Splitting Logs

madlyn

I have narrowed it down to these.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6LB-LOG-SPLITTING-TREE-FELLING-CHOPPER-WOOD-MAUL-AXE-WITH-HICKORY-SHAFT-HANDLE/382121558675?epid=1352557539&_trkparms=ispr=1&hash=item58f8384293:g:Ul4AAOSwleBf4zTK&amdata=enc:AQAFAAACcBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%2Fn%2BzU5L90Z278x5ickkxFtV7J5P58ubuVigtBH%2Fe9Pa9R1%2FbJQvCeJDqlgbWPUgWO7e1DMyrVrq8fuJCCr7ov7e3euROAOo3cSunSRYSyOCw3ctM28J7tv1KjgBWKZRnelN2prMenzZtWXj%2FXQWIl%2FiO4hgCiofA4mWKx9bNyVa1jirsR32EM55R%2FDKths6gWNpsQoTtLOSm2Nec1XbDVQHiWHjgqdRC1tfRM38s7nToMbObI1fUvabj%2BA2Pl6Wa0EuFEGS7Xz5gkDFAirHN387x05iG8NcH4ibk7PdTKbHWfZDUrF32ZCrs%2BNTM%2Fge4YBWO7O5rUZ2mmABuUmTUVWsNpQUQmuL0e19%2Bfo6zPd2mINwaPXf1p0bI%2FNHCKwu9sHVXRZIgNFTkqGQQlWDarV7FrMPeDm2rJ8k8QAEfdXfzhgJuX%2F55dq09QF2ArygCr31ExOfXqK45oyKkuDotqObogfpitQYR2OAEKCaqvBYUQlqiaT2QqqtUmOgIttGBcobyavLiukr4xha2aD8am%2FeG0i8TwDNqETMNxlc50CUEMq6P%2BG1f5bg00Me3pirAZo6NSo3PVcoQIefzFEJE4cVkp%2FINpgvtu93TvbnuVGlGlt8Sjsxv8tHRFLVxlVPwF8QMq%2FddOwI0H4TIwxDya54%2BzKa0xsclzO6NNDBR6VVPibGILIygTmR77UXnDsjsHpasJdMFW8LRkZYCxWPTeKxug2TOh9qahbZIblhoEMPrAMzXXLVpgqk8We5cfJ1vWqmgzbT2zwRzKq%2BuHl6gNG1CyBejLc%2FtRvn9su0qw%3D%3D|cksum:382121558675e7676b25fc614bc588913bab5322847e|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2334524
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMTECH-6lb-LOG-SPLITTING-MAUL-AXE-FIBREGLASS-SHAFT-WOOD-CHOPPER-3-YEAR-WARRANTY/293699689082?epid=1874750841&_trkparms=ispr=1&hash=item4461dd9a7a:g:2uIAAOSw4iRf90X3&amdata=enc:AQAFAAACcBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%2Fn%2BzU5L90Z278x5ickkvjzWOStkxwnlDuxSI1PVVqhxZsFk4mhHGW5iggebREKxkMzuLxxDMc3z8654jfnpDb03yG31OUhUAx%2F38A52pQvbXgMItaJRP5Axmyo7B%2BBS9h%2FwCEjxKzUIbzLhAWqttIIPG0G7WqGkp0A46kuSxavZ49qegD7BeoREPDmP5wAXRUmE1g9yN%2BHl9fggEbWwYLYXiH%2FOlq6AFw8%2Fd2RIRnGG3QIyMntkP%2FOjXvgq6KeTEK4tEDLegLLG9BS2jwZcXfIKeeHQ0HCQzw9xP4OKqMaFO3XxK%2F1ouL7vAsjI8%2FYlOqIn%2FgtDhAyj5N51ke9Kkv8B%2BlJz4Y2FvexLzAnNOrjGCBAAKQ%2FK5xPDLBubdp8rLW2bhapqaAO7IDGmv%2BSj8ilfDnaOQ8q61322wSAztyZN76AdDpdSEZ4%2B4nSNEg5YdVsNYfXXpcuBIBVM%2BRkt%2ByiuwgyWTuems7pSeygUC%2BHJsI3hM2ltHEv1N%2BR00CKCFPjOgmwWP0sSAis%2FCsVbX5KOGQ%2FnktsSK9dA3TFmv4A6HazhtmShHT7jcdq1SnB34C2VOEq8dceNVNEn6SBz4wXba3QXXDlKxCkM2gCQnsu%2BMU0BPuv8i57GKOqOX6Rk%2FFdp7PiawVQGiOpV2Fw9UGkViP1I4JQThglXjE1eQ4hKu1CvrLgWRUnLmsMsAVurSnTc0qYL78hUkk%2FbWV%2BfLCOikGb8HN09eBH4Vo1OqHuOKxTSf70ZIukUJx1P7HKaglZ%2BL93qLT61XJeFwnbrysUoIuNbkiFYMgqfi1ATbQ%3D%3D|cksum:293699689082ea619026907842d0bec4d22ff8ad0803|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2334524

