I got lucky.

I try to split them down the middle but so they still hold together so they don’t tip over and it works pretty well I may have to try how you said you did that. I do have a splitter I bought reasonably cheap that will split two 16 inch chunks at a time that I am going to have a guy make a 4 way wedge for. I can split faster by hand but I’m 57 and I got to start cutting down on the hand splitting I do 100 full cord a year. I have a skid steer which is a great piece of equipment for labor saving so no cutting trails I can get to all my wood and don’t have to carry it and I have a bucket I can get 1/3 of a full cord in at a time.

@@waynejohnson9855 Give it a try, I got the idea from trying to make flint arrowheads. To do that you take the rock and turn it, knocking off blanks that later each one can be made into an arrowhead. 100 cords a year, thats a lot, 10 times as much as us.

@@rowgler1 I will do that. I usually just go down the trunk splitting and with the size of the trees I start to run out of room to split. I am now trying to cut and split and get what I do that day hauled and stacked so I’m Not looking at many loads to try to get out in the spring and before my work season starts and fight the mud.

Green is better. I have had a different experience with frozen. When I was a teenage boy, my dad would stay ahead of my chores keeping me set up with plenty to do. Splitting wood was a big part of that. We went through about ten full cords of wood each winter. Often the wood was beechnut. Dad would have the big hollow rounds all standing on the cut sides and he would start some slots with the chainsaw so I could get the big steel wedge started and then I could pound it in with the sledge. Well, let me tell you, a frozen beech round is not easier to split than one that is not frozen. The wedge would go in about half maybe two thirds of the way and then spit straight up and out of the log perhaps four feet in the air. over and over I would have to repeat this until the log would split. These rounds were often over three feet in diameter, sometimes over four feet. I still split my own wood. I am 61 years old now and I split just under eight cords of oak and locust for this winter. I cut and hauled it all too. I use a six pound maul for most of it. once in a while I get some huge rounds that I will quarter with wedges and a sledge. then the maul...

@@waynejohnson9855 I've split a lot of oak over the last 40+ years and have never had it split like that with never having any strings or wood strands keeping the logs from coming completely apart. Also, when I split green oak, most of the time I can easily tell it is wet by the color, and varying color when the wood splits open. That wood just didn't seem very wet. Even when I cut a tree down in the winter when most moisture should be out of the log, it seems to be wetter than that.

There are many people out there splitting by hand still. This gentleman is better than most. Ben Scott makes videos and is one of the best I've ever seen. Most people waste a lot of energy swinging inefficiently, and stopping to set pieces upright on a stump. Wranglerstar is a well known YTer and very knowledgeable about tools. Good luck with your writing!

@@j.o.2045 Thanks for that Ben Scott mention. Back at you with Thoren Bradley for sheer fascinating entertainment splitting... And education!!! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l6tlmNmfv8epnoU.html

Kudos on your book writing!!! I'll add a playlist if I can find it quick but at least take a look at this guy; @j.o.2045 Thanks for that Ben Scott mention. Back at you with Thoren Bradley for sheer fascinating entertainment splitting... And education!!! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l6tlmNmfv8epnoU.html

Here are two playlist I made the first one is just on splitting with an accent wall in general. The second was another individual Braeden Rockcliffe one of my favorites but I think he might have hurt himself cousin upload for 3 years but he's a joy to watch just amazing using TWO 6 lb Husqvarna splitting axes at the same time!!!

Wood warms you five times over before you burn it.

Was a lot simpler when I was young.

we see what you did there....

Thank you, and quite different from 25.

Thanks, I would’ve like to have a video from when I was 35 instead of in my later 50s I know I’ve lost 1/3 of my strength and energy.

@@waynejohnson9855 Wayne wait until you are in your early 70s like me! I was a splittin' fool when in my late 50s! But when I hit 65 my wife let me buy an electric splitter, best thing since factory ice cream! HA HA

@@mikeh8228 you are right I’m not getting better as I get older. I’ve been looking to buy a eastonmade 12-22. Seems the resale is real good so I couldn’t lose a lot.

yep, I agree with you! Never let red oak dry before splitting. It is so stringy and almost impossible with a maul once dry!

