Whats the deal with this Hickory?

[avalancher]

Got permission the other day to haul out some wood left behind from a logging crew, and by the looks of it, it was logged last summer. The first thing we ran across was a large hickory, 26" at the base. Cut it up and hauled it home. Then the real fun began.
I have a 27 ton splitter, and that hickory made a mockery of that splitter. Even the small stuff made that splitter work, and I seriously considered the fact that I was having a pressure problem. I threw some fresh white and red oak on the splitter, and it went through just fine,even with the four way head.
Is hickory really this tough when it has dried out? I have never hauled home hickory before that wasnt a fresh cut and it has really got me wondering. Equipement failure, or is this wood just that tough to split when dried for over a year?
I didnt really expect the wood to be that dry, the hickory tops have been laying there uncut, and I didnt imagine that much drying could have taken place when its still in lengths. What gives?
If this wood didnt burn so good, I think I would be tempted to leave it there for some other joker to come and get it, but at the last count there were 4 more tops just as big laying there for the taking.

 

[Wood Scrounge]

I've noticed that hickory gets a little tough to split when it's dry , what kind of hickory?

 

[avalancher]

I've noticed that hickory gets a little tough to split when it's dry , what kind of hickory?

We call it white hickory here, but i think the correct name is Mockernut hickory. Its pretty common here along with the shagbark hickory.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Yes, Hickory can be a real bear to split but man is it worth it. You're arguably in the top 4 or 5 burning woods with it. Show it who's boss! :greenchainsaw:

 

[JLROOT]

Yes! Yes!. many btu's I'm surprised some of the softwood only guys have not chimed in to tell you how good you've got it.

 

[flewism]

I took down a 22" 50' shagbark hickory this spring and the only piece that stopped my 22 ton splitter was the main crotch. I got about 1.5 full cord out of it and am looking forward to burning it in the winter of '09. Now mine was completely green when bucked and split.

 

[beerman6]

split it when it's frozen

 

[StihltheOne]

Yes! Yes!. many btu's I'm surprised some of the softwood only guys have not chimed in to tell you how good you've got it.

I will trade you for some pine, straight across, that will solve your splitting problem, I would hate to see you overdo it in the heat.

 

[olyman]

ANY wood thats dried for a while--is harder to split then wet---like driving a nail thru wet wood--just try it dry in a hardwood

 

[secureland]

I've burned several species;
white ash
sugar maple
red oak
black cherry

bitternut hickory is one of the best I've burned

Bill