Woodpile
Friday, May 7th, 2004
This is one of many chores I have in the next month. Splitting this pile, which when split will amount to close to 10 cords of finished firewood, will be a daily grind, er split.
The four rows in the back are all shagbark hickory that I split once last year and let dry an extra year as it was too green to burn in year one. Hickory has more BTUs than most other firewood and is worth its weight in gold to wood burners.
Much of the stuff in front is choke cherry, ash, and swamp maple (soft maple) and will be easy to split.
I used to split this stuff by hand but alas, age and being spoiled by hydraulics has pushed me into using a power-driven hydraulic log splitter.
Richard,
That pile of wood looks familiar. Good luck with the daily grind!
Now that I know you’re coming back here this summer, I think I’ll wait on splitting it until then!
Just kidding. I hope/pray it’s done long before then because much of it needs time to dry/season.
Hi
I am a homeowner and I am looking to buy a log splitter. I can not make much of the reviews on Amazon. Do you have any candid and honest suggestions
thank you
esteban
Esteban: I bought a used Iron and Oak log splitter and I love it. There are many variables in buying these things but the big one is power: both engine and hydraulic system. Also, homeowner models can rotate between horizontal and vertical so that you can roll big rounds under the vertical splitter and not lift them. Mine does this and I’m thankful as we sometimes have rounds bigger than I can lift alone.
My splitter generates 26 tons with an 11hp Briggs and Stratton engine and an oversized hydraulic pump and reserviour. It will split pretty much anything I put to it: oak, hickory, whatever. And, I have big stuff here. I bought it as a well used rental for about $1000 and I felt like I got a good deal as it was in decent shape. I’ve now had it for two seasons and I’m sure it will go another ten years easily before it needs any serious work. I change the engine oil twice a season and add hydraulic fluid as needed. Change the hydraulic filter once a season.
If you have more questions fire away, glad to help a fellow wood burner out.