Yes my friend....learning to pace yourself is part of learning wisdom!

Same here at 65yr from three (each) motorcycles and car accidents. I have two bad shoulders, back, hip, two rods in left leg, and 57yr in martial arts. Local weather people call me for advice! 🤣

Some wood, like cottonwood actually does become a bit easier if you let it dry some and develop some cracks. Not fully dry, just enough to let some of the obnoxious amount of water evaporate. For most others, it's either easier when green (the wood is softer) or it really matters not. Just today, I cut and split some hard maple that had been cut at least 2 years ago. (in a pile, the logs I cut were off the ground) As well as some fresh, green Silver maple, cut 2-3 weeks ago. Not much difference, really. Some pieces nearly split themselves, others- from the same damn log- my axe just bounced off, and the round laughed at me... (or grabbed the axe like a vice) Same is true for Ash: they either split easy, or they don't- depends on the piece, not the moisture content.

I can split pretty fast I have a video where I do 1/3 of a cord in about 12.5 minutes. I retired this year from a labor intense job and I always told the new guys that I felt bad getting close to 60 that I could only out work two like them instead of 3 like I used to.

@@waynejohnson9855 LMAO, I would not bet against you my friend. Good for you and I'm sure you feel the same way I do, splitting wood is the best exercise and no membership needed

Thanks.

Not a maul, it is a Fiskars splitting axe!

Thank you.

It was easier when I was in my 30s than now in my late 50s.

Watch this guy slot a few for sheer fascinating entertainment! Thoren Bradley kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l6tlmNmfv8epnoU.html

I did get two logs out of it also.

Thanks.

Thanks

I like the fiskars isocore Maul. For about three years are there were 13 big huge oak rounds at left on the pasture cuz my friends didn't want to pick them up and put them in the truck to split them... This was after a heart attack mind you, one day I took a wild hair day forgot Bastille handled welded homemade splitting maul and attack those things. I did a video thank God because I watch the edge of the mall come at my head directly at me so right away I got a fiskars Maul cheap -fifty bucks on Amazon. I was already addicted to eating with them all but at least I was doing it safer!

Fiskars is the best axe, hatchet, and maul around without spending $200+

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l9eqpNKAqtyueJc.html

Wait for 67 lol

I heat my house with a Ashley Wood burner Stove and I hand split wood for years. Now I use a 30 ton splitter and am grateful my wife loved me enough to buy it for me so I could not have to work so hard. My thoughts on green vs dry. Dry wood has squeezed all the water out and become tighter in the process. Just my thought

@Jonathon Williamson I use a 1930s warm morning coal stove I burn wood.. amazing efficiency

The cold is helpful my red oak split like glass in this cold.

If it breaks you get a new one by sending your old one back. Shipping is all you pay.

@@waynejohnson9855 como consigo um machado desse?

@@sunseed21 if I understand right you are asking what kind of axe, it is a fiskars

@@waynejohnson9855 Sim. E como eu consigo comprar um?

@@sunseed21 fleet farm stores carry them if you have those stores, otherwise online maybe.

I have made the mistake of letting wood sit and get dried out and it sucks to split. I should make a video better than this because I come across cut off trees that have a few chunks left and the end will be dark and show that being split compared to the next chunk cut off. I’ve done it and a guy that helped me did it and it’s night and day difference. I usually cut a tank of gas through my saw and than split it right away and repeat the process, that way I you get a break from each process.

I wish all the red oak was white oak I would have a lot of money in logs.

@@waynejohnson9855 White oak is my number one wood I look for when cutting. My customers prefer it over anything else.

I have come across white oak that just won’t split. Most of those are standing alone. Cold weather is a guy’s friend when splitting also -21 here this morning and still -2 now the wood will split far easier, red oak is like glass in this weather. Good luck. 👍

I was in pretty good shape for splitting at that time after splitting all winter, I would hate to try that now.

That was not that big of a deal I was thinking it was my other video where I split 1/3 of a cord of red oak in roughly 12 minutes. 😊

@@waynejohnson9855 Dang!! I fell a huge red oak a couple of years ago, and it took my entire family to split that bad boy. I split small for my wood heater so I’m creating a lot of extra work for myself

I have cut some white that I couldn’t split even small branches but those seem to be ones that stand alone with no other trees around.

