Author Topic: wood splitting (Read 3360 times)

Button · « **on:** April 08, 2009, 02:57:49 AM »

I gave up on my gas powered splitter two yrs ago. Been using a six lb. maul ever since. All hardwoods some 24"+. I have been thinking of trying an axe. Am I nuts ? What do you use to split ? Thanks

Weekend_Sawyer · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2009, 03:08:58 AM »

I use an ax for splitting all the time, it works great for straight graned stuff, harder around knots but can be done and doesn't wear you out as fast as an 8 or 6 lb maul. I only use a maul for big or irregular stuff and the log splitter for the real gnarly logs.

My Dad showed me how to turn my wrists tward the center of the log just as the ax head hits, flipping the split pice off, easy to do with some practise.

Jon

breederman · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2009, 06:41:25 AM »

I use a splitter on everything because I can't swing a go devil anymore. My shoulder is shot,probably from splitting wood.

Ironmower · « **Reply #3 on:** April 08, 2009, 06:59:22 AM »

Use what works best for ya, I use a "homemade" maul that weighs 19lbs.

My taking on this is, most of the time I just pick-it up and drop-it

. The hard twisted stuff gets the full swing. My buddies tell me I'm crazy, But I already know this!.... Anybody up for a splittin' contest, I have plenty to bust

Ironwood · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2009, 07:10:16 AM »

Non hydrualic SuperSplit (momentum wheel) is the best. I don't own one (I burn rounds or buy split wood), but WAY effiecent.

Ironwood

sharp edge · « **Reply #5 on:** April 08, 2009, 09:56:35 AM »

I'm with W.S. Knot to many people know about the turning part. Awhile back, in post on wood splitting, Tom explained how to do it. He didn't mention turning the axe. He must be from the south.

Also helps from getting the axe stuck and hitting the handle.

SE

mad dog · « **Reply #6 on:** April 08, 2009, 08:49:56 PM »

I had a monster mall I used for over 20 years,finally broke the handle,went to home depot bough a mall with a fiberglass handle,works good.I stand the wood up on the ground,and bend my knees.Its a free work out

okie · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2009, 10:16:22 PM »

Get a sawmill, saw lumber all summer and burn the slabs come winter

Works great for me

Weekend_Sawyer · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2009, 04:10:15 AM »

Yea to the slabs, I split them once with my short handled ax so they can fit in the stove door, sometimes I split a small pice off of each side so I have kindling.

I remember Tom's post about wood splitting. Up until then I thought Dad was the only one who knew about the wrist flickin wood splittin method. Wow that sounds almost like "The Quick Pickin, Fun Strummin Home Guitar Course" Kenney Rodgers used to advertise.

My mind does tend to wander
Jon

thecfarm · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2009, 08:30:37 AM »

Button,you would be nuts to try an axe on some of the wood that I split.I use to use iron wedges and a sledge hammer.Beech does not split too well.Never forget the time one of my brother's friends and me went to help him split wood.He was a big know it all guy.He walked up to a piece of beech,I think,and gave it about 6 good whacks with his splitting maul and I just stood there watching him.The maul just about bounced of it.He stopped and said,Boy that splits hard.I handed him a wedge and said,Try this. He looked at it funny and said,I never seen one of them. I only weighted about 110 than.But I opened that piece of wood up easy with the wedges.He was convinced than.Little did I know,my brother was watching all this and was laughing at watching his friend trying to open up that beech with just a maul.Than to top of it all off a skinny 16 year old kid had to tell a 25 year old how to split wood.
I have split 4 foot wood this way too.Now that's a work out.Much easier to haul it out in what ever length and saw it up in stove wood length and than split it.This is wood that measure 2 feet across.I went and bought a splitter when we built the house here.We have a cook stove and the wood splits easy,but I prefer it small to load easier.This wood an axe would work fine.When we use to split and fill up my Grandmother's wood shed there was 4 of us doing it.I worked for about and hour on it,came in the house and said,We're buying a splitter.Now with the outdoor wood furnace I use it to split pine with.Glad I bought it.

rbhunter · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2009, 02:20:41 PM »

I use an 8# maul buy only because my son broke the handle out of my 6# maul. The second time on the third peice of wood to be split with it. I like the 6# maul better.

