Fiskars Axe, just arrived.

[Steve NW WI]

I bought an X27 a couple months ago, and loved it so much I got an X11 for dealing with BBQ wood. These tools are real winners.

Needing myself a new kindling splitter - is the X-11 as good as the big stuff? I think I already know the answer, but I'll ask anyhow.

Anyone done a side by side between an X-7 and an X-11? X7 doesn't have the splitting head, but its a bit more compact. I split kindling down by the stove in the basement (sheet of plywood on the concrete to protect the blade of course).

No stores locally carrying the little stuff, so I'll be ordering one, I like to feel before buying but sometimes it's not an option.

Loving my 3 week old X-25 btw, gonna give it some more work this weekend.

 

[s219]

Needing myself a new kindling splitter - is the X-11 as good as the big stuff? I think I already know the answer, but I'll ask anyhow.

Anyone done a side by side between an X-7 and an X-11? X7 doesn't have the splitting head, but its a bit more compact. I split kindling down by the stove in the basement (sheet of plywood on the concrete to protect the blade of course).

No stores locally carrying the little stuff, so I'll be ordering one, I like to feel before buying but sometimes it's not an option.

Loving my 3 week old X-25 btw, gonna give it some more work this weekend.

Yes, the X-11 is just like a mini version of the X-25/27 models.

The X-7 is what I would call a traditional hatchet, which would be good for camping or even hanging off your belt for light tree work. The shape and weight of the head makes it a general purpose device, and it would be better for limbing or chopping saplings than the X-11. It's not really good for splitting, but could be done.

The X-11 is about 3" longer, the head is much heavier, and it has the splitter design. It's definitley focused on splitting, and is not something you'd want to use for general hatchet work. I think it is right at the max length/weight limit for efficient one handed use (I am 6'1" 210 lb for reference, with average arm strength).

I primarily bought the X-11 for splitting BBQ cookies, and it is phenomenal for that. I put a bungie around the cookie, and then go to town on it. Results in a good range of different sized chunks, chips, etc.

I have also split a couple pieces of firewood just to test it, and I think the X-11 would make an ideal tool to keep near an outdoor or indoor firewood stack for kindling work, or just to knock down splits into smaller sizes. It's every bit as efficient as the X-25/27 -- has that magnetic knife through butter feel -- but with a shorter handle for brief one-handed use on smaller wood.

 

[Mike Williams]

Yes, the X-11 is just like a mini version of the X-25/27 models.

The X-7 is what I would call a traditional hatchet, which would be good for camping or even hanging off your belt for light tree work. The shape and weight of the head makes it a general purpose device, and it would be better for limbing or chopping saplings than the X-11. It's not really good for splitting, but could be done.

The X-11 is about 3" longer, the head is much heavier, and it has the splitter design. It's definitley focused on splitting, and is not something you'd want to use for general hatchet work. I think it is right at the max length/weight limit for efficient one handed use (I am 6'1" 210 lb for reference, with average arm strength).

I primarily bought the X-11 for splitting BBQ cookies, and it is phenomenal for that. I put a bungie around the cookie, and then go to town on it. Results in a good range of different sized chunks, chips, etc.

I have also split a couple pieces of firewood just to test it, and I think the X-11 would make an ideal tool to keep near an outdoor or indoor firewood stack for kindling work, or just to knock down splits into smaller sizes. It's every bit as efficient as the X-25/27 -- has that magnetic knife through butter feel -- but with a shorter handle for brief one-handed use on smaller wood.

Sounds like the X11 might be a good addition to my family. I'm using the X-25 for kindling work but it does make me a little nerveous, don't seem to have enough control with one hand.

 

[howellhandmade]

I have heard of the tire thing but haven't tried it. My ax swing is very similar to my golf swing which is as near perfection as humanly possible.otstir:

I like the X27 much better than the X25 and everyone who has tried both of mine, have had the same opinion.

I have the Super Splitter rather than the X25, so my opinion may not be valid if the X25 is significantly different from the Super Split, but I also have the X27 and prefer the SS. The shorter handle gives a sharper strike, less shock, and better accuracy. I'm 6'4", and written a couple of posts on how to cock and snap your wrists so you get the best result and don't chop your feet. I may be in the minority, but I think Fiskars got it right the first time.

 

[Mike Williams]

I have the Super Splitter rather than the X25, so my opinion may not be valid if the X25 is significantly different from the Super Split, but I also have the X27 and prefer the SS. The shorter handle gives a sharper strike, less shock, and better accuracy. I'm 6'4", and written a couple of posts on how to cock and snap your wrists so you get the best result and don't chop your feet. I may be in the minority, but I think Fiskars got it right the first time.

You know, I've been saying I have the X25 but I actually have the SS as well. So, my previous posts substitute super splitter for X25. Got sawdust stuck in my head I guess lol.

 

[rob066]

I have about 15 face chords split with my X27. All I can say is NICE! I love it.

 

[dennish]

They're made in Finland--that's why they are so good!!!!

 

[zogger]

One would think so

They're made in Finland--that's why they are so good!!!!

