Crap this wood is hard to split...

[~smokey~]

I'm a noob wood burner and so far this is the toughest chunk of wood I've tried to split, I thought green oak was a task but this stuff even has the chainsaw throwing sparks, it takes a good 20 whacks with a medium size sledge and axe to get it to split, what kind of tree is this and is it the type that gets meaner with age ?

[petefrom bearswamp]

Dont have a clue as to what species, but if the saw is sparking it aint the wood.
Some stuff is hard to split.

[JohnW]

It looks like maple, although I can't gurantee that's right.  Maple's not generally hard to split.  Were you talking about the whole tree or just those crochedty Y pieces?  Those are always hard to split. Also, any spieces can have a tough tree once in a while.

Is it possible that you got some sideways pressure on your chain, some way or another, that caused that sparking?

[curdog]

What's your location.  It sorta looks like sweetgum.

[hackberry jake]

I have seen sparks come from the saw when cutting Osage Orange... Probably came from between the chain and bar like JohnW mentioned. My guess is going to be some type of elm.

[samandothers]

Thought I saw sparks off locust.... then decided it was the imbedded fence.  :-\

[~smokey~]

The sparks could've been from the chain/bar it was on the dull side so I was leaning on it. a guy down the road gave me the wood so it's local south Okanagan B.C variety, I tried another larger piece with a split near the center and was able to use the wedge and a full swing on the sledge, it split a little easier but still I'm taking small bites cause it's so hard, is there any chance it might be cherry ? reason I ask is cause the guy who gave it to me mentioned he burned the bottom out of his wood stove it burns so hot, just guessing maby that's why he was getting rid of it.

[WDH]

Looks like a fruit wood of some sort to me.

[Tom L]

anything that looks like that I put in a pile, and let amy burn it in the backyard fire pit over the summer, some things just aren't worth the trouble

[CalebL]

I have seen sparks come from the saw when cutting Osage Orange... Probably came from between the chain and bar like JohnW mentioned. My guess is going to be some type of elm.

Blackjack oak will do that too.  I hate that stuff.  It will dull a blade in a hurry.  It also throws a ton of sparks when it burns. 

[sandhills]

I've seen sparks too with black locust (and a dull chain)  :.  I agree with hackberry jake, an elm, but I hate to vote against WDH, he's one smart fellow  ;) 

[Left Coast Chris]

Our English Walnut bark looks like that although usually the heart wood is a darker brown or blackish on lower limbs and butt log.

English Walnut is very strong in cross grain tension and is hard to split.