Interesting Internals of Trees

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Splitting wood today I happened upon some pretty interesting things. The Fir tree that was closest to the house had a big problem with sap. This is the core of the tree. The piece readily separated from the outer and perfectly along the sap line. Large portions of the tree show the same structure.

This piece was a surprise. I split the log and out pops this damaged area that had healed over, MANY years ago. I counted the rings and at about 20 years old this part of the tree received a significant scare which then healed over and 50+ years of tree grew around it. Very cool and you can see the filled in part on the facing piece. Not something you see every day.

Unloading the pine rounds from the trailer I caught site of a shine from the end of round. Look how deep that nail is! At approximately the 20 year old mark this tree received a nail that then was enveloped by the subsequent 50+ years of growth. Only to be found now when I cut the tree down to rounds. Explains why my chain dulled so fast on the 5 cuts I did on the last bit of the trunk.

3 trees are now in the yard with just one more to move. I have split 2 and have 2 left. Looking at my space to stack I may be a bit shy of room for all this firewood. I am going to be a cord's worth shy it looks like.

That is for me to figure out at a later date. Right now the most important part is getting the wood moved into the yard and ready to split.

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9 comments
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Interesting post. We don't usually see the insides except in cross section

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Exactly. Generally we just get to see the rings, not the various layers exposed like this. The tree really feels like an onion as I split it. I can chop down parrallel-ish to the rings and pull off thin sheets of the tree that split along the sap line. Really wild and makes me wonder what would cause this to happen to large parts of the tree.

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you might also want to look into the #naturalmedicine tag. they have a few rules, but the server support is awesome. dm me if u need an invite. ps. nice trees. i so dig those colors!

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I agree with torico! naturalmedicine tag is also supporting homesteaders like you!

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Right on. I have seen the tag around but hadn't looked to far into it. I just read the FAQ post @naturalmedicine posted yesterday. Thanks! I will start using the tag more. Fits with many of my post subjects.

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Hello!

This post has been manually curated, resteemed
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from the @helpiecake curation team!

Much love to you from all of us at @helpie!
Keep up the great work!


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Manually curated by @torico.


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(Edited)

I hate splitting fir, it's a royal pain. This one doesn't look like it was much fun either. Can I ask what do you use a maul? Or an ax? Those are some hefty pieces you got there!

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I have an easier time with fir over the pine. Mostly since my fir have pretty nice straight grains so they split quite easily. The ponderosa pines here have a grain that doesn't split so easily. At least by hand.

My maul is my precious. It was left with the other tools from the prior owner when we bought our place a decade ago. It is an antique 8 pound head that I recently broke the original handle off of, so replaced with a new handle and rubber guard.

(will post this morning about my baby.)

I also have a whole heap of metal splitting wedges of various shapes and sizes. I tend to not need them most times but am damned glad to have them when I do!

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