suggestions for splitting ax

Barry H

Barry H

Joined
Nov 3, 1999
Messages
1,679
Good morning. I don't know too much about axes. Several years ago, when Gransfors were cheap, at least by todays's standards, I bought the small hatchet and carpenter hatchet they make.
I recently moved to a rural location where I can burn wood. The two GBs don't work too well for splitting. And I've tried using a splitting wedge and a maul, but I really don't like that approach.

Any budget options for a splitting axe? It won't get used too much, just occasionally quartering.

Thanks in advance
 
Barry H said:
Good morning. I don't know too much about axes. Several years ago, when Gransfors were cheap, at least by todays's standards, I bought the small hatchet and carpenter hatchet they make.
I recently moved to a rural location where I can burn wood. The two GBs don't work too well for splitting. And I've tried using a splitting wedge and a maul, but I really don't like that approach.

Any budget options for a splitting axe? It won't get used too much, just occasionally quartering.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

A maul is what I like best for just splitting. Don't really need much of an edge, just a complete brute force tool.

For occasional use, just the cheapo stuff from a hardware store has worked fine for me. Maybe a little nicer would be a fiskars splitting axe. Long handle = long leverage but harder to hit the target. Still, I get the longer handled ones anyway.

For a shorter splitter, the estwing campside maul would be a decent choice.

I know some guys like the heavy headed council tool axes for splitting so you still get American made and it has the weight to plow through a hunk of wood. So something like this guy (cheaper on different websites or hardware stores, I'm sure).

5 lbs. SB Splitting Axe; 36 in. Straight Wooden Handle – Council Tool

counciltool.com counciltool.com
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
The Council 5lb is a great splitter for anything that a maul is overkill for.
Click to expand...
2nd this!

A heavy axe is the best overall splitter. It will split most wood better and easier than a maul. Tough woods require a maul or a sledge and wedges.

Their new splitting axe:

5 lbs. SB Splitting Axe; 36 in. Straight Wooden Handle – Council Tool

counciltool.com counciltool.com

or their 6 pound flat head fire axe.

Fireman’s Flathead Axe; 36 in. Curved Wooden Handle – Council Tool

counciltool.com counciltool.com
 
I like a felling axe for the limited amount of splitting I do, which isn't much. If I were to do more I'd probably pick up whatever the midrange splitter option is at the local power supplies shop
 

Stihl Pro Splitting Axe. Made by Ochsenkopf who also sell this version with a yellow head. It has a long steel sleeve to protect the handle from damage. Best I’ve ever used and I’ve used many. I’ve split dozens of cords with this over the past 10 years and the handle is original. $109.00​

I also have the Stihl Pro Splitting Maul which is also made by Ochsenkopf. It’s awesome. Same price $109.00.​

Get these two and you’ll never need to buy another for the rest of your life.
 
I use a 5lb rafting pattern or 6lb kelly Dayton for most splitting.
If you don't mind hanging your own, the heads can be had for 25-50$, if you aren't after something with a desirable stamp that is.
 
Chopper One if you can find it. Yeah, the mechanical monstrosity with those levers that clatters when driven through a log but sends wood flying! Have an original from 1983, still works to this day. If it had the equivalent of an engine hourmeter it would probably clock well north of 50 cords split and still going strong. Of course being in my late 50s I cannot run it like I did nearly four decades ago. Probably going to build an engine driven splitter soon. ;)
 
I don’t have a lot of various experiences but I’ve used a regular maul, a single bit axe, and the fiskars 36” splitting axe. The latter is amazing. It cleaves with so little effort, and is accurate and fast. $50 new is well worth it. I’ve hit mine against the handle some from over swinging, and it’s held up real well; no damage. Lifetime warranty too, but not needed.
 
Alot of it has to do with the type of wood your splitting. I have several different axes I use for splitting.

The Stihl pro splitting axe is fantastic. I do tree work & bought it to be my wedge banger...but the profile & weight make it an excellent splitter.

I also have a Husqvarna splitting axe, made by SA Wetterlings...it's almost too nice to use. I also have a fiskars x27 and that profile is great, but those handles can have some nasty reverb and sting your hands. I'd rather a wood handle.
 
Speaking of reverb, the worst ever was from a monster maul. It was simple. A steel pipe welded to a solid steel pie slice shaped wedge. Full 15 pounds. If you overstruck a log it left you with seriously numb hands! But a good strike would split big logs and given the angle it never got stuck.

My Fiskars doesn't get stuck too often and when it does a good jerk pulls it free.
 
I've been using a maul to split wood since I was kid. A few years ago, I bought a Fiskars IsoCore 36" maul. Not a traditional looking piece, but it has performed quite well.
 
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