Found a way to make firewood out of red elm kind of by accident. Still not quite convinced I know how this is happening..Enjoy!!! #firewood #firewoodbusiness #woodyard
Red Elm standing dead with the bark slipping off here in Northeast Missouri is hands down the best firewood there is. No Bug No Bark and burns super hot and clean love the Red elm for sure. Dont like splitting it with really any moisture because it is super stringy around here anyways. Standing dead dry nice.
@@mrglock2313 It is great wood i love it. Yeap your rite the roots give way and blow over or into another tree and still have almost all the little limbs and dry dead. ready to burn.
That explains all the wood I’ve got that’s not ash. My box store has been making perfect bundle wood pieces for me I swore it had to be oak not elm. But it’s definitely the same red elm you’re splitting there. How wet is your stuff. Mine would soak my gloves last spring and you can still feel the wetness after this heat from the summer so far. I put a 3/4” pressure hose between my pump and my control valve and my splitter is staying in the low pressure side of the pump more and my cycles are faster overall. The splitter came with a 1/2” line.
We burned a lot of elm in the 80’s and 90’s when they were all dying. The American elm and Chinese elm were tough to split and season. We left the red elm until the bark fell off and it split easy and burned great.
Weird how some wood splits better when seasoned, while other woods are the opposite. Dead standing White Ash likes to contract and tighten up like an iron fist... It'll eventually split decently, but you really have to hit it hard a few times to get it to crack open. (I split with an axe, not a hydraulic splitter) GREEN Ash? you almost don't even need to hit it- just brandish the axe at it and look mean, lol. Sadly, there's not much of the latter to be found any longer...
I like to buck elm and forget it for about six months then split it. A sharp wedge with a fat back does seem to be better. Elm is one of those species that seems to split much better if it has a chance to dry a little. Save a few rounds and try it yourself.
Bet your glad you still have the Glacier. Gives you an option. I have a Speco split master 28 ton 8hp Honda , pretty much like your Glacier w/same type wedge, love it. Starts second pull every time 365/24-7, that wedge is key, when splitting stringy wood like elm or other wind shook
I think them big old red elm gals were just looking for a splitter with a slow hand. I believe that everything is better split with a single wedge "ala John "Frick N Jeep". Slower but better and much less waste. If you get into any of the twisted grain/limb knot stuff-still might have some junk. What you did looked good enough for anyone.
Found that out years ago with stringy stuff .. the thinner the blade the nicer it will come out. When popping oak or ash or even maple thicker works good but even some maple we cut in wet spots can be stringy too. Keep on keeping on.
Red elm is definitely stringy, but it is great firewood. Its like gold in the woods 😂 if i could find enough of it i would have no problems burning it exclusively. Ps. When you find it barkless in the woods you can cut it split it and burn it the sane day.
Hi Mike!!😀😀 The tighter the grain the nicer the splits. The thicker the rings the more stringy the wood is. Check out if there is any difference in the thickness of the rings. Take care my friend!!😀😀 Logger Al
I've seen that, too. Mainly with Ash. Usually doesn't seem to matter, until it does, lol. It can be ornery when it wants to be. What I DO see a lot, is that the fast growing stuff with the wide rings does NOT like to be split along the growth rings- it likes to shear off halfway down, leaving you with a mini wedge, and a piece that's twice as wide at one end than the other. Across the grain? splits like butter. I learned another big tell from Silver maple. These were yard trees, with huge, wide crowns. If you find a round where the heart is way off to the side? Trouble. That piece will be stringy as all heck, and fight you every step of the way. After that, I noticed the same result with Ash. My theory, is that these pieces are from branches that grew OUT as much as up, thus the wood has to be much tougher to hold up the weight of the branch, and resist wind shear, snow weight, etc.
Split eim as a kid with a home-made spliter that my dad built frome the i rail of a 4 post car lift. The ceilinder was frome a d 8 dover the pump was frome a old combine p0wered buy a 16 hp brlgse and Stratton. I digress the wider the weg the better elm splits.
The only red elm I've dealt with was small (8-10in dia.), dead standing and barkless. It was straight grained and split well. It just left a ton of ash in the stove.
Mike: the double edge on the glacier along with the wide angle behind may be the answer. I have a Wolfe Ridge like yours and the vertical wedge is more blunt producing a more rough product.
I would think the WolfeRidge is acting like a knife to (poorly) cut the strings but the wide taper of the glacier is spreading the splits apart more which is ripping the strings down the grain. …just my feeble minded thoughts. Keep at it! 👍
Does Red Elm stank as bad as American Elm or Chinese/Siberian Elm? I've heard the former described as smelling like ass, and the latter like piss/a zoo. To date, the stinkiest wood I've split was Post Oak. It stinks like sour ass and concentrated cow shit. Luckily, it doesn't smell like that when burned, lol.
Red Elm standing dead with the bark slipping off here in Northeast Missouri is hands down the best firewood there is. No Bug No Bark and burns super hot and clean love the Red elm for sure. Dont like splitting it with really any moisture because it is super stringy around here anyways. Standing dead dry nice.
Yep, you know what's up!! You can burn it the same day to when you find it good and dead. Unlike oak,cherry, etc
@@mrglock2313 It is great wood i love it. Yeap your rite the roots give way and blow over or into another tree and still have almost all the little limbs and dry dead. ready to burn.
And it doesn’t rot! It can be fallen down bark less and doesn’t rot. The other elms start to get punky almost right away.
Can learn something new every day have a great day
No idea, Mike, but like someone already said, you can't argue with success.. Keep going. 😁 👍
That explains all the wood I’ve got that’s not ash. My box store has been making perfect bundle wood pieces for me I swore it had to be oak not elm. But it’s definitely the same red elm you’re splitting there.
