Ok cheers. i have a shitload of logs, björk, tall and graner , birch, pine, and fur in english i believe! i want a Swedish tool of course to chop em up. WWSTWD?
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And there are a shedload more where they came from!
Loads of fir on the plot that need chainsawing down too
Gransfors Bruks splitting axe.
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I have one, but it's a bit of a garage queen tbh 🙂 My Husqvarna one does most of the work at half the price. Wetterlings also do an identical pattern to Husqvarna, as do Hults Bruk/Hultafors.
It has long been rumoured that Husqvarna traditional style axes are Wetterlings seconds.
Log grenades are imo, the most utterly useless tool. No control of split direction and too penetraty.. I've'nailed' rounds to my block a few times. Roughneck twist wedge or just a straight wedge, far far superior.
Is it this one Jimjam?
http://www.husqvarna.com/se/reservdelar-tillbehor/yxor/klyvyxa/576926701/
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Yeah that's the one. Just put some electrical tape or rubber gasket tape behind the head to protect the shaft from over strikes and it's a fantastic tool. That being said Gransfors Bruks is the Rolls Royce of axes, you might be able to get them cheaper than over here.
I've never really got the hang of wedges. Usually goes squint when I hit it. I can get through most things with the maul (including monster rounds that I could not lift) and when I've got a heap of impossibles, they get added back to the heap for chainsawing.
I use the Granfors Bruks exclusively for my own splitting duties. It is a beautifully made and balanced bit of kit. I also like the built in guard below the head which is keeping the handle in very good condition. I also like the Fiskars axes as they are well made and have a consistent shape to split most wood when teaching kids on our camps to chop wood (whole other topic that one).
The pattern on the Husky can be a bit more interesting to use in wood that has a less than straight grain, but 90% of the tie it is excellent.
Whatever you do don't go for the maul and it is not the right tool for the job. All other suggestions would be better. (my twopenneth)
Log grenades are imo, the most utterly useless tool.
Nonsense.
Swedish test results of various splitting axes
Gränsfors best followed by fiskars. Gränsfors' shaft got Low points for strength, highest for edge quality and removing it from wood.
Shaft length is important, too. Too short coupled with a low chopping block and you'll find you bend on every stroke. The X27 is 960mm iirc and is easy to use fully upright with something like a 15cm block/stump.
Something to bear in mind.
I’ve split a lot of wood over the last ten yrs particularly in the early yrs setting up my log business. We’ve got a Thor 13 tonne splitter for splitting stuff that won’t go through a processor. It’s pretty impressive.
For Home duties I am now using a fiskars x27 and a tyre screwed onto a chopping block after trying out various axes over the yrs. I hate big heavy wedge mauls as swinging them all day means swinging excessive weight about. You get the same effect with a small weight swung at a higher speed and it’s easier on the body in my experience. Keep it sharpish.
Before the fiskars my favourites were the bahco 2lb hickory handled splitting maul, (a
Bahco MCP-2.5-810 Maul 5.1/2lb)
again, it’s a lightish less severe angled maul that’s ruthlessly effective. The only problem with them is using the tyre method you get a lot of overhits which damage the wood handle. In our early days we used a couple of these to do all our firewood before we mechanised. We did get through a few of them though and the handles aren’t easy to come by and replacements I’ve tried mean the feel isn’t the same.
We also tried the husqvarna axe shown earlier in this thread. It is still in the shed. It just gets stuck in wood too often and isn’t half as effective as either the bahco or the fiskars. It isn’t quite heavy enough and has a too fine profile. It’s fine on ash if it’s not too stringy but the hassle splitting logs is getting the axe stuck. That’s why people like mauls. In reality there’s something in between like a bahco or a fiskars.
I’ve just been banging through some dried beech and oak rings I’ve accumulated for Home with the fiskars and it really works.
How do you keep them sharp?
Thanks for the advice folks. As Neil alludes to, I have a bad back. I've been using a maul for a while now, care of Screwfix.
