quentyn Posted January 13, 2019 Report Share Posted January 13, 2019 i would go for a maul - you can get one in wickes for <£20 since i swapped to a maul and not an axe for splitting its much much easier. I still use a hand axe for splitting kindling but for the big stuff i have used a maul for years and havent looked back just looked on wickes website and they do 2, a wood maul for £30 and a demolition maul for £20 - get the standard demolition maul https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Fibreglass-Powastrike-Builders-Demolition-Maul/p/190342 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_seagrave Posted January 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2019 Splendid - thanks for all the help and advice. I’ll let you know how I get on. LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted January 13, 2019 Report Share Posted January 13, 2019 3 hours ago, moondoggy said: Not sure if you will be doing kindling chopping? But, this week, I have just bought one of these (as just before Christmas, I cut my thumb badly chopping kindling). https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OF_rac8FJVs The one I bought was very similar off fleabay. looks simple and easy, plus no missing fingers 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandspider Posted January 14, 2019 Report Share Posted January 14, 2019 X27 works well, but is a bit pricey. A £12 (or thereabouts) maul from Toolstation does nearly as good a job, but is heavier. I usually use the X27 as I have one, but the big old maul (or the chainsaw) come out for stubborn bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted January 14, 2019 Report Share Posted January 14, 2019 It all depends on wot ur splitting and the ammounts. I have a roughneck maul which i did quite like and split of lot of timber with it BUT the Fiskars X27 is in a completely different league and is great value for the money. U can quite literally swing it for hours almost effortlessly, i can fill a 6T dumper with it splitting in about 1hr, my best time was 45-50min but easy splitting timber.rolling down to me nicely At the moment (my age/fitness) i'll split with that far faster than an electric splitter and even some tractor splitters with the set up i have (raised bench so splitting at waist hieght and all logs on the banking above, so no bending down all the time) It swings so nice and seems so light i think it is the speed it generates. I do find it struggles on big beech, but i call big beech 4ft rounds by 18" thick and my roughneck doesnae even look at them either. I do meant to buy a better top end splitting maul sometime in the future Plenty of other very good axes/mauls at the top money and some will be better for some timber than others. There will be a massive difference between ur cheapy muals and ur top end 1's if u can swing it right in 1st place, if u can't u'll never apprecitate /notice it.( ie not catching shank on log by over swinging and always catching some of ur axe blode outside the timber, absolutley useless driving the axe head into the centre of the log) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 15, 2019 Report Share Posted January 15, 2019 There is a log splitting axe with cams on the sides to push the log apart as it drives in. Lots of good reveiws too. Chopper one axe is the one, check it out online Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted January 15, 2019 Report Share Posted January 15, 2019 You need to consider the size of logs being split when deciding which tool is best. I have found, if you are doing a lot of splitting of various diameters, you need a variety of tools. There is an excellent book called ‘Norwegian Wood’. It covers all you need to know about firewood and the tools you need to process it. The Norwegians are perhaps the world’s leading authority on firewood and produce the most amazing wood stacks. Some are amazing works of art. It also tells you which woods are good for burning and which are poor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 15, 2019 Report Share Posted January 15, 2019 Best wood I've found is dried Holly and dried Hawthorne, wish I could get Hawthorne all the time. Very hot and burns well and lasts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hod Posted January 15, 2019 Report Share Posted January 15, 2019 8 hours ago, moondoggy said: You need to consider the size of logs being split when deciding which tool is best. I have found, if you are doing a lot of splitting of various diameters, you need a variety of tools. There is an excellent book called ‘Norwegian Wood’. It covers all you need to know about firewood and the tools you need to process it. The Norwegians are perhaps the world’s leading authority on firewood and produce the most amazing wood stacks. Some are amazing works of art. It also tells you which woods are good for burning and which are poor. I'll second Norwegian Wood, if you've a love of (or even just an interest in!) firewood/stoves, it's a great read. What I'd give to have a supply of wood, somewhere to store it, and stoves like some described... