Splitting/Chopping Tool Review Thread

[MechanicMatt]

MN Woodcuter, I have the same two wood splitters. I think I'm going to have to try some of this tongs one day. They have piqued my interest! SVK, I really lime Husqvarna tool number 2, the non fiskars looking tool, I'm a skeptic by heart, but CT's deffinatley put a whoopin to the wood.

 

[cutforfun]

I have a few fiskars axes, my favorite is the original super split, the head was heavier, and I liked the shape better, I just picked up a second at a thrift store for 10 bucks

Original super splitter on left and x27 on the right backs of the axes are even with each other
I split most of my kindling with this

 

[zogger]

I have a few fiskars axes, my favorite is the original super split, the head was heavier, and I liked the shape better, I just picked up a second at a thrift store for 10 bucks

Original super splitter on left and x27 on the right backs of the axes are even with each other
I split most of my kindling with this
View attachment 381736

Nice fleet! Is that kindling slicer home made?

 

[cutforfun]

Nice fleet! Is that kindling slicer home made?

Yes it is, it works great with cedar fence board and my brother owns a fence company so cedar fence board scraps are always available

 

[zogger]

Nowhere can I see any warranty info online. @spike60 did not specify in the thread related to this subject.

Husqvarna support line is 1-800-487-5951 open 8-8 eastern time M-F. Anybody want to give them a call?

OK, this is what they said, ten year warranty must have receipt

 

[Philbert]

OK, this is what they said, ten year warranty must have receipt

Thanks Zog! Against accidental breakage? That must be what the hollow handle is for - to tape your receipt inside!
Might be cooler if they had serial numbers that you could register when purchased.

Philbert

 

[svk]

OK, this is what they said, ten year warranty must have receipt

Interesting....10 years is great but that receipt is going to get lost for sure.....

Thanks for calling Zog!

 

[zogger]

I'd like to see the ink on a modern receipt last for ten years. I've saved some and they fade bad after just months.

So, if anyone gets one, plastic bag the receipt, squish the air out.

 

[svk]

I'd like to see the ink on a modern receipt last for ten years. I've saved some and they fade bad after just months.

So, if anyone gets one, plastic bag the receipt, squish the air out.

Photo copy it and staple the original to the copy. I keep anything reasonably important in the armoir (sp) in my bedroom.

 

[c5rulz]

I don't know why but I just might buy one of these. These Helko splitting axes are almost to nice to use. There was a forum sponsor selling these for a while. The Vario 2000 is da bomb.

http://www.helkonorthamerica.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=78

 

[CTYank]

Top photo is of some round, Oregon 'wood grenade' type splitting wedges. One is iron, one is alloy. Got them at garage sales for fun, and I keep them for show-and-tell. Not very impressed with them.

View attachment 381547

The lower photo shows my conventional, forged iron splitting wedges: 3, 4, and 5 pound sizes. I have a total of 6. Like anything else, it is nice to have a choice, depending on the task. I would pick the 4 pound size for my general use if I was buying them new.

View attachment 381550

The reason they look so pretty is because they have not been used in a while. The cost for these got ridiculous in recent years, so I picked up several at garage/estate sales for $2 - $3 each.

Like any striking tool, the tops need to be dressed when they start to mushroom over. The blue wedges had over 1/2" of material sticking out the sides when I bought them! It was easier to cut these edges off with an angle grinder than to grind them back with a bench grinder.

Afterwards, I cleaned up the tops and bevels with a bench grinder and a ScotchBrite wheel, them painted them so that they don't rust in my garage. They don't stay pretty long in use!

Philbert

I've heard tell that those "wood grenades" have a tendency to pop their pins (snap the tips), so the one I have is just for show.

As mentioned earlier, the steel wedges that HF is selling now are made of pretty good steel, not very malleable- they do not deform readily on being hit. Don't see much need for grinding off "mushrooming". Their edges needed attention from a 7" disc-grinder to make them useful; they needed lots of thinning and some sharpening up front. Pretty good for $10, though.

I didn't see any need to "flare" their edges. Sharpness is enough.

Also mentioned earlier, some striking tools just stand up much better to giving/taking hits than others. E.g. Mueller 3 kg and Council Tools 6 lb mauls. Their polls are about as tough as a quality sledge.

 

[CTYank]

MN Woodcuter, I have the same two wood splitters. I think I'm going to have to try some of this tongs one day. They have piqued my interest! SVK, I really lime Husqvarna tool number 2, the non fiskars looking tool, I'm a skeptic by heart, but CT's deffinatley put a whoopin to the wood.

You'll like some (2) log tongs. They make your arms longer, and keep your hands out of harm's way while you pick up a balanced load, on both sides. Good buys available on NT and Amazon.

The maul you mention is actually Wetterlings' 2.5 kg, of which I happen to have a copy. It was crystal-clear how it was working for you compared to the (lighter) fiskars. If you'd tried the 3 kg Mueller, you'd have seen more one-shot-kills, IMHO. That wood was likely green knotty silver maple, not well suited to the lighter tools.

The 2.5 kg maul that's badged for Husqvarna can be had for much less than Wetterlings'. Ask Bob.

What is a skeptic but someone hard to b.s.?

 

[MechanicMatt]

CT throw up a pic of your favorite spitting devices, and don't get fancy on us a find some 10g dollar wood processor pic.

 

[dancan]

I'm pretty sure that the Husqvarna splitter was made by Wetterlings but is now made by Hultafors which has bought Hults Bruks for the axe forge a few years back .
I might be wrong though .

 

[El Quachito]

Left to right:
1. Manhattan Axe Co, Glassport PA. A nice regular duty vintage axe I use for splitting.
2. A "new" Collins #3. Its really thin but it works good. A handy tool in my opinion. I like it for limbing and easy one-handed splitting.
3. Mexican steel #6 maul. Replaced platic handle with wood. It's the most used tool in the fleet. I filed a blunt bulge out of it and filed a bump out of the poll to try and make it flat. Started life as a POS and was left to die outdoors, but I like it in this configuration.

36" handles on all.

 

[El Quachito]

My main kindling splitter at the moment. Only $12 at a local farm and ranch supply, couldn't pass it up. For the money and the comparatively poor quality of many new tools, I love it.

 

[CTYank]

CT throw up a pic of your favorite spitting devices, and don't get fancy on us a find some 10g dollar wood processor pic.

Since you ask, for the first command. (What in heaven's name is the second part about the "10g dollar" poo) ?

In order of head weight, 3 kg Mueller, 6 lb Council, 2.5 kg Wetterlings, 5 lb reworked Bradlees-special.

The Mueller and Wetterlings have had no attention for 3 yrs and 1 yr respectively, but some Danish oil on the handles.

The Bradlees-special has its third handle since new about 40 yrs back. Reshaped to match Mueller, it splits well. Ten + yrs on handle.

They all have their place. The Mueller is my heavy artillery. Otherwise I just grab the closest one. Or a chainsaw.

Some are flared, some not. Absolutely no difference, IMO. It's the edge and the 30 deg face angle.

The name is John.

 

[Philbert]

The lower photo shows my conventional, forged iron splitting wedges: 3, 4, and 5 pound sizes.

Just saw a 6 pound version at a local hardware store. Lot of weight to lift for little stuff. Probably has it's place in larger stuff.

Philbert

 

[MechanicMatt]

CT, that one second from the right, thats the one I got my eye on.

 

[mdavlee]

Right now the one on the left is my favorite