Oak is easy to split when freshly cut. I cut some standing dead black locust. My chainsaw would do better cutting through stone. Splitting by hand, forget about it. Even my resident beaver passed on it.
First Time Splitting Oak
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clemsonfor
Minister of Fire
![[Hearth.com] First Time Splitting Oak](/talk/data/attachments/116/116858-0a88d5660a67060a0c3017dc3a915fdf.jpg?hash=qWgdnl8IPX)
I've been on the Fiskars bandwagon for. . . 5 or so years, but this was some twisty yard oak with no center. This stuff wasn't coming apart for anyone.
How long to season oak in WA? Might have to will to your kids. Oak or not, you still have it good - I spent a month in Everett, Hiked all around Olympic. Best trip of my life by a factor of 10.
It's getting burnt next year, ready or not.
I hate elm with a passion. A buddy of mine has some oak at his house that has been down since last October. Not bucked so i'm hoping it won't be that bad.
clemsonfor
Minister of Fire
I've been working on building my supply of all Red Oak lately... Got a buddy who had two large OAK's uprooted in a windstorm last year. The Rounds are HUGE we have to at least get them in half with a sledge and wedge to get to the point where we can think hydraulic splitter (wish I could pivot). F-150 a level load with 4.5 rounds split and stacked neatly! They are big trees that are going to keep me quite warm from 2015 - ???? and it's Free. Was at his place on Sunday and he pointed out the dead hickory he wants to take down and will be my next project to cut up for him. Never burned hickory before but think it should do well.
I don't think the oak is that bad to split but definitely not as easy as pine!
EDIT: that F-150 is a long box btw.
I don't think the oak is that bad to split but definitely not as easy as pine!
EDIT: that F-150 is a long box btw.
clemsonfor
Minister of Fire
Hickory has btus like oak its a pain to split as its more stringy and holds on more than white oak. It dries a bit quicker than oak but not much.
Some pine is a pain to split!!
Some pine is a pain to split!!
clemsonfor
Minister of Fire
Your going to have to split it small and stack it in the direct sun / wind. not in your shed. and even then it wont be ready in a year. will need to mix it in with your hot fir / pine fire to be able to burn the moisture off it and get it to burn. been there done that!!
you are better off to stack it for 2 to 3 years someplace out of the way and enjoy the true btu's that it will provide
That's not happening. It's firewood, not fine cheese.
clemsonfor
Minister of Fire
Unless you have a pre-EPA stove, what it will be is an exercise in frustration! As soon as you close the door on the stove, the flame will go out. Your secondary burn will probably take 1 1/2 hours to get started. I don't know if you are in one of the no fire zones, but if you are, someone will drop a dime on you. Eventually you will swear that oak is the worst wood to burn. Etc. Etc. Etc
All kidding aside, elderthe welder gave you excellent advice.
Al
Seanm
Minister of Fire
I read this thread because I was curious about oak (none around here) and how it split and couldn't help but notice more then one response that pine is a pita to split. How come? I burn lots of lodgepole and its easy to split green or seasoned. Ponderosa Pine is a bit harder to split and since its lower btus I leave it for others. What Pine are you guys thinking is hard to split? I would have thought that some of the pines that are out east are much lower btus then what we get in BC so naturally assumed it would split easier. Not trying to hijack this thread but wouldn't mind knowing. Thanks
clemsonfor
Minister of Fire
Southern yellow pine when knotty. This term covers many pines but are the eastern building species.
Charles1981
Minister of Fire
All the oak I've gotten has been the easiest to split with my maul of many of the wood types. I think sometimes it depends on how you buck it but not really sure. I've gotten plenty of ash that was just impossible to get through even with a sledge and wedge. I've had to noodle down so many pieces of ash gah. I don't think I get the best specimens in my log length loads however though.
MrWhoopee
Minister of Fire
WET firewood. In your part of the country, the MC will probably be north of 35% after one year.
A few knots, and you may have to blast. However- fresh cut, fewer knots- both red and white split like a dream. With a sharp maul, there's honestly almost no effort beyond the weight of the falling maul up to ~10" wide.
MrWhoopee
Minister of Fire
Assuming it is a native species:
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb0440/eb0440.pdf
Quercus garryana
Oregon white oak is the only oak in the
state. There is very little of it cut even though
its fuel value is greater than that of any other
tree growing in Washington. It is cut locally
for fuel, furniture, and wedges.
This is a slow growing species and is
often poorly formed. It is commonly found in
limited pure stands on dry, rocky sites where
other species will not grow.
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb0440/eb0440.pdf
Quercus garryana
Oregon white oak is the only oak in the
state. There is very little of it cut even though
its fuel value is greater than that of any other
tree growing in Washington. It is cut locally
for fuel, furniture, and wedges.
This is a slow growing species and is
often poorly formed. It is commonly found in
limited pure stands on dry, rocky sites where
other species will not grow.
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