Best type of Splitting Axe

onyerbikepat

Sorry if covered before. I am looking to buy a new wood splitting axe. I see these so called Splitting Mauls on youtube.
Are these much better than my old trusted axe?
Where is a good place to source them in Ireland and what make would you recomend?

http://www.wiltonbash.com/products/splitting-mauls/

Quick question also - Do you keep your log splitting axe sharpened? Someone was saying to recently that it deoesnt really matter for splitting heavy logs.

Rovi

I've been using a Wetterlings Splitting Maul for the last few years:
http://www.wetterlings.com/splitting-maul/


It is without doubt the best maul/splitting axe I've ever used.


I ordered one of these recently though, I'll report on how it works when I get it:
http://www.vipukirves.fi/english/description.htm

ford2600

Rovi wrote: »

I've been using a Wetterlings Splitting Maul for the last few years:
http://www.wetterlings.com/splitting-maul/


It is without doubt the best maul/splitting axe I've ever used.


I ordered one of these recently though, I'll report on how it works when I get it:
http://www.vipukirves.fi/english/description.htm

Axes with narrow taper are for knocking trees.

The maul is much wider and is for splitting. They never get stuck. Best money you will spend for firewood production.

Frosty morning nothing like it

onyerbikepat

Thanks Rovi. I meant to post this in the Forestry section, so you can move it if you like.
Where did you buy the Wetterlings Maul?
I saw the fancy lookling one (Vipukirves) on Youtube too. Don't know of it would be good for the wrists though.

Rovi

I got the Wetterlings maul from Rutlands in the UK:
http://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+woodworking-hand-tools-axes-log-splitting-mauls-splitting-maul-wetterlings+gd1411

On the Leveraxe site they do say:

The Leveraxe is used just like an ordinary axe but with the difference that the handle should not be squeezed with full grip when the axe hits the wood. This loose grip on the handle allows for the rotational movement to happen and avoids straining hands.

... so we'll see how that works out

Rovi

onyerbikepat wrote: »

Thanks Rovi. I meant to post this in the Forestry section, so you can move it if you like.

Done

CJhaughey

I saw those Vikipurves a few years ago, they were a hell of a price though, in the order of 150 or so.
Let us know how you get on with it?
I have a plastic/GRP handled splitting maul, this one has lasted well and seems to work well.
It may be worn out after the load of stuff It has to split yet!

gozunda

Not a splitting axe but I find one of these a great job for thick pieces of wood

Oldtree

I tried lots of the above tools but the toll on the wrists over a few years wasn't good. My favourite was a fiberglass axe. I cut the rings into easy to split sizes. I have since moved onto a pto logsplitter and can get through in a third of the time and split the most difficult wood easily. If you have a lot to do each year then some sort of logsplitter will help you no end.

The one I have:
http://mlarge.com/shop/machinery/log-splitters/thor-log-splitters/thor-13-ton-farmer-tractor-hydraulic-logsplitter.html

monkeynuz

I use french leborgne splitting axes 2.5kg they do do heavier ones but I wouldn't want to swing anything heavier. They are very well made but not sure if they are available here, I got my first one 15 years ago and got my father to get me another one while he was in France last year it is a slightly different design but still good, they have fibreglass/grp handles.

With regards sharpening, yes keep it sharp with a rub of a cigar stone or oilstone now and again.

Always best to split very green wood or wait until it is fully seasoned but splitting green means it seasons faster.

onyerbikepat

gozunda wrote: »

Not a splitting axe but I find one of these a great job

I have one of these. They'are a good job alright for the really tough ones.

Reindeer

I found the FISKARS X27 maul to be surprisingly effective. I've used several types before, and that was the easiest by far. But, I haven't seen any for sale here in Ireland. It can be ordered from the UK, though, and on ebay.

O.A.P

gozunda wrote: »

Not a splitting axe but I find one of these a great job for thick pieces of wood

I have 6 splitting wedges, 4 of them are older than me but are by far the better ones.
I have looked at that wedge a few times in different dealers it looks the business but is around 20 euro so I have never got one . If it works well in big rings and saves noodling (cutting a ring in half or quarters ) worth it I suppose.

kay 9

Reindeer wrote: »

I found the FISKARS X27 maul to be surprisingly effective. I've used several types before, and that was the easiest by far. But, I haven't seen any for sale here in Ireland. It can be ordered from the UK, though, and on ebay.

