Splitting/Chopping Tool Review Thread

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Family photos continued.

I'm told the little one is a "house axe" which is larger than a hatchet and smaller than a boys axe. It rides around in my suburban.

The Hudson Bay pattern chops like a dream but the head likes to work its way off the handle, even when it's well wedged. Going to rework that a bit this fall.

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I tried out my new to me maul in some spruce last weekend

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It worked well in the clearer stuff but

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And then

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So , to the hydro that stuff goes to , I'll wait for some maple or birch to use it again .
 
For me this Helko German Spaltaxt has been my go-to splitter since I bought it in early spring. Used to have an el-cheapo Truper in the same style hybrid design, but on a 36" curved polymer handle, and too much use killed my back, was out of commission Dec.-late Jan. from splitting... The first pics are of it when brand new, I've since put a leather collar on it to protect from over-striking, though the handle is pretty stout without it. It took a few hours to get used to the shorter handle (I'm a sort-of tall dude at 6'2"), but now I'm pretty comfortable with it and feel like I'm more precise with my blows. Aside from that, my Wetterlings Hudson Bay makes light work of smaller logs and kindling, but for the heavy gnarly rounds I either use a wedge and maul, or typically just slab with the Spaltaxt. Anything that is particularly troublesome I've simply noodled it with the saw, but that isn't much easier... and is a waste of fuel.

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Thank you kindly, really like this place. Lurked for months, then decided to join because there's so much good info and content. Where in MD are you located? I'm about 1/2 mile from the Mason-Dixon.
I'm just outside Frederick. We just drove through Hampstead, Manchester, on the way to a friends hunting camp for a shooting weekend. Crossed the M/D on the way. Then I used to drag race at M/D dragway, outside of Hagerstown. So, I guess it's a long line. Doesn't sound like we are too far apart, Joe.
 
I'm just outside Frederick. We just drove through Hampstead, Manchester, on the way to a friends hunting camp for a shooting weekend. Crossed the M/D on the way. Then I used to drag race at M/D dragway, outside of Hagerstown. So, I guess it's a long line. Doesn't sound like we are too far apart, Joe.
Oh yeah, very familiar with those areas. I used to live in Baltimore, then moved to Westminster before I got married, then to Gettysburg and now we're about 15 miles south of Gettysburg, just due north of Emmittsburg. I actually work in Mt. Airy, my wife works for the Frederick City Police.

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Stopped by the road where an old boy, well into his eighties, was splitting some nasty 12" oak rounds with a sledge and two steel wedges. I said it looked like he about had the sledge wore out. He smiled, and said he had another one. Early in the mornings they push a couple tables together at the local restaurant for the regulars. I've sat with him a number of times. His wife taught kindergarten when our kids were little.

Anyway, he got a split started and buried the wedge in it. The second wedge he stuck a third of the way down the side and opened it up a little. Now here is something I've never seen or heard of. He pulled the wedge out of the top of the round, took a piece of 18" long 2" x 4", and drove it down the middle, popping the halves apart.
 
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