What kind of axe to use???

[jen_in_southtexas]

Pardon my ignorance but I haven't split wood with an axe since i was a kid. I remember my uncle bringing wood to my Grandmothers house and he would be splitting for hours at a time. He showed me how to use an axe and such.

However, I havent split wood since then and when i cut wood it is usually with a chainsaw. I have cut some sections of trees i find on the side of country roads. It is our native mesquite tree that i love to BBQ with. I know that there are different kinds of axe's to use when splitting in half. I went to Lowe's once to look at them and was overwhelmed at all the different kinds they had. But i need to keep one handy.

What do ya'll recommend as far as handle length and the name of the axe to split wood. I wont be using it to chop down trees it is mainly to split them in half after they've been cut with my chainsaw.

Thx,
-jen

[High_Desert]

Jen, here is a link to some high quality axes. I wish I could justify one. That being said, I posted the link because if you can find a dealer in your area, they sell a book for 2.00 that has some great info.

My guess is you need a splitting maul. They come in several sizes and weight. All of mine were passed down to me from my grandfather. ( I am lucky). But I know they are pretty common in the local hardware stores.

I am unfamiliar with Mesquite, but you can also use a wedge and a sledgehammer to split wood.

Hope this helped,
HD

[High_Desert]

Sorry, here is the link.
http://www.gransfors.us/axes.html

and a better link for a free book.... sheesh, I need to do my homework better.

http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/index.html

HD

[jen_in_southtexas]

Thanks for the info and links. I requested the free book. I hope to receive it in the mail soon.

-j

[wy0mn]

I have, & use, a cheap Chinese single bit axe for firewood. One edge to sharpen, one edge to control for safety. The squared end can be used for driving a wedge after the split is begun with the axe. Why buy a separate sledge hammer?
I've never used a splitting maul as such, they appear to be overly heavy & cumbersome.
If you buy an axe with a wooden handle its much easier to replace the handle if you miss your aim and ruin the handle. If you do actually split the handle accidentally please, please, replace it! Don't lose a foot or toes over a $12 handle!
For handle length... we always just choked up on the handle to suit the individual.
Gloves for the blisters.
Lex

[Northern_bushrat]

We use two axes. One has a fairly chunky, heavy head (sorry, I'm useless at guessing, not sure how many pounds) and the handle is about 2'6" long; this we use for "normal" splitting of firewood.
The other one is much lighter, with a narrow head and the handle is 2' long. That one we use for chopping kindling because the other axe is too cumbersome for it.
In general, you want a fairly heavy, chunky axe for splitting. The chunkier and heavier the head, the easier the wood splits because the axe has more force and drives the wood fibres apart further when you bring it down on the log end.
And, you probably know this, when the head gets loose, submerge it in water overnight and the handle will swell up tight again.
Happy chopping ;)

[Deberosa]

Being almost blind in one eye and not that coordinated I just can't take a good swing and think I am going to hit the wood right! So to compensate, I've found that a shorter handle ax with one flat side and a fairly wide blade, also fairly heavy. I use a short swing to set that into the log - for the nice neat pieces that will even split it right there but if not I take a sledge, again with a short handle and pound the flat head of the axe with it. Usually only takes a couple of whacks to get the wood to split.

It's what works for me.

[Shamrock1121]

We got an "Easy-Split" Wood Splitter for my dad when he couldn't safely use an axe anymore. He wished he would have had it years before because it was so easy for him to use.

http://www.northlineexpress.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=5EM-1162&source=nextag&kw=5EM-1162

Here's a similar one I found trying to find the "Easy-Split".

http://www.spitjack.com/page/SJ/PROD/SPLITTER

-Karen

[bookwormom]

I have been wearing myself out using an axe and a maul. I thought the maul made it easier. Hubby can not use either due to a bad shoulder. thanks Karen, that gizmo looks interesting.

[Deberosa]

Wow Karen, that looks like exactly what I need to be splitting wood! Thanks for sharing, I had no idea they had such a tool.

[AlchemyAcres]

I use a double bit axe...the lighter, the better...it's faster, less tiring and more accurate.
Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity. a lighter axe swung faster will split more wood in a day.....works for me anyway.
Holding the axe so the head is 15 to 20 degrees from vertical gives you the same effect as a blunter splitting maul and the axe will split better for you rather than wanting to just 'stick' in the log...............



~Martin
;)

[MooseToo]

i've always tried to put that little bit of angle on the blade right before striking the wood -
i can't throw a curve ball either -

[jen_in_southtexas]

Thanks for the suggestions and input. When i went to Tractor Supply this morning i briefly looked at the axes and again got overwhelmed. I need to do some studying on it.

-j

[tomato204]

jen~ What about just getting a single-bit axe with a 2&1/2 or 3 lb head and use it for a while, then you will know if you need another one, and that one is good for a lotta things around the place, like driving tomato sticks etc.

[bookwormom]

sounds great Martin, but I don't think I could keep up with you. the time has come to look for ways to do the same thing in a less demanding way.
today is the day I am ordering one of those splittters. got a pile cut that needs splitting.
how are you all doing, got your wood in the dry?

[ozarksnick]

I've got a Snow and Nealley "Our Best" 2.5 pound single bit.

http://www.lehmans.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=4535&itemType=PRODUCT&displa yID=4925

It's a very nice axe. I've been cutting lots of wood with it lately.

But that's not what you want for splitting, in my opinion.

But then I cut my wood backwards, I split it before I buck it. I use a small sledge hammer and about four metal wedges to split my logs up small enough that I can buck them to stove length with only a couple swings of the axe. I don't use a saw at all.

My next axe though, I think, will be their double-bit.

[bookwormom]

buck? how do you do that? Never heard of that.

[ozarksnick]

Sorry, to buck a piece of wood means you are cutting it to a certain length. Usually long enough to fit your stove.

[bassntrout]

Checkout www.woodheat.org

[Delmar_Morgan]

Go to flea markets and look for them because they will be old ones with better metal and heavier blades than new ones.

[bookwormom]

my Easy woodsplitter came yesterday. It works much better than either ax or maul. but I hurt myself right off the bat, 7 stitches in my pinkie :-/ pinched myself somehow, I have no idea how it went. I hate working with gloves, but should have.

[JBinKC]

A sledgehammer, estwing wedge and fractured wood grenades are part of my arsenal. If I were to use an axe or a maul I only can be so lucky to split a round with one blow and so lucky to hit the exact same place twice if I don't.