@@waynejohnson9855 I split white oak more than anything else by hand in the winter and do it full time. The hardest I have hand split is sycamore. I read that they used to use them as butcher blocks. I can see why!

@@bluegrassoutdoors lot of the white oak I get the main trunk goes to the saw mill. I wish we had more white oak as loading a 8 to 16 foot log on my trailer is so much easier than firewood.

Lol that ace isn’t overly sharp and it’s decent splitting wood but red oak is easier. I got a video on my channel were I split 1/3 of a cord in 12 minutes. I was in pretty good shape for splitting at that time.

If you get yourself a large truck tyre,remove inner walls, and put on solid concrete base,fill with rings,and split away, saves your back no end,nice work,fiskers x27 is king,👍

@@hotpoker4212 I have a method where not much falls and everything I split is in the woods, I cut a tank of gas and split it right away usually that way once it heads home I stack it right out of my dump trailer and use minimal steps so I can stack a 2 cord load in 50 minutes. Greetings to you also.

Thanks.

That was pretty straight grained I cut one in someone’s yard that unreal to split. For us we get the cold weather which makes it easier to split. I split some today it’s 10 degrees which helps the colder the better when splitting.

I'm from Valdosta Georgia.. so what's your point?

@@hawghawg381 that wood that has dried isn’t easier to split than green wood.

Ditto in Missouri!!!

It is a fiskars x27 I was skeptical about getting one so the guy that sold them let me test one and that’s all it took to buy it.

I’m done hand splitting I found out I have two aneurysms on my aorta so I was advised to quit so I did.

@@waynejohnson9855Yep, I had an 8.8cm aaa repaired last summer. noticed it while splitting wood. Slight pain below my left rib. Placed my hand on the spot ant picked up a second heartbeat(Ballooning)

I normally cut a tank of gas and than split what I cut instead of cutting 4 tanks of gas and than having to split it all at once. I watch guys using wedges to split and never get that it’s lot easier to use the saw even if it’s not big.

@@waynejohnson9855 There is a lot to learn when processing firewood and if no one teaches you, the learning curve is bigger, longer and more dangerous. I had so see for myself the advantages of splitting right after cutting and that was by watching another cutter.

For burning yes but it was sold so 16 inch was what it needed to be cut. I did not fight stuff that doesn’t split quick my saw makes it split far easier. I know use a splitter as I’m not supposed to split by hand anymore but I still split a few here and there.

@@waynejohnson9855 most of mine are trees that fall in storms around the farm, I either give it away to those that need help heating their homes or use it myself! I understand you selling it and using a splitter, but fighting wood with a maul can be made easier. Maybe it’s me being cheap, but I tell people, hey you’re gonna burn it anyway and it’s free!

@@lazysob2328 I was doing 100 full cord from December to April 1st so it’s a lot of splitting and I would still be hand splitting but I have a couple aneurysms so they said to not split by hand anymore. Everything I’ve cut for the last 20 years is cutting behind loggers and the last 12 years has been storm damage in the area. We’ve have 3 major storms in that time. My splitter cost 1100 dollars and is quite fast for what you can buy for that.

@@waynejohnson9855 man you’re a go getter! Better man than I am for sure. Take care of yourself and I understand customers, but they don’t understand how much work goes into firewood!

@@lazysob2328 cutting back now I retired at 57 and going to do the things I missed out on when I was working. Take care.

White oak splits harder also after drying out that was the point of the video, most wood does that I split.

I’ve used both and find even if it gets stuck now and than it’s way faster with the x27. If I can’t split it with that it’s not likely splitting with the maul. I do have a decent splitter but it’s still not faster than by hand unless it’s really tough splitting.

Couple days isn’t bad, I just try to cut a tank and split it right away that way I get a break from each process and don’t end up with 15 cord laying there to split.

@@waynejohnson9855 I also should have mentioned that your strike accuracy is pretty impressive. You make it look easier than it is.

