A Hard Split

[ETpilot]

I was splitting this this weekend and started on this wood. Thought it would split easy but noticed splitter was laboring as it progressed into the wood. So it was harder to split. I use a C channel to take up space from the foot to the wedge on the splitter. Then came this round. Splitter stopped to build pressure. Then wood popped in 2. One piece flew over rear of splitter and C channel went with it. C channel was mangled. As I started splitting this wood, I learned to stand clear just in case. What wood is this?

 

[Dirtboy]

Looks like elm, great to burn-not fun to split.

 

[Marshy]

Get rid of the C channel. Good way to get killed.

 

[duckman]

that looks like black gum. a sharp wedge helps but it's still a SOB. burns about good as silver maple

 

[duckman]

and get rid of the channel

 

[JeffHK454]

Looks like elm, great to burn-not fun to split.

Inside looks like Elm but that bark don't...

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

Get rid of the C channel. Good way to get killed.

Or weld it in place.

 

[Woodcutteranon]

Gum. Not Elm.

 

[ETpilot]

Thanks for the replies. Looking at images it looks like Black Gum or in that family. Actually I was testing the C channel and it was working good until this last split. I had planned on welding it. The way this wood was splitting I got cautious the more I split. So that was a good thing. Lesson learned. Thanks.

 

[jrider]

Gum. It doesn't split, it tears. Miserable stuff to split. Rots quickly if left to nature which is a better option in my opinion.