Home Forums Miscellaneous Topics Rural Living Splitting large rounds

A friend had a 60’ blackjack oak get blown over. We burn wood so he give it to us. I have got it cut back to the main trunk and these rounds are starting at 26-27” and will be about 36-40 At the end. I am cutting them at 14-16” thick but they are so heavy, it takes A 60” peavey to move them Around. My splitter will go horizontal or vertical but the rounds are to heavy to scoot them around

I have access to wedges and have split some of the limb wood that is in the 20” range so I can get it on the splitter but can you do this with the larger rounds ?

I thought about cross cutting but I don’t know if that is possible.

Thoughts ?

Anyone in the area want a "one of" log for lumber?

I cut some big ones like that long ways with a chain saw before trying to split. Little easier to handle.If the oak is still green it might be doable.Cured,not so much

With a well tuned and sharp saw I have cut them into quarters. Much easier to handle.

I do as Reba. Rip mostly through the round from end to end & a simple strike with our maul will divide. I normally make quarters of big rounds before loading them.

on big stuff we use the bottom out of a plastic bed liner to slide the wood on a vertical splitter

It cuts much easier laying on the side, with the grain.
Smoother and faster.
You need a bit of power and you will quickly find out how good your saw was
designed. Enough power and good design, those noodles blow right out.

POS saw and the port will clog. Then you will notice noodles going around
the bar under the chain.

Gather them up, let 'em dry. Keep them in a safe place no where near a spark or flame.

A good handful on the gates, kindling and some small wood.
You can light it with a match, and they get HOT.

might advise when bucking the blocks don't cut with knot in the middle work it out that knot will be at one end or other of block and spilt toward it. not magic but will help a little.

Why not cut these to 12” rather than 16”?

Lighter, easier to split.

Like the plastic bed liner. I use a rock bar into the tractor bucket, then over to the vertical splitter. I'm going to look for an old piece of plastic bed liner, cut out a slot for the splitter foot, drop the round on to the liner and push it in with the tractor. Should be easier to move around on the liner more so than dirt or pieces of bark and debris.

Same here,,, way more user friendly to fill the woodbox up with!

I just split them in half or quarters with a chainsaw
Takes a sharp true chain and a powerful saw as ther really bit when not going across the grain
I use either 036 044 to the husky 66