I brought a 4# maul shaped something like and axe when my son was a little younger but I hate it. Come to think of it I think I will throw it in the next garage sale.

woodsteach · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2009, 02:47:08 PM »

My students used scrap metal and built me a 22 lb!!! mega/monster maul. Yep, its a workout but after 20 minutes I have enough for a week and that is what we heat our house with. 99% of the time one hit and that is all except for dry red elm and that is taking 2-3 hits.

It seems to me that the maul mimics the twist of the axe method that you are talking about.

woodsteach

CLL · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2009, 04:24:38 PM »

I had a man when I was young that told me he was going to pay me $3.00 hr, to split some wood for him. Thats when good pay was $2.00 hr., so I jumped on it. Things was going great and I only lacked 4 or 5 pieces of being done when I happened across a piece of dry sycamore, I had never split sycamore before so, after three wedges and the axe all stuck in the same 16" piece, and watching me stuggle for fourty five minutes the guy come out and paid me. He was laughing the whole time, I wasn't!!!!!!!! Moral of story, if you live in Missouri don't split wood with white bark.

beenthere · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2009, 04:43:02 PM »

woodsteach
Gotta pic of that maul? or better yet, a short video using it

ErikC · « **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:31:02 PM »

I heat with wood and split it all by hand. I use a 6 lb maul, if that won't do it reasonably I cut into it with the saw. I like using a 3 1/2lb axe once it's broke down a little. I must say, I am pretty good with the axe, using a similar method to that above. If you're doing it right you make it look easy, because it is pretty easy if you do it right.
This is not a matter of pride by the way, I just haven't wanted to buy a woodsplitter that bad on the same day I wanted to spend a bunch of money....but sooner or later everything will line up in my favor.

woodsteach · « **Reply #15 on:** April 09, 2009, 08:15:17 PM »

Quote from: beenthere on April 09, 2009, 04:43:02 PM

woodsteach
Gotta pic of that maul? or better yet, a short video using it

I can get a pix but am digital video ignorant on posting them.

I am not bragging about the 22 lbs. It was an accident.

I was supposed to be 14-16 lbs but the construction of the head is either 4 or 5 1" plate. So I gave demo's on v-groving a weld and then filling the grove then to finish off the sides we had to cap weld so that we could grind the sides smooth.
So with all of the extra welds the weight added up to more than I wanted but it works for now.

woodsteach

Ironmower · « **Reply #16 on:** April 10, 2009, 06:48:17 AM »

I would like too see this method in action, maybe Jon will stop by and show me

Not to old too learn sumthin' new!

........I'm one of those guys that think, bigger is better

.............Splittin' wood is my self perscribed anger managment program

Weekend_Sawyer · « **Reply #17 on:** April 10, 2009, 12:07:48 PM »

I'd be happy to.... saaaaay is this some scheme to get me to split your wood for ya

Actually I have always liked splitting wood. It's a good thing too, I burned almost 7 cords this year and it ain't quite over yet.

My brothers and I were helping a neighbor split some small stuff and we were stacking 2 logs on top of eah other and trying to split them both in one swing. Worked most of the time too.

Jon

Ironmower · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2009, 07:00:36 AM »

DanG, your smarter than most of these fellas 'round here

....Thats how I like to split wood, get acouple guys together and I'll say man I can't bust that one. Then I'll say I bet you can't bust it either, then its on!........My wood will be split in no time

....It takes them awhile to figure it out, but its lots of fun

....We also stand multiple pieces and bust them, as you say works most of the time

.....We started a new game about 6 years ago, we call it "logball"; find a nice heavy piece and toss it back-n-forth startin at 10ft apart, who ever drops the log loses

... Its alittle rough on the forarms

........Ya, we get bored sum times

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Author Topic: wood splitting (Read 3360 times)

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