the bottem. Some cheaper (Chinese) cast stoves will crack while burning it.

As it ages in the ground it only get harder. Several fences around the home place still look pretty good after replacing the wire, my dad put them up as a boy in the 1930s.

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hay

08-24-2004 11:22:27

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

elm. very stringy grain.

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ShepFL

08-24-2004 11:16:01

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Elm is way tough, fatlighter pine is impossible. Easiest I have found was seasoned Tamrack. Don't see much of that down here in the SE.

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Del

08-24-2004 11:08:29

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Those two are tough. For a few years I sold fire wood and I got into a grove that had survive a tornado about 15 years earlier. Nearly every thing in that patch of woods was hard to split. Even ash and some oaks were so cross grained the log splitter would just tear through the wood.

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Bob M

08-24-2004 11:06:17

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

Toughest: Osage orange and orchard-grown apple/cherry. Easiest: Cedar and white ash!

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Shane

08-24-2004 19:52:59

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to Bob M, 08-24-2004 11:06:17

Sassafras is real easy to split too!

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rustyfarmall

08-24-2004 10:59:13

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

I will have to agree with you, both of those are very difficult.

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HomerBinNC

08-24-2004 10:30:25

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to TheRealRon, 08-24-2004 10:24:24

The toughest that I have split is sweet gum, have not split elm or osage orange.
Homer

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Fawteen

08-24-2004 16:02:21

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to HomerBinNC, 08-24-2004 10:30:25

I tangled with some sweet gum when I was living in South Carolina. I wondered why that old feller was laughing so hard when I went by with a trailer load of it.

Set a wedge on the top of a green chunk, gave it a mighty swat with a twelve pound sledge and bounced that wedge about 10 feet in the air. Left a teeny little dent in the top of the piece...

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Kens640

08-24-2004 16:10:53

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to Fawteen, 08-24-2004 16:02:21

Tornado damaged wood is nasty & very dangerous to cut up & split .

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FARMALLSM

08-24-2004 19:18:13

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to Kens640, 08-24-2004 16:10:53

BOX ELDER WILL WEAR OUT A CHAIN SAW BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO YHE SPLITTER

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sammy

08-24-2004 21:04:41

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to FARMALLSM, 08-24-2004 19:18:13

Box elder??? You have to be kidding. This is a very soft and light wood and it cuts easier than pine.

The hardest without any doubt is (green) black locust. My splitting maul would bounce off the log with barely a dent. I had to buy a hydraulic splitter to handle it. The good part is that it is the hottest and longest burning wood that I have - but it can be difficult to start.

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Larry(IN)

08-25-2004 07:56:40

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Re: OT - toughest wood to split in reply to sammy, 08-24-2004 21:04:41

Had to Chime in. Ever try to split green
Ohio Buckeye? It is very light weight so you'd think easy.. Its so spongy that you can drive a wedge in it like a nail and not split anything, then try and get your wedge out . Kinda like trying to split a giant marshmallow!

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