Splitting wedge information???

A

atomicjoe23

Joined
Mar 1, 2011
Messages
273
Could anyone point me in the right direction to find information on splitting wedges?

I was talking to an old-timer at work the other day and he mentioned Michigan pattern (as well as one other type) of splitting wedges and how they were shaped. . .

. . .I have a bunch of wood that I would like to split and shape using traditional techniques. . .kinda like this guy

http://www.cleftoak.co.uk/

but I have no experience with this kind of stuff; the most experience I have is using a steel wedge from Home Depot to split some stubborn rounds that wouldn't cooperate no matter how much I tried to persuade them with my splitting axe.

Thanks!
 
Old Jimbo uses a hatchet and wooden wedges (he made the wedges with the hatchet and battonned them in):

14splittoend.jpg

from http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/tinyhatchets2.html
 
I saw a short magazine article on that guy, maybe you did too, that put me on the lookout for wedges. After failing to find any used metal splitting wedges anywhere and not wanting to pay the $12+ tax each for new ones, I decided to just use a couple old nameless, beat up axe heads and some plastic falling wedges that I already had on hand. I think the plastic will be a bit more forgiving to the wood. Going to try it out on some 40" oak rounds Sunday...
As for patterns of wedges I don't know, never heard of that. Not sure exactly what purpose they would serve in using a wedge, especially for splitting.
 
Apparently the shape/profile of the wedges keeps the wedges from shooting out. . .due to the forces the log exerts on the wedges.
 
Depends on what you are splitting, how big the pieces to be split are, hardness of the wood, and the effort that you are going to give to the overall process.

Usually your generic 8 inch wedge with sledge hammer will do. But all depends on what you have going on.

I remember one time I had to "walk the plank" across a creek to go, drop the tree, buck it, cut it up, split it, and then carry it out piece by piece to my old mans pick up. So it was light going.

All kinds of diiferent factors go into the right axe, hatchet, wedge, etc. I dont know if there is a text book answer.
 
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