Maple wood is too tough to split

[j_martin]

Re: Maple wood is too tough to split

Haven't used much arbutus for fuel. One wild one around here is a small tree called ironwood.(hornbeam) If you burn mostly ironwood, the ash will clinker like hard coal does. It's hard on saw chains. Well dried hard maple will sometimes clinker, too. I had a Canadian furnace (Fawcett) that would burn hard maple with a blue flame.

Oaks that grow in sandy soil tend to be hard on chain too, but it's sand embedded in the wood over the years that causes the trouble.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Maple wood is too tough to split

We have a locust(honey locust?) down here that grows ugly, hard/stiff clusters of 4"+ spines and smaller ones.They are sharp as a needle and will go through your shoe/boot and foot if you step on them too hard.You dont want to brush up against them either.Ive been stuck a few times and have pulled a thorn out of a friends foot that went up through the top of his foot!The wood is like iron and almost impossible to bend if its thick enough.Hickory and Ash here are very tough also.Ive seen ancient locust fenceposts that were very old and still hard as a brick!They outlast the barbwire as evidenced by the multiple different wire/fasteners attached to them.I like to burn oaks,hickorys(most heat),and maple is ok but it pops/sparks alot in a fireplace. Good firewood is pretty easy to come by/free here all year long if you cut it yourself.Some folks will pay you to cut/remove it! Like ironwood,dead dogwood also burns very long and hot.Then theres the flat woods or post or blackjack, turkey oak,beyond tough.

 

[Bubbles Up]

Re: Maple wood is too tough to split

For cross cutting I recommend a full chisel chain like a Stihl RSC or (oregon LGX?) there is a special ripping chain that can be had for milling.; I like to "noodle"(rip cut) a few logs makes for some shavings to use a garden filler.
For all my hand filing I use the Granberg new filler it holds the angle and has a built in raker height gauge.
a good Fiskars axe will work wonders to!

 

[mike64]

Re: Maple wood is too tough to split

Took awhile, but here's this year's "holzen haus" woodpile. Might be able to make another one with what I still need to split. Got all summer though. Thanks again for all the help and tips.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Maple wood is too tough to split

Nice lookin haus

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Maple wood is too tough to split

Nice looking haus ya have there Mike!

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Maple wood is too tough to split

Try Arbutus.

I think our neighbours to the south call them "Madrona"

Where did you get ahold of arbutus rbh? I'm pretty sure they don't grow in your neck of the woods, or do they?

 

[rbh]

Re: Maple wood is too tough to split

Hey there Mike-
No arbutus up here, but we had a wack to burn when I was based in Nanaimo.

 

[emoney]

Re: Maple wood is too tough to split

You guys all know the absolute best way to solve any wood, "splitting/cutting/stacking/etc." issues are to do what I did......move to Florida, then you don't need it.

On another note, any of you guys run into any of that Eastern Flamed Maple, just send it my way instead of cutting it into firewood. Stuff makes great guitar tops.