Splitting/Chopping Tool Review Thread

[benp]

Hey @benp nice work on your most recent commercial!

LMAO!!!!

Ron Fricken Swanson!!!!!!

NICE!!!! Great Commercial.

ETA -

I cut up two small sugar maples and got a little more seat time with the CT maul .

The most noticeable difference, more effort to get similar or a little less results than the fiskars.

I tried out two 10" x 24-26" paper birch rounds to compare the two.

The Fiskars took two whacks. First went about half way through, second finished it off.

The maul would go in a bit and stick. It took a lot of whacks to get it split.

I then turned to a piece of black ash in similar size with the maul. It split it 3/4 of the way and I pushed it apart.

These are still my initial impressions and by no means a real fair comparison.

I'm still learning the maul and the Fiskars is all muscle memory.

I have 5 good Sugar Maples to cut up this week ranging 8 - 10" in diameter that the neighbor brought home from a job.

I think this will be a good comparison for the 2.

Based on other observations rattling around in my noggin, I wish the Husqvarna s2800 splittling axe came in x27 length. I would be all over that.

 

[weimedog]

Have to chime in... My favorite hand splitting tool is my Husqvarna brand maul. Have to confess to killing cheap single bit axes on the real nasty stuff by hammering them through the knarly wood with a 10lbs cheap TSC plastic handled hammer. Not pretty. Kill an axe every couple of years..... but it works.

 

[svk]

.... got a little more seat time with the CT maul .

The most noticeable difference, more effort to get similar or a little less results than the fiskars.

I tried out two 10" x 24-26" paper birch rounds to compare the two.

The Fiskars took two whacks. First went about half way through, second finished it off.

The maul would go in a bit and stick. It took a lot of whacks to get it split.

I then turned to a piece of black ash in similar size with the maul. It split it 3/4 of the way and I pushed it apart.

These are still my initial impressions and by no means a real fair comparison.

I'm still learning the maul and the Fiskars is all muscle memory.

I have 5 good Sugar Maples to cut up this week ranging 8 - 10" in diameter that the neighbor brought home from a job.

I think this will be a good comparison for the 2.

Interesting. I'm surprised that CT's corporate spokesperson hasn't chimed in to comment on your results yet.

I'm showing the S2800 at about $90 shipped online. Anyone seeing these for less elsewhere?

 

[benp]

Interesting. I'm surprised that CT's corporate spokesperson hasn't chimed in to comment on your results yet.

I'm showing the S2800 at about $90 shipped online. Anyone seeing these for less elsewhere?

It is what it is. Like I said, I need more time with it to be fair.

The Fiskars is instinctive to me. My body knows how to get the most out of it with no thought input.

If the Husky came in x27 length, I would buy it. I am convinced there's something to that head design.

 

[svk]

It is what it is. Like I said, I need more time with it to be fair.

The Fiskars is instinctive to me. My body knows how to get the most out of it with no thought input.

If the Husky came in x27 length, I would buy it. I am convinced there's something to that head design.

The one guy on here who has the Husky axe said it worked better than his Fiskars despite the shorter handle. Definitely piqued my interest.

 

[benp]

Better? Oh boy...I might be in.

I'm just skittish about a shorter handle thats all.

ETA - I just watched Mdavlee's video of it.

I don't know. That is just too short for my tastes. That thing does split great though.

Like I said, if it was 36" or so long, I would have one ordered.

 

[dancan]

Shorter handles work for me but it may just be what I'm used to but I have no trouble using my mauls .

 

[svk]

Here's the available offerings from Northern Tool.

The 6# with composite handle (upper right corner) had a nicely shaped head with a decent factory edge. I'd say this is the nicest big box offering that I've seen so far. The composite handle DB looked nice too. The wood handled tools had pretty rough looking heads.

 

[svk]

Here's the selection from Menard's. As discussed in another thread, the quality of True Temper sure has declined from the 1970's era tools I own. The Yardworks 3.5# axe is about the only tool I'd consider amongst this group. The edges on these mauls were straight although very dull.

At least the replacement handle prices are a bit more reasonable than HD.

 

[johnnylabguy]

Thanks for doing the legwork svk! I split for an hour tonight with my 5 yr old true temper 8 lb'er and I can't believe how much I enjoy making piles of splits. I was a power splitter guy my whole life until last winters end. My goal this year is to do 99 percent of my 5-8 cords by hand. I'm 39 and my job isn't that strenuous physically so I need the exercise too. I can tell my metabolism is slowing because my bathroom sale is gaining!

Btw, TSC new ad came and has 20% off axes and mauls right now. Hop in the truck with your camera svk! Lol

 

[svk]

Thanks for doing the legwork svk! I split for an hour tonight with my 5 yr old true temper 8 lb'er and I can't believe how much I enjoy making piles of splits. I was a power splitter guy my whole life until last winters end. My goal this year is to do 99 percent of my 5-8 cords by hand. I'm 39 and my job isn't that strenuous physically so I need the exercise too. I can tell my metabolism is slowing because my bathroom sale is gaining!

