Tired. Plumb tuckered out.

May of 2012 we had eleven trees taken down. When Sandy came through that fall we felt really smart. But, I had them leave the trees for me to deal with on the ground. I rather wanted all that lumber, ya know?
Some of these trees were oaks over two feet in diameter. I do not own a chainsaw.

Yep, been dealing with this mess almost exclusively with hand tools that are not really meant for this job. Busting trees is hard work
Been working on one particular section today, making some progress while accomplishing nothing. Odd feeling, that. Stopped for a break about twenty minutes ago. When arms feel like jello, time for a break

whee!

Hi Peter -

Wow - what a project! I take it that oak is harder to split than most, correct?

Thanks!
Mariamne

You can split long logs...



I've split a few using a similar method - although it wasn't quite a nice and easy as this video makes it look!

I imagine that working with hand tools you would find split lengths easier to work with.

Chuckle. Yeah, when you buy logs selected for straight grain and cut to length with no branches, it can be super easy. When you are working with much longer sections, with massive knots, and even crotches, and where the grain most definitely does not run straight... It looks a bit different

But the principle is the same. Drive a wedge and start splitting along the grain, work along extending the crack. When the grain doesn't cooperate you need to get in with a saw or hatchet (whatever fits!) and cut the cross connecting bits.