How wet is your stuff. Mine would soak my gloves last spring and you can still feel the wetness after this heat from the summer so far.
I put a 3/4” pressure hose between my pump and my control valve and my splitter is staying in the low pressure side of the pump more and my cycles are faster overall. The splitter came with a 1/2” line.
Mike you just have to have both splitters in the 🪵yard for special occasions ❤😊
Wow!! That's awesome looking firewood!! May have to try my Countyline on Sweet Gum. Stay Hydrated and Have a Safe Day
We burned a lot of elm in the 80’s and 90’s when they were all dying. The American elm and Chinese elm were tough to split and season. We left the red elm until the bark fell off and it split easy and burned great.
Weird how some wood splits better when seasoned, while other woods are the opposite. Dead standing White Ash likes to contract and tighten up like an iron fist... It'll eventually split decently, but you really have to hit it hard a few times to get it to crack open. (I split with an axe, not a hydraulic splitter) GREEN Ash? you almost don't even need to hit it- just brandish the axe at it and look mean, lol. Sadly, there's not much of the latter to be found any longer...
Red elm is hard to beat. White elm sucks
I like to buck elm and forget it for about six months then split it. A sharp wedge with a fat back does seem to be better. Elm is one of those species that seems to split much better if it has a chance to dry a little. Save a few rounds and try it yourself.
I split standing dead Red Elm and it was tearing apart. A narrower wedge could be the answer.
Nice work Mike
Bet your glad you still have the Glacier. Gives you an option. I have a Speco split master 28 ton 8hp Honda , pretty much like your Glacier w/same type wedge, love it. Starts second pull every time 365/24-7, that wedge is key, when splitting stringy wood like elm or other wind shook
Great looking red elm Mike . Make beautiful coffee table . 😊
I think them big old red elm gals were just looking for a splitter with a slow hand. I believe that everything is better split with a single wedge "ala John "Frick N Jeep". Slower but better and much less waste. If you get into any of the twisted grain/limb knot stuff-still might have some junk. What you did looked good enough for anyone.
And the wedge moves
That is true. Never thought about that.
it's the single wedge your wolf ridge will make nice splits if you use the single wedge
Perhaps it’s because the speed of the splitter, let’s it split slowly in the direction the wedge is making it go. Oh well, don’t argue with success!!
Found that out years ago with stringy stuff .. the thinner the blade the nicer it will come out. When popping oak or ash or even maple thicker works good but even some maple we cut in wet spots can be stringy too. Keep on keeping on.
Red elm is definitely stringy, but it is great firewood. Its like gold in the woods 😂 if i could find enough of it i would have no problems burning it exclusively. Ps. When you find it barkless in the woods you can cut it split it and burn it the sane day.
Hi Mike!!😀😀
The tighter the grain the nicer the splits. The thicker the rings the more stringy the wood is. Check out if there is any difference in the thickness of the rings.
Take care my friend!!😀😀
Logger Al
I've seen that, too. Mainly with Ash. Usually doesn't seem to matter, until it does, lol. It can be ornery when it wants to be. What I DO see a lot, is that the fast growing stuff with the wide rings does NOT like to be split along the growth rings- it likes to shear off halfway down, leaving you with a mini wedge, and a piece that's twice as wide at one end than the other. Across the grain? splits like butter.
I learned another big tell from Silver maple. These were yard trees, with huge, wide crowns. If you find a round where the heart is way off to the side? Trouble. That piece will be stringy as all heck, and fight you every step of the way. After that, I noticed the same result with Ash. My theory, is that these pieces are from branches that grew OUT as much as up, thus the wood has to be much tougher to hold up the weight of the branch, and resist wind shear, snow weight, etc.
I will check that. Thanks
I’ve been fighting elm also. We got about 7 full cords of it done and I’m glad to see it gone! I use a box store splitter and slower does seem better.
Split eim as a kid with a home-made spliter that my dad built frome the i rail of a 4 post car lift. The ceilinder was frome a d 8 dover the pump was frome a old combine p0wered buy a 16 hp brlgse and Stratton. I digress the wider the weg the better elm splits.
Elm wood is great for firewood . It’s just hard to split, but it burns great.
Sometimes you just gotta go with whatever works.
The only red elm I've dealt with was small (8-10in dia.), dead standing and barkless. It was straight grained and split well. It just left a ton of ash in the stove.
Good place will be in the boiler or campfire
It is satan wood no more Mike! Great looking stuff👍💪👍
Must the design off wedge , made for splitting elm Mike . 😊
I just cut some its pretty wood red elm columbus ohio and R-Netts Firewood
Mike: the double edge on the glacier along with the wide angle behind may be the answer. I have a Wolfe Ridge like yours and the vertical wedge is more blunt producing a more rough product.
That is what I am thinking.
I would think the WolfeRidge is acting like a knife to (poorly) cut the strings but the wide taper of the glacier is spreading the splits apart more which is ripping the strings down the grain. …just my feeble minded thoughts. Keep at it! 👍
I agree that may be the answer
stringy or not it sells
please,,,elm is awesome..........compared to sweet gum..lol
Never had the pleasure with sweet gum. Sounds horrible. Lol
Does Red Elm stank as bad as American Elm or Chinese/Siberian Elm? I've heard the former described as smelling like ass, and the latter like piss/a zoo.
To date, the stinkiest wood I've split was Post Oak. It stinks like sour ass and concentrated cow shit. Luckily, it doesn't smell like that when burned, lol.
Not that I noticed. Hackberry for me is ranchy.