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 I use a roughneck axe or a maul depending on the wood. If it's softwood or has any spongyness in it I find the depth of the cutting edge of the axe more effective as the maul can just bed in. Up until last year my house was entirely heated by wood I sourced, cut and split myself and that combination worked for me for many years. Personally I wouldn't want one without the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 If you want a good manly axe, look no further than Hultafors - Relatively inexpensive and you can sharpen them to a ridiculous edge should you want to. As has been said though, you want something to batten with - Something to split the wood and something to whack it with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenshank1 Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 I have a selection of old wooden handled felling and splitting axes and old small hatchets for kindling. I also have a Bahco hatchet for kindling that is the worse axe I have ever handled , got it free when I bought a wood grenade. I have a FISKARS X17 which is genuinely fantastic. If the X27 is better it must be a great tool. I would love one of the trendy hand made Scandinavian ones mentioned. You can never have too many axes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novice cushie shooter Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 Great advice to take from. I just started cutting and got the roughneck set from screwfix for 34 quid it will do me just now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Funker Posted January 17, 2019 Report Share Posted January 17, 2019 19 hours ago, novice cushie shooter said: Great advice to take from. I just started cutting and got the roughneck set from screwfix for 34 quid it will do me just now. It's a perfectly good set. Mine has had heavy use over 2 years and is performing fine 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted January 17, 2019 Report Share Posted January 17, 2019 It all depends on the quantities of stuff ur splitting (just 1T a year or tonnes at a time) and the type of stuff ur splitting (length and thinckness of log, wood type/species) Any axe will split small short logs esp if a nice strainght grainded timber like softwoods, ash or sycamore or sometimes willow. Its a completely different thing when u get on to bigger rounds and knotter timber. If u look at almost any video/clip of someone splitting logs (esp cheaper log splitters or axes) look at the timber, is usually nice straight timber so easily split so it makes there axe/machine look great. I'm due a splitting session soon prob got 3 or 4 6T dumper loads sitting on the bench/banking needing split I had a roughneck maul and compared to the old felling axes i was using was brilliant BUT compared to the X27 it's rubbish, not tried any of better more expensive splitting mauls yet! But they will have they're uses. I do admit the X27 struggles with big beech rings, but they are quite knotty and 3-4ft dai and 18" thick so pretty big rings really to be hand splitting but it does get there. When u put the woof grenade in it just gets stuck in the middle and does nothing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted January 18, 2019 Report Share Posted January 18, 2019 On 17/01/2019 at 17:10, scotslad said: I'm due a splitting session soon prob got 3 or 4 6T dumper loads sitting on the bench/banking needing split just a bit to keep you going then?? Sounds like your going to be busy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haynes Posted January 18, 2019 Report Share Posted January 18, 2019 On 17/01/2019 at 17:10, scotslad said: It all depends on the quantities of stuff ur splitting (just 1T a year or tonnes at a time) and the type of stuff ur splitting (length and thinckness of log, wood type/species) Any axe will split small short logs esp if a nice strainght grainded timber like softwoods, ash or sycamore or sometimes willow. Its a completely different thing when u get on to bigger rounds and knotter timber. If u look at almost any video/clip of someone splitting logs (esp cheaper log splitters or axes) look at the timber, is usually nice straight timber so easily split so it makes there axe/machine look great. I'm due a splitting session soon prob got 3 or 4 6T dumper loads sitting on the bench/banking needing split I had a roughneck maul and compared to the old felling axes i was using was brilliant BUT compared to the X27 it's rubbish, not tried any of better more expensive splitting mauls yet! But they will have they're uses. I do admit the X27 struggles with big beech rings, but they are quite knotty and 3-4ft dai and 18" thick so pretty big rings really to be hand splitting but it does get there. When u put the woof grenade in it just gets stuck in the middle and does nothing We had this kind of quantity to do last year. And after a bit of sweat and obscenities especially with knotty timber 400 quid was spent on a 10t hydraulic splitter for the tractor. I do the chainsaw work now and dad does the splitting. