best time to split elm wood

Poplar, Maple, Birch, Linden, Alder, Willow. If splitting is necessary then when to split the wood? Only a good quality splitting axe or a splitting maul can be used for split wood perfectly. Some species are easier to split when they are green and get tough as they dry. I've burned a lot of elm in my outdoor wood furnace. Like the American elm, it is tough to split, and it takes a long time in the season. All the questions you have to know before going to split your firewood.  Stop sharpening the axe and read the article first. That’s why I covered all the topics in one article. Additionally, split the wood … This will give you a couple of half pieces which should be easier to chop with the maul. Your email address will not be published. Generally, the firewood needs 6 months to dry. The Emerald Ash Borer is infesting Ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. What I have found is that elm continues to harden and the interlocking becomes worse as it dries. This is important to know for them those are want to split dry wood. Split wood dries faster because it has more area exposed to the air than full logs with bark. This length is usually between 12-20". Not much worse than Eucalyptus when it comes to splitting firewood! There are some species that are easy to split green that get tough as they dry, but then they get easier again as they age and start to crack. When storing the wood, you need to make sure that it is elevated and off the ground. There was not hint at what type of wood is easier green or dry. Elm is one of the best when it comes to coaling. How about logs that are seasoned but have been sitting in the rain for a few weeks/months? i use chinese and red elm and it is very essential in my opinion to leave the log whole and the bark on until it is almost done seasoning(about 2 months) and then split it in half and clamp it to something that is sturdy and wont let it warp with the bark on like a roof rafter or a support beam(i use the support beam in my basement)and then let it sit for 3-4 more months and then the bark will strip easily with your … What is the Purpose of Splitting Firewood? 5 Mistakes People Make When Splitting Wood. Before splitting the wood, you have to know whether the wood is dry completely or not. Split into four pieces, if the wood 6 to12 inches in diameter. Split It - Splitting the firewood allows the air to reach all sides of the wood, speeding up the amount … Split the wood in the proper size is important for your wood stove and fireplace.3-6 inches width is the perfect size for the most efficient wood stove. Splitting wood is by no means easy, but with a few tips it can be possible for any person of any size to split firewood. Splitting wood: Wet wood is easier to split than dry wood. If the wood more than 12 inches in diameter, split into 6 pieces. If you have any other questions and opinions that will help our audience, let us know in the comment section below. The round log is perfect for outdoor because it burns slowly. If you can’t split it because it’s too large in diameter, use a chain saw (or other saw) to cut it in half with the grain (the same direction the maul would be used. This allows for the maximum drying time. Splitting green or wet firewood as soon as possible can help it dry much faster. The splitting log can expose more surface area of wood that helps to dry and reduce the moisture content quickly. Required fields are marked *. Because at that time, you will be able to split more wood with less energy and sweat. Warning. Can I split them while wet-wet, water-wet? Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Oak, Elm, Hornbeam, Chestnut, Sweetgum, Cotton Ash, and Beech. The log splitter (Our pick: Southland SELS60 Electric Log Splitter)  can love to split wood, no matter it is dry or not. I am using a maul and the fiskers splitting axe. Best Type of wood For Firewood. Elm wood is difficult to split due to its twisted grain patterns, so splitting elm wood is time-consuming. Note *2. It is absolutely true though that odds are better when its cold / freezing as wood fibers have been somewhat seperated by expansion of the water molecules. Almost like trying to split metal! Yet elm's beautiful wood grain also has fine furniture possibilities.Elm works well, too, for butcher block tops and cutting boards because it has no odor or taste, and it won't split. There are also other species that are tough when they are green but get easier to split as they dry. I hope it helped to make a decision on when to split and which wood you should choose for firewood. These woods can give off toxic vapors and foul heating appliances. The wood is heavy, produces decent heat and overall is not to bad to use. It accepts stains and all finishes reasonably well. Consider only harvesting elm wood in the late fall if you do not wish to debark it because it can safely be stored and burned prior to April 1st without the beetles breaking dormancy. This metallic wood-boring beetle attacks all of Ohio's native ash species, and has no known significant natural enemies in this country. I have tried elm in the past for heat and it is just not worth the effort. If you have a mechanical splitter the ease of splitting doesn’t mater as much. The results were that, for this test at least, dried and wet logs split at a similar force. Just the opposite though