Splitting wood

FreeBear

I used a hydraulic log splitter to split a huge stack of logs during the summer - Made short work of all but the most gnarly lumps. Once the logs have dried out and are ready to burn, any that are too big will be split down by hand - For this, I have a long wide chisel and a heavy hammer which seems to work quite well for me.

I *think* the chisel was originally intended for use with a pneumatic jackhammer...

Ectophile

I use a log splitting maul for most things (one of these: http://www.silverlinetools.com/en-GB/Products/Hammers/Hardwood%20Shaft/633757 ). The advantage of the maul is that it's a lot less likely to get stuck in a half-split log. The point is so broad that it either splits the log or bounces off.

A good trick I discovered on YouTube is to get an old tyre. Lay it on the ground, then stuff in as many logs as will fit. Then, when you split them, the bits don't go flying off in all directions.

For smaller stuff, I use a hatchet instead. If it gets stuck in the log, I whack the back of the blade with a mallet until it's freed again.