Splitting Dry Redgum

sillybgoat

I use dried Redgum for firewood at home, some of it is sold without cracks, and I cant split it with an axe. I don't have a mechanical splitter. Anyone have some suggestions. I am thinking my next step is to use a sledgey and a chock to split it. But I figure I should ask the experts.....

bill24

G'day sbg...try buying a splitting axe, you must have seen them, heavier than an normal axe but thicker at the cutting/splitting edge.

Work around the outside a bit at a time.

If thats not working cut the blocks smaller with c/saw and have another go!

Good exercise in winter!

sillybgoat

Have a splitting axe, and a log splitter. The log splitter handle split, and the splitting axe gets stuck

I have been cutting them smaller with the chainsaw, but since its dry redgum I don't get a lot of cuts before I have to swap the chain.

You are right, good exercise

Eric Frei

Like sawing concrete that stuff when it's dry.

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sillybgoat

Tru Dat. If you are cutting it on a dark day, or at dusk you see a lot of sparks from the wood.

bobdoesit

Hi SillyBGoat, do you get you,r timber freshly cut (green) or do you leave it to dry?? I Try and cut timber that dry,s like iron befor it dry,s unless it was dead at time of removal. This does eliminate lots of effort later.

bill24

Redgum in Vic. is much better sawn and split when green for me.

Cut 10 tandem trailer loads for home last month, use hand splitter and 066.

The trailer full I'll try to post took 5 hours, cut - hand split- load from a tree about 1.2m dia.

Bit dry when i finished too!!!!!!

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sillybgoat

I only cut dried fallen timber, or totally dead (dry) trees. Per agreement with the landowner (Father in law).

bill24

Understand, to say I am p'd off by the farm practice that fell this old red gum to make way for a centre pivot would be an understatement - however, once on the ground by 'them' the wood came in pretty handy.

Beautiful old tree, solid as a rock.

A semi-chisel chain will last much longer than full chisel on tough or dirty wood, otherwise SUPERAXE would be the pick of them.



(Have been approached to fall several others, will not have a bar of it.)

sillybgoat

I have both, I have found generally (if not too much dirt) the full chisel will cut easier for a while, then wont cut at all, the semi chisel will cut for longer, but does not glide through as well during that time. If that makes sense.

bobdoesit

Hey Sillybgoat, you can get TUNGSTEN CARBIDE tipped teeth on chain but it is very expensive. It would last a hell of a lot longer though. I chopped by hand several Wych elms back in the early 80,s took a blimmin month though. Have got some pics somewhere i will see if i can find them and post them on here.


And hey climb safe out there.