The title's a bit of a giveaway...lots of clever bods out there hence my asking. The chestnut posts on my fence have all rotted through after 15 years, and before I replace them with more, I was thinking about using oak as it's likely to last longer. I can get hold of some oak trunks and branches of the right diameter, but have no idea if they can be split like chestnut, and if it's phtsically possible to do it by hand with a hammer and steel. Diameter is about 9 inches. Also, do I need to let the oak season before putting it into the ground? Thanks guys.
Ummm easier to split using an axe of a suitable size and a lump/sledgehammer (hold the axehead in place where you want the post to be split, then smack it down with the hammer - also means less risk of you smacking your hand.) Best treat the below-ground section at least as freshly split it will not be as hardy as the old outer?
I think your axe will get stuck in ....you need some straight blade log splitting wedges perhaps 3 or 4. as the wood dries out natural cracks will appear on the cut ends, I would start the wedge there and follow it up the chord. once you've split to post size leave to dry out and then maybe soak in old engine oil for the below ground part probably 10-40 fully synth would be best:wink: thats my 2p
Save youself a lot lot of grief and possible injury and take your posts to a local timbermill or better still cut your posts up for the woodburner and buy the correct sized posts. Some things in life arnt worth the pain.
I'm with Peter here, splitting oak can be a pain in the arse if it isn't remotely straight, and even if it is putting it in the ground if it's still green is daft. If it's nicely seasoned it'll be as hard as a dogs head and could be a bastard to split if it's not straight. Get it sawn and treat it with 15-50 if it's a four valver. (or suitable alternative) :wink:
