No wonder I am killing myself with my current axe.......

A maul is on the list as well....should have been clear......the wood I am splitting is borderline kindling, as I use the really small stuff for my evaporator for maple syrup. So, lets say you grab a typical chunk of firewood that already been split and is a quarter or 8th of original round piece of wood.........I take the quarter or 8th and split it ONCE more, to make wrist-sized chunks. My arch and evaporator really like the small stuff, and I feed it every 8-10 minutes.

So, I am NOT starting with an 18-inch diameter log and swinging the axe!

That all said, I will buy a maul and some wedges as well just in case!

Thanks again!

MZ

MZ,

You must be up checking traps early bro!
Hope all is well in NY.

One thing is for sure, when you figure out which type of equipment you're gonna use...
It's gonna get USED!

Blessings!
MJ

An 8 lb Go-Devil.

It's amazing how much better and more efficient a decent quality splitting axe is. I've heated my home my whole adult life between 75 and 100% with hand split firewood. If $120. is not in your budget don't ever try an Iltis oxhead splitting axe (lee valey), you'll never settle for anything else.

Hit up your local flea market.....ours usually has a good variety of mauls/axes to check out.

ThATS HOW i DO IT NOW

Velocity is squared in KE, so the length of the handle and the speed at which you can swing it will greatly affect your ability to split something. If you have a 20 lb. maul, but can't generate much speed, you might have a more difficult time splitting with that compared to a 4 to 6 lb. one that you can swing much faster. For me, the Fiskars seems to be the sweet spot.

Fiskars does have a Good Warrentee on all their equipment.

Consider a 6 pounder
Change your technique and wing it
Don't go through the center but the edges with say 10 year growth rings to cut off
The reason being is they are what hold the wood together each winter wood ring is the elastic band holding things together
Fresh cut wood the ends have not dried and the maul will force into it better
Winging it and you will not have as much chewing on the wood area of attachment and your handle should last into 100 cords of splitting.

What ever you do stay away from a wedge cause if you read the notices and warning, they do break and the shrapnel goes right for your knee caps

Tell Gina she's losing the tone in her upper arms/shoulders/back and hand her a maul. Then when you get out of the hospital you can use the maul to help with therapy.

I started using a pickaroon a few years ago and wouldn't be without it now. Once you get the hang of using it it's a real labor and back-saver. I use the Stihl model.

Your problem Is that your feeding wrist sized chunks of wood in your fire box every 10 minutes. We start a fire then It's nothing but 4" and 6" split chunks and just keep stuffing It In. The only time we use kindling Is when starting the fire.

This is the ticket

Been using the same Chopper 2 for 30 plus years. Changed the handle once.

MZ Listen up! Kindling to start fire, wrist size thereafter. Based on your last post seems like you split down enough so all you need is a 3-4 lb. axe. Get a fiberglass handle if possible.
2X8 D+G.

Yes. It's kinda a cross between axe and mail.

I split alot of wood. I have a log splitter, but use the Fiskars if I feel like swinging an axe. But for what you're talking about Mark spend a bit and get a Gransfors Bruk like their small splitting axe, 3.5 lb head and 21 inches. I own two Gransfors, the small forest axe and scandanavian, but they are more geared towards felling. Beautiful axes with an edge you won't get on a council tool, and they'll last a lifetime. Google and check their site. Highly recommend.

Ha! I don't know axes, but I know my arch! I am a small-timer with a small arch and pan.....my box bogs down with big stuff, I lose my fire and my boil.......wrist-sized just keeps it rollin'!

Maybe Beavs wrists are as thick as his skull??? LOL

I joke...I kid.

On bigger arches, I see buddies throwing in three-foot long whole logs. My set up is just different......

Look at all the different opinions here on tools! Man! I am somewhat surprised at the Fiskars responses........

I will play around with it.....and like all things I dig into, I am sure I will try a couple options until I come up with what I like/want.

Thanks again!

MZ

All good here......I'd say we are blessed........though I MAY say some cuss words when I start splitting would with great zest!

Troybuilt makes a great one.

Work smarter not harder Zag.