Gary,

Nice work, although the assistant looks like she could use an attitude
adjustment.  When we split a 30" diameter white oak log in March, it
behaved similarly to yours, in that even though it split, strands in the
center refused to let go and we had to get a skinny axe in there to free up
the two pieces.  Definitely lots of work, but much less effort than I had
imagined.  Tapping those wedges in and letting the spilt develop on its own
worked wonders.  Those who persisted in being John Henry (legendary,
hard-driving, African-American railway worker, Jeff), were left perplexed
by the old guys who let the wedges do the hard work.  Will you make
something with the green wood or dry it before use?  I'd go the green wood
route, as it's such a joy to plane and shape.  You got a lot of nice wood
there.  Go for it!

Regards,

Dwight

On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 9:23 PM, Gary Katsanis 
wrote:

> 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.jp
g">http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_2.jpg
>
> Now the fun begins!
>
> http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10072/Pic_3.jp
g">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.jp
g">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.jp
g">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.jp
g">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.jp
g">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.jp
g">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.jp
g">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.j
pg">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.j
pg">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.j
pg">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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