Ok so my neighbor cut down a hickory tree a few weeks ago and asked me if I wanted it. he has them in about 6 foot length's and about 6 to 8 inches around. it may not be the best logs. however I took my wedge and attempted to start to split the wood and it has not gone very well. I wondered if anyone has ever tried to do this with hickory before or if I should just take my axe and cut it up into chunks and use it to smoke some pork.
Splitting whoa's
- Thread starter workingwood
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I have four 6 foot long logs, I almost thought about taking to get it milled but into boards but I think that might be a waste given they are only 6 to 8 inches around. So I may just need to take my chainsaw and cut them up and then have my neighbor who has a small log splitter split them.
You may want to save one bole in case you want to make an ax handle or something like that.
Yep, green hickory is a bear but it's easy compared to green sweet gum. 6-8" in circumference or diameter?
A wood splitter it probably a good option, but they don't have to be cut to length to fit the splitter. Place one vertically with a horizontal 4 x 4 push block to start one end. Gently nudge the splitter until it begins to split the log without rolling from left to right or vice versa (rotate the log vertically if necessary). Then work gradually from there to the other end or put a wedge in the split end and continue with other wedges to the other end.
A wood splitter it probably a good option, but they don't have to be cut to length to fit the splitter. Place one vertically with a horizontal 4 x 4 push block to start one end. Gently nudge the splitter until it begins to split the log without rolling from left to right or vice versa (rotate the log vertically if necessary). Then work gradually from there to the other end or put a wedge in the split end and continue with other wedges to the other end.
hickory is one of the easier woods to split green - take Fred's advise it is the best way.
+2 on Fred's advice. You may need to start the split with a sharp hand ax, and then use the wedge. (I use a wooden maul to drive in the sharp ax first, and then pound the wedge into the split) Easiest to split log in half and then half to quarters. A good froe will get you thinner after that if the grain is relatively straight.
If going to use it for tool handles (i.e. axe, rake, shovel, etc), those logs are about perfect. The smaller, younger trees yield tougher wood than the big ones.
Go
If going to use it for tool handles (i.e. axe, rake, shovel, etc), those logs are about perfect. The smaller, younger trees yield tougher wood than the big ones.
Go
Most wood splits easier on a very cold day...maybe hickory does too!
I second the bowl blanks idea.
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