There is a big price difference between a top end splitting axe and even the cheapest log splitter. I'm prepared to give the splitting axe a go if I feel that it is suitable for me, a 55 y.o with incipient arthritis 🙁
We run a hydraulic 9 tonner off the tractor. Very efficient bit of kit, but obviously not for everyone (it's also £2.5k).
A great back saver, though, is a sappie. Well worth the £35!
Ambrose, I know you and know the truth about not beating up your body, so either save for a decent splitter IF you're scrounging enough wood. If not then pace yourself with the x27. You are tall, its light and long handled and great performing for its reasonable cost.
Pine won't trouble it, even notty bits.
I also suggest a pickaroon/hookaroon/log pick/sappie. It saves lot of bending, is good for moving rounds and splits. I have the Bison one which is highly thought of, although the handle is utter bobbins, so you'll rehang it on a nice bit of ash or hickory.
And to nobeer, it's my opinion, I'm offering a view and caveating it as my view. Your view differs. I have a grenade and have used it a fair bit in different species of troublesome wood, I have 2 roughneck twist wedges and I have another straight wedge. If anyone wants a grenade they can have mine, it's of no use to me. I also know people that process far more wood then me that share my view
Just thought Ambrose, I also suggest a pair of thin gloves when swinging the axe, I've used cycling gloves and now use gents black leather gloves, they don't need to be thick. They give a nice bit of extra vibration absorption and stop wood splinters.
Niel- re: gloves. I'm already on it 🙂
To how's your dad, just use a file to sharpen, the metal is soft enough that a file is very swift.
Firewood processors can be hired, with or without operator.
We can probably do a couple of ton of cord wood in an hour on the processor. Not for hire though, but there are others that do.
Or light wooden handled maul with a tall enough block and someone to place logs to make it really easy. Just need to keep it in sync so you don't take their hand off.
How do you keep them sharp?
If you go for the Fiskars they have their own brand sharpener that makes it very convenient and easy to retain the same angle. Not being one for that sort of in house thing I was undecided at first but thought £12 was naff all so bought one. A few swipes through the groove after a session and the edge is kept impressively sharp.
There are probably cheaper versions of that particular sharpener but it's a nice addition to the tool. Whether or not you need it that sharp is a whole other debate...
https://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/Fiskars-Xsharp-6411501207401-Sharpener-For-Your-Axe-Or-Knife
cheers teasel, I saw that last night and took the plunge. a fiskars x27 and sharpener is on its way. thanks for the guidance I love this place...!
You won't regret it, man - it's a nice tool to use.
Don't forget to register the product on their website in case you need to take advantage of their warranty.
i have no experience of log splitting- i have done it once, but all this talk is getting me envious. Never knew there was so much to it. I can see how some really get into the technology and techniques involved. Anyway, as you were.
no experience here either! I like the look of the tyre technique for splitting... works well+
now I just need to get the fallen trees into manageable pieces for splitting!
15cm block/stump.
oops - that was supposed to be 15 inches not cm.
I've just ordered the x25 and sharpener - most of my logs are smaller than the x27 suggests, so think the 25 will be fine..
I've a small hatchet for kindling, adn a BIG maul type axe for bigger logs anyway...
Do you reckon the fiskars sharpener will be fine for ALL my axes?
DrP
Do you reckon the fiskars sharpener will be fine for ALL my axes?
It's just a simple ceramic wheel sharpener with a plastic guide for either axe or knife. As long as your other axes have an angle that fits within the guide you should be fine. Too large and you'll chew up the plastic but hopefully you won't get that far along before realising.
Gränsfors maul user here. Does what it is supposed to. Can't say fairer than that. Likely to outlive me and my son will be inheriting it. So when we are out working together it does gather sentimental value too.
