Need advice on splitting log?

braggscowboy · #1 11/24/10, 11:36 PM

A year or so ago, I took some big pine trees from my yard. They have just been laying out in the pasture and the bark has fallen off of one of them and it is a pretty natural log of about 16". I would like to cut it to about 7 or 8' and then split to make a bench or two. I don't see any splits or openings to start a split. Any ideas, start from the top or from the end? I thought about taking it to a saw mill and have them split it. Don't know how expensive that might be? Next thing, if I were to make a bench, is there anyone that can tell me how to get the holes lined and at the right angle to drill? Thanks for the information and any help would be appreciated.

#2 11/25/10, 12:07 AM

You are on the right track when you say you are going to have a sawmill cut it down the middle. You can saw it but I doubt you can split it evenly. Try using your chain saw to saw it. Maybe nail a 2X4 to it first to use as a guide for the chain saw.

Sawmill Jim · #3 11/25/10, 12:22 AM

Bet that pine sap will be showing up on your but for ten years

Always loved sawing pine but that sap is sticky stuff

Bring it to me i'll split it free

Sawmill Jim · #4 11/25/10, 12:28 AM

Oops missed took down from yard circle saw guys don't like yard trees a good nail and several bucks . Band saw guys just charge you for the blade . I would split it with a chain saw . But if you show up i'll still split it for you

tinknal · #5 11/25/10, 09:30 AM

I agree with using a chain saw. Before you start take the chain and bar to a pro to get sharpened and the bar trued up.

**Cabin Fever** · #6 11/25/10, 10:07 AM

My grandfather, before the use of chainsaws, would split long lengths (>6 ft) of firewood logs using several splitting wedges. He would drive a wedge at one end and start the log to split, then place the next wedge into the split a bit further down on the log. He would continue this process down the length of the log until it split in half. Then, he'd repeat the process on the half logs to split them into quarters. The result would be long firewood lengths that looked something like split rails for fences. Lastly, these long split pieces would be cut into firewood lengths using the tractor-mounted buzz saws.

The reason he cut firewood this way is because there would be no way he could lift a 12" to 16" diameter oak log up to the buzz saw. He could lift the quarter-split logs however.

So, my recommendation would be to get yourself a splitting maul and a half dozen of splitting wedges and give it a try.

tinknal · #7 11/25/10, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

So, my recommendation would be to get yourself a splitting maul and a half dozen of splitting wedges and give it a try.

Unless you have a use for a half a dozen wedges you could probably get one steel wedge and make the rest out of some sort of hardwood. They will work fine for a one time application.

Sawmill Jim · #8 11/25/10, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinknal

Unless you have a use for a half a dozen wedges you could probably get one steel wedge and make the rest out of some sort of hardwood. They will work fine for a one time application.

Got my back just reading about wedges

There is a way to use black powder too

braggscowboy · #9 11/25/10, 07:06 PM

Sawmill, appreciate the idea of you splitting free. Might just ship it down from Okla. No nails, I planted the trees as seedlings. Bark fell off, could see nail. I do have enough wedges, and had thought about the hard wood wedges. I may give the weges a try before long. Thanks everyone.

Sawmill Jim · #10 11/25/10, 10:14 PM

Sorry nails don't work that way

I sawed some once man said when he moved it the house they were the size of a coffee can around that is . He moved in 30 years ago i back counted those tree rings and decided they were it that tree a couple years before he got there .

Also he said you know you can't watch those kids ever second .

Since you grew yours from small i would trust them just giving a little history for non saw millers

Darnedest thing i ever hit with a chain saw was a white glass looking insulator at about the thirty foot mark . Back when they had those old crank phones someone had nailed that insulator on that tree ,talk about dulling a chain

.

fantasymaker · #11 11/26/10, 08:00 AM

Id cut a grove in it to start. Back in my cabin building days Id strech a line down a log then grab the chainsaw and free hand it. You could tack a straight boad on it and use your cicular saw.
Any log to big to cut all the way thru Id grab a few wedges and finish with spliting.
Start spliting from the bottom for a nice smooth split.

nc_mtn · #12 11/26/10, 08:43 AM

http://www.hud-son.com/Boardmastervideo.htm

For the occasional cuts, this works ok... you loose a lot of waste in the chainsaw BUT it's better than splitting it with wedges (imo)

(Send me a PM if you need some info)

braggscowboy · #13 11/26/10, 08:54 AM

Sawmill, right again. I was trimming up a couple of red cedars that were growing together. Trimmed them and one had a knot on it. After looking at it, I saw where there was a large piece of metal that someone had draped over the limb when small and had grown into the tree and could see only a small part sticking up.

Paul Wheaton · #14 11/26/10, 04:55 PM

Here's a video of a bunch of folks splitting lots of logs:

http://www.youtube.com/paulwheaton12#p/u/31/UxCfU7L-2X0