Wood Grenade / Splitter — Lump Hammer vs Sledgehammer?

paperclap

Hi all,

Fancy getting myself one of these little bad boys to help me split logs:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-wood-grenade-4-way-log-splitter/51334

But, what is best to use – a lump/club hammer, or sledgehammer?

I'm thinking about weight, usability and swing.

Thanks!

FreeBear

Got one of those grenades. Works OK with some logs, but they need to be absolutely dry and fairly straight grain. For the occasional log, they are OK, but if you have a lot to do, you can't beat a powered log splitter. One of these for example - https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb762lsp-corded-brushless-37cm-log-splitter-1-5kw/649gf

paperclap

FreeBear said:

Got one of those grenades. Works OK with some logs, but they need to be absolutely dry and fairly straight grain. For the occasional log, they are OK, but if you have a lot to do, you can't beat a powered log splitter. One of these for example - https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb762lsp-corded-brushless-37cm-log-splitter-1-5kw/649gf

Have seen some videos of those, but they seem to really struggle with large diameter logs.

It won’t be uncommon for me to cut down large lengths (3 feet or so) into 10 inch lengths, leaving me with a squarish (10 by 10 inch) stump to split.

Going to also try and get myself a decent splitting axe, too. The Fiskers X27 looks good.

daivid

If you get yourself a splitting maul you can use the back of the head on the grenade. Otherwise you will want a sledge for the split but it is easiest to set the grenade with a club hammer (or any heavy one handed hammer really) them give it a big whack with the sledge.

robatwork

I got a grenade and it works like magic on some logs. But as others have said on anything that isn't level with straight grain it can just go in and get stuck. Then it can take ages to get it out or need to try to split from the other end. 

In the end I went back to my Fiskars splitting axe. 

donemedosh

Depending on how much wood you are going to split a grenade with a long handled lump hammer will be fine. But if you are going to do a lot then as others have said an electric/ hydraulic log splitter is  the way to go

neilmcl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKEEtnXlC0w

Ectophile

Club hammers are easier to swing.  But some logs are so tough that you can end up belting the wedge for ages until something happens.  That makes a lot of noise, and is a waste of effort.

That's when giving it a mighty belt with a sledgehammer helps.  I tend to keep both handy.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

The wood store we filled up this year is about 5m x 3m x 2m and a bit so around 30 cubic metres. 

I have a second-hand axe from the local market that cost a tenner which split the majority, most of it was ash and typically easy to split, and a maul for any stubborn bits. 

A neighbour lent their hydraulic log splitter and whilst it was a great help for a pile of knotty pine that would have been a pig to split by hand I did find it a much slower process. A 2 or 3 hour stint with the axe gets through a lot of firewood. 

The larger rounds, around 2-3 feet or bigger in radius, are cut in half or quarters with the chainsaw before splitting if the axe can't do it first time.

Anything that won't split is thrown in a pile and will be cut up with the chainsaw at some point. 

The novelty of wood splitting has long worn off and smashing a bit of metal with a hammer feels like hard work to me. Most of the time if you cut the log in the right places to begin with it makes splitting much easier. Something cut with a knot in the middle is going to be harder to split than with it at the bottom. Of course all depends on what wood you are splitting.

Best way to make life quicker and easier when splitting wood is to find an old tyre and fix it to your chopping block, the logs won't fall on the floor which will save keep bending over to pick them up. 

paperclap

Thanks all! Always must appreciated.

daivid said:

If you get yourself a splitting maul you can use the back of the head on the grenade. Otherwise you will want a sledge for the split but it is easiest to set the grenade with a club hammer (or any heavy one handed hammer really) them give it a big whack with the sledge.

I've seen that you can do this... but can you do it with all splitting mauls / axes?

I've a Fiskars Chopping Axe S X10. Good little axe for smaller logs and kindling. But, I think I remember the packaging saying not to use the back of it as a hammer. That said, it is a smaller (perhaps "lightweight") axe. So, that may be why they said that?
https://www.fiskars.com/en-gb/gardening/products/axes-forestry-tools/chopping-axe-s-x10-1015619

This is the Fiskars splitting axe I had intended on getting. But, doesn't state anywhere that you can use the back as a hammer.
https://www.fiskars.com/en-gb/gardening/products/axes-forestry-tools/splitting-axe-xxl-x27-1015644

neilmcl said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKEEtnXlC0w

Ha! Must have watched that video a fair few times now! Best on YouTube for this little tool

He's a believer of the ole club hammer!

FreeBear

laurencewhymark said:

FreeBear said:

Got one of those grenades. Works OK with some logs, but they need to be absolutely dry and fairly straight grain. For the occasional log, they are OK, but if you have a lot to do, you can't beat a powered log splitter. One of these for example - https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb762lsp-corded-brushless-37cm-log-splitter-1-5kw/649gf

Have seen some videos of those, but they seem to really struggle with large diameter logs.

I've used mine to split some real big logs (18" plus). For the bits it struggles with, part cut with the chain saw, and the logs eventually go. Gnarly small logs like Eucalyptus, split green, and try from either end.