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_seagrave Posted January 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2019 Took delivery of my new X27 this afternoon, having ordered it from https://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/Fiskars-Fsk122503-6411501225030-X27-Splitting-Axe-Xxl?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvujrl7Tp3wIVEInICh12LAzDEAQYCSABEgLpUPD_BwE Bearing in mind I have got nothing to compare it to, I have to say I’m pretty astonished at how easily it splits conifer logs (about 10” in diameter). I only did about 20 minutes, but it was effortless, and deeply satisfying. It’s a shame it looks so plasticky though 😞 Anyway, I’m only sorry I’ve got so few logs to chop. If anyone wants a hand - I would be delighted to pop round with my new toy! LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted January 20, 2019 Report Share Posted January 20, 2019 On 12 January 2019 at 21:47, Muddy Funker said: Roughneck, from screwfix. Get the kit with comes with maul, hatchet and wood grenade (wedge) Cheap and works, had mine 2 years with lots of use still works. That's the one, mine is 5 years old and still going strong, the wood grenade got binned, it was biz, lol lol flynny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted January 20, 2019 Report Share Posted January 20, 2019 On 12/01/2019 at 19:25, Mice! said: I bought one of these a few years ago, nothing special fibre glass handle i think. question, should it be sharpened like an axe? also bought a splitting wedge, never really used either much. No, keep it blunt,more trauma = splitting force,sharp = stuck.same with kindling axe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McSpredder Posted January 20, 2019 Report Share Posted January 20, 2019 3 hours ago, flynny said: the wood grenade got binned... In the past I just used a normal felling axe, but this autumn I bought a Roughneck wood grenade to split some very tough timber with twisted grain and many knots. It did a wonderful job, for at least half an hour, and then the tip snapped off. A subsequent web search revealed that my experience was not unique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 21, 2019 Report Share Posted January 21, 2019 The best wood grenade I've used is one my dad bought. It's a twisted one with a chisel point and seratetions along its edges so it does not back out. Works great on knotty timber, but not as good as his hydraulic log splitter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabel25 Posted January 22, 2019 Report Share Posted January 22, 2019 (edited) The original OP was for an axe to split logs Do'nt think it was angled at some expensive log splitting machines on the back of tractors Best hand axe you can get ( if possible ) is an old one with an hickory shank The metel is by far more superior to modern steel I have two and must've been handed down through generarations and do the job perfect Go round some sales or car booties and you'll pick one or two up cheap as chips Let's face it the young generation would'nt know what it's for or how to use one, let alone any other hand tool unless it has a key pad and a battery Edited January 23, 2019 by sabel25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_seagrave Posted January 23, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2019 1 hour ago, sabel25 said: The original OP was for an axe to slit logs Do'nt think it was angled at some expensive log splitting machines on the back of tractors Best hand axe you can get ( if possible ) is an old one with an hickory shank The metel is by far more superior to modern steel I have two and must've been handed down through generarations and do the job perfect Go round some sales or car booties and you'll pick one or two up cheap as chips Let's face it the young generation would'nt know what it's for or how to use one, let alone any other hand tool unless it has a key pad and a battery I’ll definitely keep an eye out for the real thing. I love old tools - must be why I hang around on PW so much! A little hand axe for kindling would be just the job... LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted January 23, 2019 Report Share Posted January 23, 2019 For kindling ur almost as well just with a wee cheapy axe and keep it sharp as chances are u'll be dealing with altready split fairly short straight grained timber most likely soft wood so ur not going to need an expensive axe. But I have thought about treating myself to a small fiskars but to be honest my small axes do pretty well dunno if i'd notice any benefit (althou thats wot i thought before i got my big fiskars too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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