I want to get a chainsaw, but the wife is refusing as she says she has to sow too many arms & legs back on / amputate after professionals and DIY'rs have had a go with a chainsaw.
I have one and hate using it. If you must, get all the safety gear and go on a course.
+1 for granfors, I like a company where the craftsman signs his work
So unless I have miss read your post you have talked about splitting. How do you cut across the grain ie the length of the log? Can these Maul things do that?
Maul splits with the grain i.e. lengthways. To get down to useable lengths a bowsaw as suggested by glenp. If you find yourself with a huge tree to saw up in short order find someone who has the chainsaw, the protective gear, the training etc. they are nasty things even in experienced hands.
Salsaboys link for Granfors covers a lot of safety info in a short segment. Mr Mears strikes again.
Granfors are great but over priced
Try a Fiskars Super Splitting Axe
Been splitting firewood / working in forestry for 26 years - hate 'wood grenades, never got on with them, much prefer wedges
One great tip I came across recently was to get two tyres and wired them together, place on a splitting block and then place the wood to be split inside the tyres. This allows you to use the splitting maul without sending lumps of wood flying from one side of the yard to the other! You're never to old to learn!
Apologies for the late reply. Yes, I do have a few chainsaws, and I'd agree that they can be dangerous, but are very useful if used with care.
For the volume of wood that I cut, a chainsaw is pretty well essential. I cross cut to about 18" - 24" length. For stuff over 30" diameter, or severely knotted, I usually run a starter cut with the grain, about 3" deep, which I then 'throw' the maul into. Longitudinal cutting is a little bit more awkward than cross cutting, so best left to experienced users.
When splitting wood I usually cross cut a load of logs, then stand them up together, in a circle, so that they support each other, big diameter logs evenly throughout the bunch. Then I work my way in from the periphery, moving round the circular bunch. Stop and pick up /throw into the trailer as appropriate.
This is the greatest thread I've ever read. Seriously.
Reckon I'll start with a medium sized axe and see how I get on. How much should I spend / any particular things to look out for in a good axe?
No! get a maul. It's the cheapest and most effective tool for splitting logs. axes and hatchets all have their place, but this is not the job they are designed to do. felling axes can get stuck and you'll do a mischief trying to get it free. I have over 30 years experience of this including on a commercial scale with a PTO processor, so I hope I've picked a little up along the way.
If you get a chainsaw expect to pay as much again on PPE; Boots, snaggy troos, helment and visor, check shirt.
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