Re: A Bicycle Safety Parable

On Mon, 22 Jul 2024 23:56:17 +0700, John B. <slocombjb@gmail.com>
wrote:

Depends on what you are splitting. Big fat oak needs a wedge and a
maul while most smaller softwoods split with an axe quite easily.

Contrary to many expert sources, I've found that white oak splits VERY
easily immediately after the tree is felled.  I cut, bucked, and split
a few very green and wet small oaks without difficulty.  However, if I
let them dry for a few days, they become difficult to split.  I worked
on one oak two days after it was felled.  I started in the morning and
splitting was easy.  By evening it became difficult to split.  The
next day, it was even more difficult and by evening, it was impossible
to split by hand.  I had to hire someone to finish the job with a
hydraulic splitter.

When splitting large rounds, I agree that a wedge and maul are best. I
use two wedges when desperate.  One to split the log and second wedge
to help release the first wedge after it gets stuck:
<https://photos.app.goo.gl/G8jx7fNCV5tppdCJ9>
Don't let the wedge head turn into a mushroom.

--
Jeff Liebermann                 jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272      http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272
Skype: JeffLiebermann      AE6KS    831-336-2558