I like to chop most days as I find it quite enjoyable. If I need logs rapid then I concentrate on the straight grain stuff. More time and just want out the house I concentrate on the knottier stuff. If you don't like/have the room for logs lying around a splitter is probably the answer. That's if you can be bothered getting it out/setting it up etc. I cant. I enjoy the shear simplicity and reward that comes with the maul and manual labour. It is very surprising the amount you can get through when you get in the swing of it.
Using the maul lets me catch up with the children too. They load onto the chopping block, then gather and stack. Between blows we have great talks and laughs. I think this side of it would be lost with a machine.
I picked the Gränsfors over an X25/27 as I wanted a more traditional tool made by a craftsman. Not a plastic modern affair. Saw that as a bit of an intrusion into a timeless activity. (Yes yes I use a chainsaw) but it is nice to have a last bastion of simplicity in your life.
The cost I reasoned would be worth it because of the longevity.
the scheppach hl450 is what you need for light domestic use
The scheppach hl520 for bigger stuff or a scheppach hl710 for splitting an entire forest
I import scheppach and have some ex demo stock to clear based in brighouse a ross from the red rooster
Happy to help those interested
Prices from £130 all sold with full 12 mth warranty
I like my log splitter and the thought of swinging an axe instead of using it seems like hard work.
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Each to their own.
[url= https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/28/modern-tribes-woodburner-bore-catherine-bennett ]yawn[/url]
DrP, Fiskars said you didn't need the biggest axe, so you didn't buy the biggest axe? So disappointed.
Reviving thread alert! I split this lot yesterday using a maul. It took just under 15 minutes and I was wearing a baby in a papoose on my back. He loves it.
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giantalkali - Member
I split this lot yesterday using a maul. I
Impressive. Here's a nut I cracked yesterday 😆
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I've an electro-hydraulic splitter; it is faster and neater than any of my collection of axes and mauls. If you're seriously heating a house by wood an axe and maul is just a way of keeping fit in my view.
i just bought a 4 tonne one from machine mart around £200
day off in the week to test it out
Just moved into a house with a wood burner, so all this manly talk of wood splitting is great. But... what’s the difference between a maul and an axe for splitting logs?
Rickos - MemberJust moved into a house with a wood burner, so all this manly talk of wood splitting is great. But... what’s the difference between a maul and an axe for splitting logs?
Size, weight and blade profile. Most people confuse the terms. A splitting axe is what you want for splitting logs and the work of a maul is better done with wedges and a sledge hammer.
spitting axe* [ thinish sharpish lightish] for nice thin[ish] pine/soft wood that will split very easily/first hit
Maul* [ wide ish heavish ish not as sharp] for when it wont actually spit first time you hit it but I also a agree a wedge or grenade and sledgey is better for that
* you could chop a tree down with a splitting axe you could not with a maul -
Junkyard - lazarusspitting axe* [ thinish sharpish lightish] for nice thin[ish] pine/soft wood that will split very easily/first hit
Not even. I've used the splitting axe for logs 18-20 inches in diameter, all varieties.
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The log the splitting axe is in started off bigger than the splitting stump it's resting on - it was longer than the saw bar which is 18" give or take.
what he has not said is that is 45 minutes into his efforts with that one log 😉
Its all relative but you will find wood that only a log splitter will do and almost no one professional, who only sells wood, uses just an axe *
I know some tree surgeons who will chop wood on a day off to make money but no one who does only that for a living is splitting it by hand
Honestly, carrying a baby while wielding heavy axes/mauls with force sounds like a completely idiotic thing to do. But having no children, am quite prepared to be told I'm wrong.
Junkyard - lazarus
what he has not said is that is 45 minutes into his efforts with that one log
It took me however long it takes me to swing the axe 10 or 15 times. No idea how long that is but it would have taken me longer and cost more effort and caused more pain with a maul.
As per my earlier post I turned 9 60ft cypress into firewood in less than two days.
Ambrose, you could always hire the splitter from Knight and Brenchly in Goresinon.
I hire it for one weekend a year usually and it's brilliant. Does my winter's wood.
01792 891410
