Or Not

Well, after all that blathering on about the logs being twisted, I’ve been shown to be a less than unreliable source. I went to get a red oak log today and I met this arrow straight lil’ beauty.

It’s a great example of a log with no twist or flare. I feel a bit sheepish showing off my access to the logs of New England, but honestly, this one was just sitting on top of the pile ready to be picked. You can sight down the surface and see that the furrows travel directly down the bark. On a twisted log, they wind a little to the side. It can be hard to read if you don’t have some experience or a guide. I’ve definitely ended up with some logs where a vertical split on one end twists to horizontal at the the other. Like I mentioned in the last video, these twisted splits will still follow the fibers, however, there is a huge cost in the physical exertion required, especially when first halving the log. A twisted log takes many more wedges, force and patience to crack open. This log opened like a book with three wedges and a wooden glut.