Can You Use A Log Splitter On Green Wood?

When a question regarding if log splitter can be used to split green wood, the main concern that arises is that certain woods are extremely soft and supple when they are green. If you are going to break green wood, make sure it is completely dry before burning it. Although wet wood will burn, it will not have the same heating capacity as dry wood because some of the heat will be lost evaporating moisture from the wood.

Can you use a log splitter on green wood?

In recent years, most people have preferred to use a log splitter rather than an axe. Though the axe can be used to cut green wood, the gentle slope makes it difficult to do so. The log splitter maul, on the other hand, has a steep slope that prevents it from sticking to the wood and thus facilitates the process of splitting green wood by applying pressure to the outside.

While the hammer and wedge can be used on dry and hardwood, the maul is considered to be one of the better choices for green wood because it is more versatile. In general, if you want to break green wood easily, lighter mauls are the way to go. The explanation why light-weight Mauls are preferred is that they are easier to swing than heavier mauls that need more effort and power.

The tool’s velocity should be considered as the second consideration. Various studies have shown that the lighter maul generates more energy than the heavier one, so using the same will save you a lot of time and energy.

Is green wood easy to split?

Live wood is smoother and more yielding to your log splitter because it retains a lot of moisture. Deciduous trees, such as oak and maple, are particularly susceptible to this. There are a number of other benefits to breaking green wood. The wood can dry much faster after it has been cut into smaller pieces.

However, if unsplit trees are left on the ground for a long time with the bark on, they can rot on the outside before the core is dry. But there are a few instances where it is preferable to wait until the wood is completely dry. Many professional wood splitters prefer to split seasoned conifer wood rather than fresh conifer wood, which is sappy and very soft. Allowing pine and other related woods to dry until splitting makes them brittle and easier to break.

Other types of wood, on the other hand, are infamous for being difficult to break at any time. Elm and cherry are excellent examples. Their intertwined, twisted fibres make splitting difficult, so expect to spend more time splitting this type of wood. Hydraulic splitter helps in splitting wood all kinds of wood whether green, seasoned, or otherwise.

What are the things you need to know when splitting green wood?

Bark holds moisture in and protects the insides, and most hardwood bark is fire resistant. If you don’t break your firewood, it will take longer to catch fire and won’t burn fully inside. As a result, failing to split wood is a waste of energy. There is a lot of moisture in greenwood (more than 45 percent ). The moisture content of the seasoned wood should be less than 20%.

The splitting log exposes more wood surface area, which aids in drying and reducing moisture content rapidly. Splitting wood speeds up the burning process and maximizes heat production. To summarize, the following are the key points to note when splitting green wood:

• Splitting green wood speeds up the drying process while still ensuring that the wood dries evenly.
• When green, some species (such as oak and maple) are easy to split. 
• Splitting green wood is a safe activity since no dust is produced.
• It’s simple to stack and stock.

Splitting Green vs Dry

Dried logs will have less resistance when cutting through the log. The species is the most critical consideration when it comes to green or dry logs. It may be easier to break the logs when they are wet in some situations. This is particularly true in the case of oak trees. You need to wait until they are completely dry at other times. Some pine species are an example of dry logs.

It’s a smart idea to leave the log to dry if you try splitting it and it’s rubbery and the axe bounces off. The log begins to crack as it dries. You’ll be able to quickly break the log using these cracks. It could take up to six months for the log to dry out sufficiently to cut, depending on the conditions.

Sometimes splitting logs is easier when they are dry, cutting them when they are green is also preferable. Cutting the logs when they are still green allows the firewood to dry out quicker, making it easier to burn. As a consequence, you may want to break the wood ahead of time before spring. This will prevent the wood from sprouting, which will increase the moisture content of the wood.