I just tried this in a different way. Had some 10 ft. red oak logs sitting for 5 months, so the ends were dried out. I bucked those end pieces into 13" rounds and tried splitting the end pieces with the X27 on the 5-month dry side, then again on the freshly cut side of the same round. Fresh cut side was way way easier to split and way way easier to pull the axe head out of than the dried side. This even held true if I struck the dried side right in the center of well established deep checking/cracks.

That’s probably a lot harder to split than the white oak, I’ve run into white oak I can’t split.

Oak usually isn't too stringy. Maybe your tree is an Elm or a Locust? Those fight the splitting maul the whole way (Elm the worst). Usually have to get them good and frozen to have a chance splitting them by hand.

@@FatherOfTheParty dude I dont know but I’m in south Texas it really doesn’t get freezing temps much but maybe in the next couple months I’ll get a chance but for now those logs have beat my ass

It may show the crack but the wood I split once it dries it’s far harder to split. Especially if it sits a month or more.

One of what lol? I have another splitting video on my channel you might like.

A man that is a bad-ass. Take care of yourself!

@@lb14188 well thank you. And you take care also.

Lol I should find one that has been cut off about 6 months and dried than the difference is really noticeable.

Real good firewood.

I do agree that all trees even the same species don’t split the same.

You are correct, I have a reason for splitting in half if it’s not real tough to do and that is I don’t split it totally through so than I can split most of it without standing it up again. Working the edges probably would work similar.

Lol that was in the spring when I had been splitting all winter so I was in pretty good shape for it. When I first start in the fall I think I’m going to die.

I know it works well, fiskars calls it a axe so I blame them for me calling it that. 😂

I only swing as hard as I need to. 😊 and if they don’t start splitting in 5 swings I will cut them with the saw.

I have never split a piece of hickory

It’s not for me

I have turned 66 and can no longer use my maul for any length of time - spitting axe is the puppy you need...

@@DavidMartin-ym2te I use the fiskars x27 it’s 4.5 pounds, I found I can split pretty anything with that that I can with a maul there might be a few that I could split with the maul that I can’t with the x27 but if they’re that tough I will cut them with the saw.

I’m in Wisconsin, but there are different areas where red oak splits harder than where I live. I have cut white oak that you can’t split hardly any of it but those usually have stood alone.

I have white oak that you can’t split the smaller limbs on even, those have usually grown without any trees close by.

Not sure what you mean.

What kind of gloves you are using

@@josepena9980 they are fleece glove made by wells Lamont.

@@waynejohnson9855 thanks 🙏🏽

Yeah some wood can’t be split without a wedge or splitter I have come across trees like that.

Definitely beats the mauls I used over the years. I hear people say a maul works better for tougher pieces but I have the fiskars maul also and I can split anything with the axe that I can with the maul.

@@waynejohnson9855 what axe are you using in the video? Great work too by the way. Way cool. It takes me about 2 hours to chop that much with a cheap maul.

@@jacobortwine7063 fiskars x27. I got another video where I split red oak which generally splits easier, I split 1/3 of a full cord in about 12 minutes. I should make more videos but I don’t have the patience. I’m the myth buster of firewood videos. 🤣 so basically a pain in the ass.

I think he would beat me.

It’s not a maul it’s a axe and it’s pretty sharp it’s almost new.

@@426superbee4 it’s pretty sharp.

@@waynejohnson9855 The principal is the same on a axe or maul. This new stuff i bad about having blunt ends, and need to rebevel them slimmer. It maybe sharp! but not slim enough to penetrate. Every new axe or maul i bought has been way to thick of a bevel. Every one of them i slimmer down the bevel > NOW PENETRATES AND SPLITS > NO MORE bouncing off the wood

That don't mean CAT. If it don't penetrate! It can be razor sharp and not split

@@426superbee4 I’ve run into white oak that it’s hard to split even the smallest rounds that you split.

Red oak split easier than white oak, and I can split anything with the x27 you will split with a maul. If a maul was better I would be using one.

I split green wood all the time, I cut a tank full of gas and I split it right away.

It was likely just some place super cold. Cold climate =drier wood. Splitting in 10° north is childs play compared to splitting here in FL.

Put a video up if you think you’re better. Not as good as I was but probably would beat you yet.

I never noticed when I was working.