when it is seasoned. Required fields are marked *. Splitting axe and maul are specially designed for splitting wood. I’ve grown tired of splitting by hand, so have a mechanical splitter arriving today, and wanted to know when to split my mixed species, mixed age wood. So while this answered the question as to when wood was easiest to chop, frozen is best. This article sadly fails to mention which species of wood must be split as soon as possible (wet or green), versus which are okay to dry as rounds. So be aware of the source. So, Splitting firewood is important for creating perfect sized wood, reducing the seasoning period, get maximum heat, and burns cleaner without smoke or smolder. Properly Splitting Wood. But if the tree dies standing and the wood dries naturally from moisture transpiring through the leaves before the wood will in some cases be easier to split than if it was cut green. Elm is difficult to split because the wood is very stringy and binds itself together tightly, it is even harder to split than Hickory and Ash. Though the drying period varies depending on the species, log size, and amount of sunlight on them. Splitting green wood is a healthy task because no dust generates. For splitting dry wood, you have to give a longer period of time to dry it. Physical Properties Elm is moderately heavy, hard, stiff, has excellent steam bending characteristics, and moderate dimensional stability. Then the quick tips for you. Do I have to wait for better weather for them to dry out again? Since the wood’s bark seals in moisture, it is critical to expose as much of the inner wood as possible. In this article, I have answered all those questions and lastly, I have also added 5 mistakes people make when splitting wood and a list of softwood to split. This is important to know for them those are want to split dry wood. Drying time varies with the cut; 2-foot pieces (a standard firewood length) will dry in about six months, while 4-footers may take a year. But with some wood it’s the opposite. the wood is 3 days old. I have four piles of wood of various ages from several years to one week. The author dances around the problem. Is splitting firewood necessary? There are several varieties of elm. This proverb is also reasonable for wood splitting. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Elm: Dutch Elm disease has killed many of our Elm trees. If this question spin in your head. The seasoned wood should have less than 20% moisture. For knowing that uses a moisture meter for wood, Moreover, there are also a few tests that can tell you that if the wood is dry or not. Make sure it is stable, and near the … Growing up harvesting wood with my father left me with many of the same impressions. The wood is very stringy. After the maul cracks the wood apart, the stringy fibers hold the wood together. Some species are easy to split when green(oak and maple). Drying can decrease the cohesion force. All the questions you have to know before going to split your firewood. When to Split Wood after Cutting? by Eric Meier. Your email address will not be published. Remember; only log splitter, splitting axe, Don’t take advantage of the cracking point on the seasoned wood. If you have a log splitter then you don’t need to think that the wood is green or dry. This is a good article as far as it goes. any advice. Generally, the firewood needs 6 months to dry. Next, let’s touch briefly on an easy way to identify Elm … Cut firewood logs into "rounds" of reasonable length. There are a couple of reasons why you should split-. Oak, which takes around 2 years to dry; hickory around the same time. The long drying firewood. Splitting firewood by hand can be really fun, and it's a great source of exercise. Here I have discussed five methods to know that tell your firewood is ready to burn. Splitting with a Maul Place your first log on the chopping block. This can be a difficult question to answer because the answer can depend on the species and even the indivdual tree. I heat my place with wood and pass on free elm for those very reasons. Taking the time to learn where the wood is the weakest and striking on that particular point of the piece of wood is the key to being able to split the wood effectively. Elm is a decent burning firewood but not excellent. How can you tell if the wood is seasoned? But the frozen log split much easier. For split and use wood in the winter, you should cut and stack them for drying in early spring. Many prefer to split dry wood, many do not. Because without knowing those questions your splitting job will more difficult. For knowing that uses a moisture meter for wood(our pick: General Tools MMD4E Digital Moisture Meter). Also some woods split easier when they are frozen so in that case cold weather may be the best time to split them. It is does not (conventionally) split well, but usually one can (usually) split it with a mall or wedges if the don't try to split it through the center. Contrary to the negative comments here, I found it helpful. It depends on the species of the trees because of their different organic components. Perhaps the author does not have access to every species of firewood in the world to test them all out. Rock elm, black locust, apple, pear, and other fruit woods and elms dry for at least 6 months. When you split the wood you are opening up this sealed container so the moisture can escape.