We live in an old house.. When we bought it, there were three english
walnut trees in the yard, along with indications that there had been
several more in the past. The trees have been slowly dying off, mostly
at the top branches. However, last spring, I noticed that one tree had
died completely. I just got someone in to take the tree down, and I
asked him to cut it off at about five feet above the ground, then leave
me about twelve feet of trunk The wood seemed to be in good condition,
despite standing dead for a year. You might be able to browse the album
in GIC by using the arrows, but I posted all the links if anyone needs them.
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_2.jpg"
>http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_2.jpg
Now the fun begins!
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_3.jpg"
>http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_3.jpg
As I split it, the bark sloughed off; it's on the left. The wood was
sound and split well.
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_4.jpg"
>http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_4.jpg
Whenever I split a trunk, there seems to be one trouble spot. Here it
is, despite attempts to persuade it with a glut and a cluster of wedges.
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_5.jpg"
>http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_5.jpg
Except for the trouble spot, the rest of the trunk split well and fairly
easily.
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_6.jpg"
>http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_6.jpg
I called out my secret weapon to deal with the trouble spot. This is a
3" Ward slick (courtesy of Tony Seo) on a hardware store shovel handle.
I riveted the slick to the handle, so I could pull as well as push. I
originally made this when I was taking out a lot of stumps.
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_7.jpg"
>http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_7.jpg
I didn't get through with my long-handled chisel, but I got it to open
enough to double up some steel wedges at the bottom. This tree trunk
was much too stubborn!
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_8.jpg"
>http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_8.jpg
Despite gaping open, the tree trunk *still* won't split.
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_9.jpg"
>http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_9.jpg
Finally! The trunk is separated fairly cleanly into two even sections.
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_10.jpg
">http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_10.jpg
If possible, I like to split wood that I'm harvesting. If I split it,
the grain tends to be straight even after it's separated into smaller
pieces. Here, you can see that this split right through the middle,
since the pith in the center of the walnut trunk is clearly evident.
Yes, I could have gotten someone in with a band mill, but what's the fun
in that?
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_11.jpg
">http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_11.jpg
Here is my other secret. While I did the wedge work, I also had help.
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_12.jpg
">http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_12.jpg
I will probably do the rest of this with a chalk line and chain saw. I
have a strange idea of fun!
Gary Katsanis
Albion NY, USA
Stiff, sore, and satisfied.
(and if anyone wants to help clean up a yard in exchange for some
english walnut, let me know!)
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