Caulfields in Galway are doing fiskars gear I was happy to see the other day didn't get a price mind.

gozunda

O.A.P wrote: »

I have 6 splitting wedges, 4 of them are older than me but are by far the better ones.
I have looked at that wedge a few times in different dealers it looks the business but is around 20 euro so I have never got one . If it works well in big rings and saves noodling (cutting a ring in half or quarters ) worth it I suppose.

Well worth the 20 euro though in think I got mine a fair bit cheaper than that. It saves a huge amount of time and effort to be honest especially with large rings or difficult to split lengths. Easy to use once you figure out mechanics of the the wedge. It will exploit any natural cracks or lines of weakness faster than anything else.

viztopia

gozunda wrote: »

Not a splitting axe but I find one of these a great job for thick pieces of wood

Never seen one of these before. Where did you get it?

monkeynuz

Most creameries and hardware stores will have them. I prefer the older more conventional splitting wedges and ones that aren't made in China.

Oldtree

I got mine in the local hardwear store.

gozunda

viztopia wrote: »

Never seen one of these before. Where did you get it?

There are wedges of various quality out there. The one that I have is the Roughneck Wood Grenade splitting wedge. There are others I have seen that whilst similar are as not as well made. I got it on an Irish hardware site with a number of other things & no postage. This type of wedge works very differently to traditional flat style wedges which I also have.

Rovi

Wetterlings also do this splitting wedge:
http://www.wetterlings.com/splitting-wedge/


It's serrated down one side and smooth on the other, and the whole thing has a twist along its length.

I got one when I was getting the maul, and while I haven't had to use it very much, it makes short work of stupidly knotty stuff.

monkeynuz

A lot of the use for wedges is when doing the continental method of log splitting, cut a log to one metre then split it down the length then season it for 2-3 years then cut to length, they do most of the splitting with wedges, or used to anyway. that way the timber stacks better while seasoning.

CJhaughey

Those Wood grenades work well though, very impressive splitting power out of a smallish wedge.
Cheap too, I painted mine bright orange so I can find it in the mess.
Actually I have done it to a lot of my stuff now and it seems to work well.

Nekarsulm

Bought this splitting maul from the local hardware shop. German made, writing has worn off now, but it was "spaltz" something or other. about 20 euro, and its very effective.

deckycoop

how did the lever axe fair out rovi

Rovi

deckycoop wrote: »

how did the lever axe fair out rovi

Haven't got it yet!

I think yer man that makes them is something of a one-man-band, so production rates aren't high.
I have no work for it at the moment anyway, so I'm not jumping up and down shouting at him looking for it.
I'll post back here whenever it does appear

Rovi

And so, it came to pass, that the postman delivered a package:








It certainly looks and feels like a really well made piece of kit.

Of course, I have nothing worthy of challenging it here handy at the moment, but it practically fell through a couple of bits of spruce I found.
That said, those bits of spruce would probably split with a belt of a brush handle

I have some windfelled oak to ring up soon, so I've give it a proper test then.

wayoutwest

Good luck with the yoke on the oak.......if you don't report back we will take it that you've shattered your wrists and are unable to type.
Best o' luck- WoW.

r3nu4l

I've been waiting for ages to find out if these things are any good Rovi, looking forward to your report!

Oldtree

That is a gorgeous piece of kit.

BlueSpud

Well, how does it fare when used on a tougher block like beech, with knots....

GY A1

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Bought this splitting maul from the local hardware shop. German made, writing has worn off now, but it was "spaltz" something or other. about 20 euro, and its very effective.

great job that one

TheBody

Might be a piece of junk but Lidl are selling a sledge and an axe for €14.99 each.

http://www.lidl.ie/en/Offers.htm?action=showDetail&id=11968

Fiskar

In my humble opinion these are the mutts nuts

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiskars-122500-Splitting-Axe-X27/dp/B004J46YY4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409518175&sr=8-1&keywords=fiskars+splitting+axe+x27

Have one over 4 years and an x17 pro splitting axe for the small stuff.

BreadnBuddha

Fiskar wrote: »

In my humble opinion these are the mutts nuts

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiskars-122500-Splitting-Axe-X27/dp/B004J46YY4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409518175&sr=8-1&keywords=fiskars+splitting+axe+x27

Have one over 4 years and an x17 pro splitting axe for the small stuff.

The Husqvarna composite handled axes are well worth a look. I think they are much nicer to handle and the splitting axe version I have (same kind of size as X17) has a decent guard for any overstrikes and that kind of thing.

http://www.husqvarna.com/uk/accessories/chainsaw-accessories/husqvarna-s1600/