Hand splitting different species of wood

[cookies]

I have noticed some species of wood is easier to split when fresh cut vs when it is dried/seasoned and some is easier to split when dried!
I find live oak very difficult to get to split when green, the grain is all over the place but once dry will peel apart nicely with a good hit of a maul. Red oak will split green with effort working outside in but is much easier dry. Pecan will split easily green but hardens when dry same with paulownia. Anyone else have this experience with this or covering more species?

 

[buzz sawyer]

Yes. I've found Elm easier to split when dry. Also, some split differently radially than on a tangent.

 

[ElevatorGuy]

Red oak is one of the easiest woods to split unless it’s a knot. Some of the huge stuff can be tough by hand I guess but I quit doing that a few years back.

You won’t split sweet gum by hand green or dry.

 

[cookies]

Red oak is one of the easiest woods to split unless it’s a knot. Some of the huge stuff can be tough by hand I guess but I quit doing that a few years back.

You won’t split sweet gum by hand green or dry.

So far cherry has been the easiest native species to split followed by hickory then red oak!

 

[SamT1]

Some responds better to an axe and some a maul too. It’s all different. Even different types of the same stuff like oak or pecan split drastically different. Even method of death makes a difference. Mesquite that dies from old age will practically shatter when you split it. Chemical death and it’s hard to split after a year dead and then gets easy. Bulldozer death and it will be rock hard for maybe 4 years. I don’t understand how or why.

 

[ElevatorGuy]

So far cherry has been the easiest native species to split followed by hickory then red oak!

Hickory easy to split? Lol, I’ve never heard anyone say that. Hickory splits like gum.

 

[cookies]

I forgot to mention the hickory was dry! Also I assume it to be common knowledge the closer to the roots you get the harder the wood is to split? SamT1 very interesting observations, thats crazy different times of drying and speed of death vs method used. Any input on the effects noticed using copper nails? I have seen that mentioned as a method used to kill trees.

 

[svk]

Yep, it depends on species.

Aspen splits fairly easy unless it’s knotty. It’s a joy in the winter, it basically shatters. Red maple and white birch are easy when green too.

 

[Woody912]

You will also find some of it splits better around the perimeter than thru the center and also splitting from the bottom of the way it grew. Cherry can be terrible and I once bent a wedge in a pc of ash. Sycamore splits pretty good at -20, mankilller at room temp.

 

[SamT1]

I forgot to mention the hickory was dry! Also I assume it to be common knowledge the closer to the roots you get the harder the wood is to split? SamT1 very interesting observations, thats crazy different times of drying and speed of death vs method used. Any input on the effects noticed using copper nails? I have seen that mentioned as a method used to kill trees.

I haven’t been around any copper nails. Most of ours die a slow death from repeated 24d type chemical apps. Controlling weeds and trees at the same time.