Sweet Gum - Circumferential Splitting - Thank You!

[JBuchanan]

I can't find the thread(s) now, but I just wanted to say thanks to the guy(s) who recommended splitting sweet gum on the circumference (and while green). I have one wedge still stuck in a piece of silver maple that reminds not to start pounding wedges into an unknown wood type without perusing this site. Thanks again.

 

[Full Chisel]

The tougher splitting wood like elm, sweetgum, etc. are usually easier to split by taking off slabs from the sides rather than trying to split across the end grain. I learned this the hard way!

 

[Red Elm]

Circumferential.....thet thar b a big word, use musta took book learnin' a might farther then me n my kin. Does it mean round the outside?

 

[JBuchanan]

Yes, Sir. That is a big word. I used it because it was used in the advising comment that spared my sacrificing yet another wedge to my ignorance. My mother, a high school geometry teacher, would want me to clarify the wedge could at best be located tangent to the circumference of an annulus of the work piece, as a straight line can intersect a circumference at two points at most, rather than the entire circumference as implied by the term circumferential. That orientation is perpendicular (also 'normal' or 'orthoganal') to the typical axial orientation of the wedge.

 

[Full Chisel]

Are we talking about splitting wood, or an atom?

 

[Red Elm]

Now I'm cornfused.

 

[JBuchanan]

I gnu I shouldn't have said that.

 

[svk]

That was probably @zogger who provided that advice.

 

[muddstopper]

Yes, Sir. That is a big word. I used it because it was used in the advising comment that spared my sacrificing yet another wedge to my ignorance. My mother, a high school geometry teacher, would want me to clarify the wedge could at best be located tangent to the circumference of an annulus of the work piece, as a straight line can intersect a circumference at two points at most, rather than the entire circumference as implied by the term circumferential. That orientation is perpendicular (also 'normal' or 'orthoganal') to the typical axial orientation of the wedge.

Yep sounds about right, just the way its supposed to be. I agree completely.
(now someone tell me what he said)

 

[lone wolf]

I can't find the thread(s) now, but I just wanted to say thanks to the guy(s) who recommended splitting sweet gum on the circumference (and while green). I have one wedge still stuck in a piece of silver maple that reminds not to start pounding wedges into an unknown wood type without perusing this site. Thanks again.

Me possibly I have posted that.

 

[lone wolf]

Yes, Sir. That is a big word. I used it because it was used in the advising comment that spared my sacrificing yet another wedge to my ignorance. My mother, a high school geometry teacher, would want me to clarify the wedge could at best be located tangent to the circumference of an annulus of the work piece, as a straight line can intersect a circumference at two points at most, rather than the entire circumference as implied by the term circumferential. That orientation is perpendicular (also 'normal' or 'orthoganal') to the typical axial orientation of the wedge.

Or you could of skipped school like I did and figured out where to hit it because it splits easier in different spots!

 

[Fred Wright]

Am thinking Zogger suggested this method sometime back. We don't cut gum anymore but when we did, the advice of slabbing off splits from the outside and working your way in made a world of difference. There's science and physics behind it but I lack the smarts to put it into words.

Come to think of it we still have a few old gum splits to get rid of before spring weather arrives.

 

[JBuchanan]

I didn't have enough wedges left - or enough arm strength - for the learning curve ... went to Harbor Freight to get two more ... eight people in line as I walked in and a bewildered look in the (lone) cashier's eye ... I am willing to pay $10 per wedge but not willing to wait 20+ minutes to do so ... so I proceeded with what I had. Fortunately - unlike about half of my swings - the advice proved right on target. Twelve rounds down, three to go, then I get to go back to seasoned stuff. REALLY looking fwd to that.

 

[unclemoustache]

Yes, Sir. That is a big word. I used it because it was used in the advising comment that spared my sacrificing yet another wedge to my ignorance. My mother, a high school geometry teacher, would want me to clarify the wedge could at best be located tangent to the circumference of an annulus of the work piece, as a straight line can intersect a circumference at two points at most, rather than the entire circumference as implied by the term circumferential. That orientation is perpendicular (also 'normal' or 'orthoganal') to the typical axial orientation of the wedge.

I never met anyone from Kansas who could talk like that. I think your presence there just bumped the state IQ average up a few points.

 

[Red Elm]

I never met anyone from Kansas who could talk like that. I think your presence there just bumped the state IQ average up a few points.

LMAO!

 

[JBuchanan]

I'm from Missouri - I was relocated to Kansas as part of the no state left behind initiative

 

[hayboy]

Me thinks something just went over my head, and I graduated from Liberty consolidated high school.