silverwhistle

Like Digger I had a yellow handled thingy from a shed and then I also got a Fiskars maul which in comparison was a real pleasure to use. The model I got was probably a bit heavier than I need but I'm a solid lass and it saves money on the gym! I wear cheap rigger boots when I split wood and make sure your set up and stance are safe.

As I scrounge wood of all types I often get stubborn lumps and for these a grenade (or far better, two..) is very useful and I use it with a lump hammer. Very satisfying when you finally get it split, but such bits tend to need longer seasoning.

DiggerUK

madlyn, for £25 you should go for it. You will be able to find out if a maul is for you.

silverwhistle, a "solid lass" with a Fiskar Maul.........what you doing after lockdown ends? 😋

berries

A electric log splitter is great when you get thoso stubborn bits that a axe cant get though! 

I use mine a bit do like to use the axe as it's a good workout too 🤣🤣

silverwhistle

DiggerUK said:

silverwhistle, a "solid lass" with a Fiskar Maul.........what you doing after lockdown ends? 😋

Going skiing with my GF! :-)

mumf

I am not getting any younger, and my back and knees remind me constantly! However, given that many of us live a sedentary lifestyle, that 30 minute ‘Maul Workout’ is a good thing IMO. To be fair, 30 minutes is my limit, and I am a strong man. I tend to bring in logs, stack ‘em, season ‘em and split ‘em when needed.

Ted_Head

Just recently bought a maul after a few decades using an axe or chisels (old axe heads) and lump hammer. Quite like it but not done enough nor different logs  to know what I prefer. Getting on a bit and not as fit as I was so may get an electric splitter in the near future eventually. Female and do like working with wood as I've done so much of it throughout my life - you get more than one heat off burning wood if you saw it and chop it yourself.

Davesnave

mumf said:

. To be fair, 30 minutes is my limit, and I am a strong man. I tend to bring in logs, stack ‘em, season ‘em and split ‘em when needed.

I'm not sure if I'm understanding you right, but there are some woods that don't take to splitting once they're dry and seasoned; eucalyptus, for example. I have a bit of tulip tree I neglected to process , so last year I decided to cut and split it. One pass and that was the chain saw blunted. The maul is still bouncing off the bit I cut!

greenbee

Davesnave said:

mumf said:

. To be fair, 30 minutes is my limit, and I am a strong man. I tend to bring in logs, stack ‘em, season ‘em and split ‘em when needed.

I'm not sure if I'm understanding you right, but there are some woods that don't take to splitting once they're dry and seasoned; eucalyptus, for example. I have a bit of tulip tree I neglected to process , so last year I decided to cut and split it. One pass and that was the chain saw blunted. The maul is still bouncing off the bit I cut!

You definitely need to know what you're dealing with. I find willow needs to dry out before it can be split, otherwise it just squelches! The conifers I took down where equally easy to deal with in year 1 and 3. Likewise apple, plum and birch. But then I'm not dealing with vast amounts (although I do have another willow due to come down soon... I need to clear the backlog before that happens!). I'm still using old floorboards/stairs/fence panels for kindling. 

shinytop

greenbee said:

Davesnave said:

mumf said:

. To be fair, 30 minutes is my limit, and I am a strong man. I tend to bring in logs, stack ‘em, season ‘em and split ‘em when needed.

I'm not sure if I'm understanding you right, but there are some woods that don't take to splitting once they're dry and seasoned; eucalyptus, for example. I have a bit of tulip tree I neglected to process , so last year I decided to cut and split it. One pass and that was the chain saw blunted. The maul is still bouncing off the bit I cut!

You definitely need to know what you're dealing with. I find willow needs to dry out before it can be split, otherwise it just squelches! The conifers I took down where equally easy to deal with in year 1 and 3. Likewise apple, plum and birch. But then I'm not dealing with vast amounts (although I do have another willow due to come down soon... I need to clear the backlog before that happens!). I'm still using old floorboards/stairs/fence panels for kindling. 

I've just done quite a bit of willow and it split nicely with a maul although it is very sappy.  Haven't tried a splitter though.  I have some hawthorn and the maul just bounces off so will let that season a bit and try again.  

I recently blunt my chainsaw but that was because there was a length of wire right through the middle of the log I was cutting.