When you want to split a plank of wood, you will try to cut wood as soon as possible. You don't want to pass long time to do the task. Right?
For this job, you have to use some essentials tools. With the tools, you can save your time. The things that ease your task can be a log splitter. So, if you want to split the log, you can choose an electric or a manual log splitter. Both can split dry and wet logs.
In here, we will cover the terms of use of a log splitter while it is better to cut wood damp or dry.
Purpose and suitability
Before start splitting wood, you have to decide what purposes will use a log splitter. Many barks of the log are too much difficult to burn. But the internal wood is always suitable for burning. That's why you have to choose the right wood for your fireplaces.
If you want to make wood for your fireplace, you must know the advantage and disadvantages of dry and wet wood to split. You have also considered the advantage and disadvantage of manual and powered log splitter for damp and dry wood.
Why you split wet wood?
Wet wood is very much suitable to cut with a log splitter. There are many reasons for choosing split damp wood. Damp wood is natural to break and pretty much flexible than dry wood. When you place it on the log splitter, you need less pressure to cut. It will also affect the evaporation rates of the log during seasoning.
Reason:
The evaporation rate will increase due to weather conditions. Because when you cut a damp log, the moisture will evaporate quickly. Each piece of splitting log takes less time to dry up against the full piece of wood. The quality of wood depends on the density proportion and how hard the wood is.
And splitting also depends on the quality of wood. If you have dense wood, you need more pressure and energy. So it is better to split the wood when it is wet.
Why don't you split dry wood
Dry wood is compact than wet wood. When you cut a fresh tree, the wood is too raw and flexible. But for bare/dry wood, it is not possible to maintain its freshness. And because of compactness, you have to force a lot to split than the wet one.
Reason:
When you split dry wood several pieces, then it is suitable for use. But wet wood needs extra time to evaporate the water portion from its body. It will be helpful if you split damp timber and make it dry.
So, splitting the wood isn't problematic for you, if you think wisely. We will give you some suggestions to get rid of this problem and how you can cut both dry and wet wood.
Splitting wood with the manual and mechanical process:
If you are a user of a log splitter, you must know how effective for splitting purposes. But the effectiveness will apply when you choose the right splitter. The machine that cut the log automatically or manually is also the reason for proper cutting.
The wood-sawing process makes the log usable for consumer, but you can make your log at home with the manual or powered splitter easily.
Though these both machines are work as for splitting your logs. So you have to understand their usability, effectiveness, user experience, and the quantity of cutting in a decent time.
Advantage and disadvantage of manual log splitter for wet and dry wood:
As a manual log splitter user, you may face splitting the wet and dry log. Manual log splitter needs man force and requires extra strength to split the wood.
If you don't practice enough, it seems to hazard for you to complete the splitting during work. If you use a manual log splitter, it will be better for you to choose the wet wood.
The wet wood is much flexible than the dry one. So you can easily split wet wood manually. But the dry wood is so much treaty because of hardness.
When the wet log seasoning for a long time, the hardness and compactness affect your log splitting task. The manual log splitter is relatively hard and problematic for those who are not used to a log splitting job. But if someone has minumum experience, he can use a powered device.
So if you split through a manual way, you will feel tired and exhaust promptly. Thats why if you want to cut wet wood, you can go with a manual splitter.
Talkpick: Manual log splitter will be hard for dry wood.
Advantage and disadvantage of power
Generally, a machine operating device is always easing your job. So a mechanical log splitter also helps you to do the task correctly and accurate way.
A powered log splitter is suitable for both wet and dry wood what you want. In this splitter, you don't need to force extra pressure for splitting.
The hydraulics is pushing the logs as you do with a manual by hand. So, there is no limitation to use both dry or wet wood.
But if you want a smooth and easy cut, you have to do split wet wood. Whenever you split a dry wood, there's a possibility of woodline dislocation.
If you face it, your log won't be able to remain their size the same. But honestly, there is no disadvantage to split dry or wet wood. You can easily use the splitting firewood to your firestove.
Talkpick: You can smoothly use both wet and dry logs with the powered log splitter.
Is it reasonable to split freshly cut wood?
Yes, why not? Moreover, it will better than waiting for drying it up.
If you cut a fresh wood, then resize it as compatible with your splitter. Then push it with your hydraulic wedge and get your desire sized log.
Some people are not suggested to split when it is fresh. But believe it, you will get a much better feel when you cut a raw/fresh wood.
You can save your time if you do this job after cutting trees. Not to worry about drying up. When you cut a fresh log, the evaporation rates will increase and take less time to dry up.
If you don't split, it will take more time to evaporate.
Conclusion:
If you though what is better to split log a wet or dry. The answer must depend on what equipment you are using. If you use manual, then you should try damp wood. Or if you use electric or hydraulic, you can do both on time.
So, Make your job done............
I am a graduate of Bangladesh Agricultural University, where I delved into various agricultural disciplines, equipping me with a profound understanding of agriculture. Beyond academics, I have hands-on experience in gardening and crop cultivation. My passion is to embrace sustainable farming and horticulture. With a BSc in Agriculture, I am dedicated to promoting environmentally conscious and efficient agrarian practices.
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Agriculture (Hons.)
Master of Science. (Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security ) (MS)
Bangladesh Agricultural University
