Splitting wood

oligopoly

Hi. Bought a large bag of hardwood a couple of months ago. I cherry picked the smaller bits for my small log burner but a lot of what's remaining is huge. I'm struggling to get it to burn unless the fire is properly roaring and some of the biggest bits won't comfortably fit in. So which tool is best to split these into smaller chunks? Axe? Maul? I've seen those 'grenade' splitter tools. Could that be the way forward? Advice welcome - the easiest and safer the better!

poppasmurf_bewdley

oligopoly wrote: »

Hi. Bought a large bag of hardwood a couple of months ago. I cherry picked the smaller bits for my small log burner but a lot of what's remaining is huge. I'm struggling to get it to burn unless the fire is properly roaring and some of the biggest bits won't comfortably fit in. So which tool is best to split these into smaller chunks? Axe? Maul? I've seen those 'grenade' splitter tools. Could that be the way forward? Advice welcome - the easiest and safer the better!

The size you are holding is a good size to burn. It should last longer that size than if it was cut into two.

But if you want to start chopping, do as I did and get this from Screwfix:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-log-splitter-set-3-pieces/48279

It contains everything you need. It's very good quality and an excellent price.

oligopoly

I appreciate that sort of size is good for a nice, long burn but i find the smaller offcuts are important as a middle ground between kindling and the big stuff. Or perhaps I'm just doing it wrong! I'm quite new to this.

Thanks for the link - that's a good price. It's my birthday soon so maybe I'll treat myself :-)

davemorton

If you only buy one thing from that set, buy a maul. Invaluable when it comes to splitting logs.

DREKLY

how about a nice hand axe ? !



Product summary

600g Hand Axe

• Features: Suitable for professionals and casual DIY-ers
• Dimensions: (H)37.8, (W)13.2, (D)2.3cm
• Colour: Silver and yellow
• Material: Carbon steel
• Quantity in pack: 1
• Handle details: Nonslip rubber grip
• Age restrictions: Due to age restrictions this product cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18.
• Head material: Carbon steel

Full details


Hand Axe - 600g 875869

(17)
£9.49

http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/diy/knives-axes-and-cutting-tools?facet=ads_f10083_ntk_cs:Axe&cm_mmc=PPC-_-Summit-Google-_-NonBrand-_-DIY&_$ja=tsid:49594|cid:199563524|agid:15478348724|tid:kwd-19690465764|crid:146128885878|nw:g|rnd:10445781411302830894|dvc:c|adp:1o3&gclid=CjwKEAiAlNbEBRCv9uy4j4SWrgwSJAB5MqJFbCWWwjZj9YTFHHG9un0uLEjefAuNcUC3X0q8SDQ1pRoCj5rw_wcB

footyguy

Or a 700g one with a traditional wooden handle for almost half the cost :money:

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Landscaping/d130/Log+Splitting/sd3179/Hardwood+Hand+Axe/p49941

Greenfires

Neither of those are really intended for splitting logs, though you might get away with it if the wood isn't too dry or knotty. A splitting axe has a completely different profile to force the wood apart - a felling or limbing axe is much more slender and is likely to get stuck in the wood if you're trying to split with it.

I use a Gransfors Bruks splitting axe which will last a lifetime, but they're expensive. I also split a lot of logs. A cheaper but still good quality alternative is one of the Fiskars range - I reckon it's better to spend a little bit more and get the right tool for the job than save a bit and struggle with the wrong one.

PasturesNew

It's not that big, I'd get a £4-5 saw and just saw them down - a saw you can use for other things, anything meatier will only have one use, so you won't get your money's worth out of it

A saw's really easy to choose/source too.

footyguy

Greenfires wrote: »

Neither of those are really intended for splitting logs,....

Really?



Although it would work even better, imo, if there was another log underneath the one being chopped.

DIY'er Reviewer




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Great for wood
2 Dec 2016
By djo173
caerphilly

" Use this for splitting wood for the fire, does the job well and not over dear. "


4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/forge-steel-hickory-handle-axe-1-lb/2026c

It's what most people used back in the days of coal fires to produce their sticks.

As for lasting a lifetime, the one I linked to previously (which is about half the price of this one) comes with a lifetime guarantee (registration required)
Or you can pay about 20x more for the one you described :cool:

Greenfires

Exactly - a hatchet that people would use for making kindling - not for splitting logs. I've got about 15 cubic metres of logs in the round drying at the moment - most of it will dry under cover in IBC cages for a year before coming home and being split for the store. I honestly can't imagine attacking it with a hand hatchet. Also in the picture the head is well buried in the wood - which hasn't split! A splitting axe would have bust it apart well before going in that far.

Yep - as I said the Gransfors isn't cheap. But it's hand made, I can find the blacksmith who forged it if I went out to Sweden as his initials are on it, and when it's seen my working days out, my son will be able to use it. I spent many years working in the woods full time so I possibly see tools like this a bit differently to many people.

maisie_cat

Another vote for hand axe and a larger log underneath, I love splitting logs, great for stress relief!
Do not do what my next door neighbour did and use a screwdriver and a hammer to try and split a log. I nearly wet myself when I saw him, sadly he is an engineer for BA, slightly worried about airplane maintenance now....