what splitting maul do you have?

[WoodChuck'r]

Why.

 

[eichen323]

I don't do a ton of splitting. Maybe a face cord a year(if that) If I do a large tree I'll just rent a splitter. Otherwise I use an 8Lb. maul from Northern tool. I liked the wedge design a lot more than the other cheap mauls sold at other retailers. On some of the larger rounds I'll some wedges and a 6Lb. sledge. It's a fair amount of work when you have some 28" rounds but since I'm not usually in a rush and the wood is simply for recreational bon fires it works just fine. I would like to try one of the fiskars though at some point.

 

[ratso]

Why.

Don't ya post some tata's

 

[rob066]

I have one of those 12 or 15 pound mauls. Im not sure of the weight. It is one of those with the steel handle. I split 40+ chords of wood by hand a year. That maul is 6 years old. If it dies I will buy another one to replace it. It has split some of the nastiest wood on the face of the earth.

 

[fields_mj]

I've used several over the years, and now I'm a reluctant Fiskars convert. I'll probably put a new handle in my #8 maul just to having something big and heavy to swing, but then again maybe not. If my X27 won't split it, I noodle it in half, and then do the rest with the X27. To me, an monster maul and a Fiskars makes a complete set. I don't own a monster maul, and now that I have an 064 to noodle with, I probably never will.

 

[Chris-PA]

I have one of those 12 or 15 pound mauls. Im not sure of the weight. It is one of those with the steel handle. I split 40+ chords of wood by hand a year. That maul is 6 years old. If it dies I will buy another one to replace it. It has split some of the nastiest wood on the face of the earth.

Shame you don't get an exercise! I split by hand too, but not that much by any means. I've never tried one of those big beasts as I usually try to stick with tools I can swing fast. Do you usually get a split every swing? It would seem like wasted swings would be wasting more energy than I'd have to spare. Still, if it splits the nasty stuff without going to the wedge it would save a lot of time.

 

[sawfun9]

I have one of those 12 pound mega mauls with the welded metal handle as well as a Fiscar's X27, Grufors Bruks 6 pound splitting maul, a cheap 10 pound maul, and a Condor winged splitting axe. The Fiscars tops them all and it weighs less. It seems speed of the blade hitting the wood is more effective than heavy slow energy. Now this may depend on the type of wood of course, but in fir, alder, and maple the Fiscars wins by a mile. The only time the mega maul seems better is when breaking the outer ring of wood in a big round of fir.

 

[Chris-PA]

It seems speed of the blade hitting the wood is more effective than heavy slow energy.

And there's a reason for that too. Let me geek out for a moment: The equation for kinetic energy is <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/4/1/4/4140f53f66a68e92afec2389ba289e25.png" width="94" height="25" alt="E_k =\tfrac{1}{2} mv^2" /> , where m is mass and v is velocity.

So if you double the mass you double the energy of the hit, but if you double the speed you swing it you quadruple the energy. So I try to use the largest axe head I can swing fast.

 

[zogger]

fast ball radar

And there's a reason for that too. Let me geek out for a moment: The equation for kinetic energy is <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/4/1/4/4140f53f66a68e92afec2389ba289e25.png" width="94" height="25" alt="E_k =\tfrac{1}{2} mv^2" /> , where m is mass and v is velocity.

So if you double the mass you double the energy of the hit, but if you double the speed you swing it you quadruple the energy. So I try to use the largest axe head I can swing fast.

Would be interesting to see a video study that used one of those hand held radar guns. Check out different guys using different axes/mauls, etc., and see how the final speed achieved just as the edge touches the wood alters the results.

 

[NORMZILLA44]

I have one of the old school 8lb I think. With the sledge handle somebody gave me one of the monster maul's. I am not man enoguh to swing it all day. Gotta admint I don't split by hand anymore, but in the field if I have a few to quarter. Can't beat my log splitter no matter how hard I swing!

 

[The Count]

Bought one years ago before they got so expensive. Love it as much as my saw, but not sure at today's prices that I would take the plunge.

Ron

them Gransfors Bruks are the best. Today I got the hand hatchet from the post office. I shaved the hair from the back of my hand so easy I couldn`t believe. 90$ is not cheap though...

 

[sawfun9]

Well I took "the plunge" and bought it, but the Fiscars cut better although it may not last as long.

 

[justtools]

Bought one years ago before they got so expensive. Love it as much as my saw, but not sure at today's prices that I would take the plunge.

Ron

I have the long handle x27 fiskars and the same Gransfors you have in the picture. Great splitters