Btw, TSC new ad came and has 20% off axes and mauls right now. Hop in the truck with your camera svk! Lol

Thanks @johnnylabguy !

Nice work on your hand splitting. I've got a goal of 20 cords by hand this year. I'm at about 16.5 hand split so far and trying to hit the goal by year end. It's a bit tougher to hand split when my friend's 27t DHT is sitting in my garage though . I too sit behind a desk and need something to keep the body working on weekends.

No TSC near me so hopefully someone else can chime in. I'll hit Lowe's and Mill's Fleet Farm later this week.

 

[Philbert]

Bailey's has some axes and mauls on sale in their Christmas sale circular.

Philbert

 

[svk]

Bailey's has some axes and mauls on sale in their Christmas sale circular.

Philbert

They've also got some fantastic prices on woodland pro SC chain. $11.99 shipped for 60DL

 

[El Quachito]

peaveymfg.com

Not to shabby in my opinion. I may have to try one someday.

I like those handle prices, alot less than what I have paid recently.

 

[johnnylabguy]

16.5! You've got me beat! I'm only about 2-3 in so far.

I have a TSC about 15 minutes from me. If I get there soon I'll snap some pics.
Ironically enough, I took this pic about a week ago there for any speeco splitter guys but never posted it:

I thought about buying it but usually I would just pin a half wheel on the motor mount with my knee while splitting the other half on all but the biggest stuff. Now I spend that money on mauls. Lol

 

[zogger]

Thanks @johnnylabguy !

Nice work on your hand splitting. I've got a goal of 20 cords by hand this year. I'm at about 16.5 hand split so far and trying to hit the goal by year end. It's a bit tougher to hand split when my friend's 27t DHT is sitting in my garage though . I too sit behind a desk and need something to keep the body working on weekends.

No TSC near me so hopefully someone else can chime in. I'll hit Lowe's and Mill's Fleet Farm later this week.

I only did about seven maybe this year, well, going back to last winter, then me elbow went out late spring,. beginning of summer. Hopefully be able to get back in the full swing of things. I do a little every other day, not pushing it. If I push it, I feel it going bad again so heck with it, I'll take whatever time it takes to heal up well. Mostly, just be cutting for the next several months. I really don't care if it takes me a year, the rounds will sit and slowly crack. I'm ahead enough I can afford it.

I did push it some during the test, had to, no way around it.

That elm round is staring at me, taunting me...@$%^&&&!*&

 

[spike60]

Nice job on those pics Steve. Maybe I'll post a pic of my own tool rack.

The Tru-Tempers in pic #3 look like they have what I call "shin guards" just below the heads. Is that true, or just some red paint? I think that's a worthwhile feature as long as they stay in place. And did many of those heads appear to be workable as far as touching up the edges go?

 

[svk]

Nice job on those pics Steve. Maybe I'll post a pic of my own tool rack.

The Tru-Tempers in pic #3 look like they have what I call "shin guards" just below the heads. Is that true, or just some red paint? I think that's a worthwhile feature as long as they stay in place. And did many of those heads appear to be workable as far as touching up the edges go?

Correct, it is a plastic/nylon sleeve on the TT.

As I mentioned the Roughneck 6# with composite handle is ready to roll. Even the connoisseurs in here wouldn't find much to complain about in stock form.

Sure the other ones could be reshaped to work. But beyond the cutting edge the head is so thick you'd really have to take a lot of metal to get a workable tool. Everyone has a different value of money but to me, the extra $10 is money well spent.

Examples like the TT and wood handled Roughneck are probably why so many people like a certain hollow handled tool that comes ready to roll out of the box. If you are abusing yourself with a dull 8# maul that literally bounces off hardwood and then switch to something that has a nice edge from the factory, results speak for themselves.

Of course we'd like to see your spread!

 

[benp]

I only did about seven maybe this year, well, going back to last winter, then me elbow went out late spring,. beginning of summer. Hopefully be able to get back in the full swing of things. I do a little every other day, not pushing it. If I push it, I feel it going bad again so heck with it, I'll take whatever time it takes to heal up well. Mostly, just be cutting for the next several months. I really don't care if it takes me a year, the rounds will sit and slowly crack. I'm ahead enough I can afford it.

I did push it some during the test, had to, no way around it.

That elm round is staring at me, taunting me...@$%^&&&!*&

I go from being taunted to all out war.

You don't want to cooperate......fine...your choice.

I kick it over and fire up the 394.

 

[svk]

Tonight's visit was to Mill's Fleet Farm. Lots of cool stuff in that place but the layout is quite confusing.

These mauls had a nice sharpened edge but the angle was again way too steep.

The axes were quite rough looking but had a nice feel.