Here I am working on some straight grained Elm from a dead tree that was cut down last year and, at the same time, giving my views on why I think it is so hard to work on.
I let Elm sit for a year until it is really dry and wait for winter temperatures of minus 15 to minus 20 degrees C and then it seems to be easier to split even though there are times i have to use the wedge. Well done Michael.
Hello Michael. This brings back 'happy' memories. Yes, I split nothing but Elm for two years when I lived in Yorkshire because a lot of dead trees came down between 1987 and 1989. Swinging a 3 kilo maul hour after hour was indeed a tough workout. I also tried one of those twisted 'grenade' wedges which helped on the stumps. On some stumps I would cut vertically with a chainsaw. After 2 years I had my elbows strapped up for a while as they were very painful. Well, I got over it and still swing the same maul today, sadly I do not get to burn the old Elm here in Canada though. Good to see you again, Chris
Gerry, It's evil stuff to try and split. How is life with you? I made this video a while ago, and forgot about it. When i came across it last night, I decided to throw it out there.
Hi Michael, Firstly, I said I would make a video about a log splitting competition we had in my village - I have just posted it - it might be something you could do, if you like the look of it!? Secondly elm - another great video you've made - a dead dry elm tree was put in my field a few weeks ago and I thought 'great I'll have that' - it was bone dry and staggeringly difficult to split. I had forgotten how cross-grained it can get. Some logs I just gave up and got the chainsaw out - a bit feeble of me, but practical! All good wishes, Vince
Vincent: I'm just going back over stuff and I'm surprised that I did not respond to your comment. With elm, a lot of the work has to be done with a big sledge and wedges. Even so, the chainsaw has to be called on occasionally to give an assist - a more common occurrence as we get older. Stay healthy.
It was always dry, I could only assume it had been dead for at least 2 years, we had a 100 mile per hour wind in 1987 that blew a lot over, sometimes onto people's houses. The fibrous structure and twisted grain is what made it tough to split.
It's an ordinary three and a half pound axe - Garant make. Originally it had a fibre glass handle, which was hung badly. When it came loose a few years ago I replaced it with an ash handle. It does a good job of splitting the straight grained, easy firewood.
