Janka Scale: Force to Split Wood

The amount of force required to split a log depends on the type of wood as well as its moisture content.  Older, seasoned logs have a lower moisture content and thus require less force to split.  The Janka hardness scale was developed to measures how well different types of wood withstand denting and wear. It measures the force required to embed an 11.28 mm (0.444 in) steel ball into wood to half the ball's diameter. It's a good reference to help you select the right log splitter.

The Janka Scale