Yeah, it's definitely BROKEN in, now.
I won't feel bad about anything else I put it through, that's for sure.
I was really surprised to find a nail in there - I cut the tree down in my own backyard, and there was never anything hung from it as long as I've owned the place. There was no sign of a nail on the outside, either. The nail must have been driven in a looong time ago, because the tree was completely grown over it by at least a half an inch.
Similar deal with me. I cut down a Linden in my backyard last year. Went through two chainsaw blades wonder what the heck I was doing wrong or what kind of insane knot was a the bottom of this thing. Finally I gave in, brought in a tree crew to turn the stump into mulch, and the found a massive nail it is as well. I guess the owners from about 20 years ago had a huge nail or spike put in the tree to save it from splitting. Crazy how trees can recover and mask their wounds.