You got folks live in the arctic circle or dang close, where your fire inside is all that stands between you and freezing literally to death, heck ya I think they take their firewood tools serious and make some quality ones.

 

[ratso]

I have both an X25 and X27. Both work great but the short handle on X25 is kind of scary.:msp_unsure:

If you put one round on top and use one for a base the x25 works great.

 

[PEKS]

For all you guys that split with a heavy maul, I've posted this a couple of times before:

The equation for kinetic energy is <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/4/1/4/4140f53f66a68e92afec2389ba289e25.png" width="94" height="25" alt="E_k =\tfrac{1}{2} mv^2" /> , where m is mass and v is velocity.

So if you double the weight of the axe you double the energy of the hit (assuming you can swing it just as fast), but if you double the speed you swing it you quadruple the energy.

Mauls have their place, but this is why I split with axes.

Math sounds good..

I ordered the X27 from Amazon, $45.01 plus $8.50 shipping..
I will compare it next week against my Stihl PA80 6.6lb Maul which was $87.00 (PA80 splits excellent)..

 

[OH_Varmntr]

Math sounds good..

I ordered the X27 from Amazon, $45.01 plus $8.50 shipping..
I will compare it next week against my Stihl PA80 6.6lb Maul which was $87.00 (PA80 splits excellent)..

Let us know!

 

[zogger]

Let us know!

Yes, I am interested in that comparison as well.

The other one I keep waiting for is anyone in the US or Canada here who has LOTS deeper pockets than me trying out one of those lever axes in normal eastern assorted some straight some gnarly big hardwoods. Or one of the Oceania guys trying one on their titanium/tungsten alloy brand woods.

 

[c5rulz]

If you put one round on top and use one for a base the x25 works great.

Well I have two thoughts on that:

1. The rounds I just split the other day were red oak and in excess of 30" in diameter x 20-22" in length. There is now way I could pick one of these up as they weighed at least 300#'s. The Fiskars did split these with no issues. The rounds were producing 30-40 pieces per round.:smile2:

2. I find that picking up rounds and placing them on another makes for a lot more bending over.

 

[Officer's Match]

^ No doubt stuff like that begs for the X27 as opposed to the smaller version.

 

[Sagetown]

Well I have two thoughts on that:

1. The rounds I just split the other day were red oak and in excess of 30" in diameter x 20-22" in length. There is now way I could pick one of these up as they weighed at least 300#'s. The Fiskars did split these with no issues. The rounds were producing 30-40 pieces per round.:smile2:

2. I find that picking up rounds and placing them on another makes for a lot more bending over.

That is one of the great joys of red oak. They split sooo easy, and with a resounding 'pop'. I've split a many of them over the years. Love the smell of fresh split red oak.:smile2:

 

[c5rulz]

That is one of the great joys of red oak. They split sooo easy, and with a resounding 'pop'. I've split a many of them over the years. Love the smell of fresh split red oak.:smile2:

Yup, going around the outside, the round split almost every strike unless I took a little too big a "bite".:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[trailmaker]

I have the Super Splitter rather than the X25, so my opinion may not be valid if the X25 is significantly different from the Super Split, but I also have the X27 and prefer the SS. The shorter handle gives a sharper strike, less shock, and better accuracy. I'm 6'4", and written a couple of posts on how to cock and snap your wrists so you get the best result and don't chop your feet. I may be in the minority, but I think Fiskars got it right the first time.

I also prefer my old SS to my X27, for the same reasons. I also find that the x27 ends up buried in the round far more often than the SS. It would be interesting to see how a SS head would perform on a 36 inch handle. A few such axes probably exist from some Fiskars R&D for the X series.

 

[turnkey4099]

Well I have two thoughts on that:

1. The rounds I just split the other day were red oak and in excess of 30" in diameter x 20-22" in length. There is now way I could pick one of these up as they weighed at least 300#'s. The Fiskars did split these with no issues. The rounds were producing 30-40 pieces per round.:smile2:

2. I find that picking up rounds and placing them on another makes for a lot more bending over.

?30-40 pieces per round? You'd be splitting kindling. I wouldn't split a 30" round down to more than 10-15 chunks.

Yep that bending an lifting is alot of bending over - good excercise though.

Harry K

 

[user 64030]

I just picked up an x25 a few weeks ago. It is a good tool. I swung it at my current set of 20"+ rounds though and it just bounced of course so did my heavier splitting ax, and my maul. Although the maul made a better slit for starting the wedge....

They do work great on everything else though, and a lot less fatigue from the swing.

dw

 

[Steve NW WI]

?30-40 pieces per round? You'd be splitting kindling. I wouldn't split a 30" round down to more than 10-15 chunks.

Yep that bending an lifting is alot of bending over - good excercise though.

Harry K

That's pretty big kindling Harry.

I shoot for about a 4x6 split size, something I can grab with one hand when moving it. At 4x6 max size, that's 36 pcs in a 30" round. A couple are "kindling size", but most are good sized chunks.

At 6x6 max it's still 25 pieces.

Crude drawing shows a 30" round (in scale of course). Black lines are 6", blue lines are 4" apart: