Just wondered if anyone else on this forum uses a manual splitting maul anymore. I could see that it would be impractical for someone who sells firewood for a business, but for the homeowner who gets his own firewood for the winter it is a real good stress reliever. I myself split all my wood by hand (when theres a real tough, knotty piece I cheat and use my chainsaw).
Anyone Use the Good Ole Splitting Maul anymore
- Thread starter sdhershey
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
TMFARM 2009
Addicted to ArboristSite
me and my wife only use splitting axes but i do have one monster maul for the hard stuff... if i run into a piece that wont split o chunk it up with the saw... yes we sell a little wood in winter.....just cant justify the cost of a splitter yet... my wife is unemployed (i.e) has time to split it by hand and gives her exercise.:hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange:
less bon bons...and more splitting...
less bon bons...and more splitting...
Yoopermike
ArboristSite Guru
I have a whole wood shed full of mauls and axes and they get used regularly, its great exercise.
Guido Salvage
Supreme Saw Whoreder
Been using this for the past 30 years. Quicker than a splitter and better exercise too.
Oh yeah, I've got a splittin' maul... and I use, but not for splittin' fire wood.
I use it to knock the tough pieces off the wedge of the gas powered splitter when they get stuck.
I use it to knock the tough pieces off the wedge of the gas powered splitter when they get stuck.
willbarryrec
ArboristSite Operative
I use a 6 pound maul or for the real knotty pieces I use the 2100 "splitter":hmm3grin2orange:
I might give the fiskers a try someday,but i'll wait for the longer handled one.
I might give the fiskers a try someday,but i'll wait for the longer handled one.
Yoopermike
ArboristSite Guru
Been using this for the past 30 years. Quicker than a splitter and better exercise too.
Do you wear good gloves with that?? I can see where that hollow handle might bite back as a sort of "shock therapy".... my hands cringe just thinking about it!
ks_osage_orange
ArboristSite Operative
Still use one similar to the posted pic, I still use wedges and a 16 pound sledge when I get big pieces or hard to split species. Now that I have the OWB I avoid splitting if I can. But, had to break out the wedges yesterday on a 30 inch diameter piece of knotty pine I keep staring at....not wanting to lift it into the boiler. Good exercise, took about 3 minutes.
Guido Salvage
Supreme Saw Whoreder
I wear gloves most of the time, but there is really not all that much shock. With oak rounds in the 24" range it may take 2 or 3 swings to fully split the log in half and then usually only one swing to remove each piece (unless there is a knot). One thing about the wide head, I have never had it get stuck in a piece of wood. Try saying that about an axe, small maul or wedges.
Big_Al
ArboristSite Guru
An 8 or 6 lb maul is all I use for now. I'd like to get one of the fiskars when the long handle version comes out. I always wear gloves when handling wood, not for the shock but it saves me digging out splinters all night.
TMFARM 2009
Addicted to ArboristSite
ahh i forgot to mention before two of my axes handles snapped off in this cold weather... i have looked around for a good handle for them but cant find any locally...i am picky about the grain and such when choosing handles, but i wont have to hurry now.... i have bought three fiskars axes tonight.
mhyme71
ArboristSite Member
I use both. I use the maul on the straight pieces when i am not in a rush to get my wood split. Use the splitter on the elm and hickory. I enjoy bustin pieces by hand it is a lot quicker
Same procedure here. Makes you pay attention with a chainsaw- so cuts are square- which minimizes cutting work for saw, too.
One 6 lb. maul of mine is 35 yrs. old, just getting nicely shiny. Two others have a nice polish on their faces from playing around with rounds. Definitely, the 6 lb. mauls are better than my 8 lb. at getting it done.
I've used and sold hydraulic splitters in the past, from 8-18 "ton" rating. Many types of wood, I could split faster with a maul. Much smaller & lighter, too.
Got a few mauls and good axes.
Great way to relieve frustrations!!:hmm3grin2orange:
Great exercise to!!
Great way to relieve frustrations!!:hmm3grin2orange:
Great exercise to!!
My Maul's Mad at Me
My maul sits sadly in it's home in the corner of the basement most of the time.
I use it if I have REALLY straight pieces and have some extra energy to release.
But with all my bodybuilding, bike riding and playing with my 100lb American Bulldog "Knuckles", I don't really need the exercise and use the electric splitter to do most of the heavy splitting.
I do use it for fun now and then and also use the two sizes of axes to do up the kindling.
I agree they are faster.
Did I mention carrying 4000lbs of pellets, two 40lb bags at a time from the storage in the basement to the pellet stove 80 feet away?...lol
~Stan
My maul sits sadly in it's home in the corner of the basement most of the time.
I use it if I have REALLY straight pieces and have some extra energy to release.
But with all my bodybuilding, bike riding and playing with my 100lb American Bulldog "Knuckles", I don't really need the exercise and use the electric splitter to do most of the heavy splitting.
I do use it for fun now and then and also use the two sizes of axes to do up the kindling.
I agree they are faster.
Did I mention carrying 4000lbs of pellets, two 40lb bags at a time from the storage in the basement to the pellet stove 80 feet away?...lol
~Stan
Last edited:
A Huskee 35-ton splitter does the most splitting by far. Just for a good workout, I'll swing the Fiskars SSA and sometimes the ol' 8 lb. maul.
