OK, I’ll be the dissenting voice in this thread…
I’m not as awed by the X27 as many seem to be. Yeah, it’s a good tool worth having, but it ain’t the magic wand so many claim it is. I’ve tried it on elm and Bur Oak… the 8# maul does better. It is handy for straight grained stuff; zips right through it… but for stringy, twisted grain, knotty stuff or big rounds I’ll take the 8#’er every time. I’d rather swing 8#’s once than 4#’s two, three or more times. When used on the right type of wood it’s a darn good tool… but I sure don’t place it on an altar. Where I think it shines is turning bigger splits (quarters) into smaller splits, or splitting rounds of about 15 inches and under… but the big and/or gnarly still require a good heavy maul if ya’ wanna’ be effective.
My procedure…
Well first of all, if I have a bunch to split I don’t even bother with an ax or maul, but…
I set the round up and take a swing with the Fiskars, if it don’t bust first swing I grab the 8#’er and quartet it. I set the second round up and take a swing with the Fiskars, if it don’t bust first swing I grab the 8#’er and quartet it. Then I’ll give it one more shot, if it don’t bust the third round first swing I grab the 8#’er and quarter (or halve) everything before switching to the X27. Ain’t no way I’m gonna’ take multiple swings if’n I don’t have to.