Some day
I'm sure it is a great invention but for that price I can't see anyone here buying it. I bought a 6 lb maul and a fiberglass handle for $40 and it works just fine. I also think most people who burn wood here are doing it to save money, I have to admit I am cheap and watch every penny now days. If a person can afford to spend over $200 for a splitting maul they can probably be happy to just burn propane for heat.
Hi
I am very sorry for this global slack of which we all suffer in these days in a way or an other. It does not mean that we should give up, on the contrary, we must struggle more than ever before to get better future some day. Meanwhile that day comes there is a good change to become acquainted for instance to new inventions, when ever it is possible. Later, when the economy is better, you can consider again.... This opportunity does no cost you much. One day the exchange rate can be totally opposite.
Today's situation cannot last forever.
Attached is one of the feedbacks what I have got from one of my American customers.
Aihe: Vipukirves Christmas Present
Päiväys: 31.12.2008 14:17
Lähettäjä: Gary X [
[email protected]]
Kopio: Gary X [
[email protected]]
Dear Sir:
I saw videos showing your axe in operation on the Internet. I was so
impressed by the videos that I hinted to my family to get me one for
Christmas. My daughter, Kelly X, of St. Joseph, Illinois, USA,
did purchase the axe for me.
I was THRILLED to open the box on Christmas morning. The quality,
appearance, and construction of the tool was just what I had hoped it
would be. I was also impressed that my daughter would have gone to
the expense to have purchased the item and paid for the shipping to
get it here. Obviously, it is something of an extravagance, but I do
enjoy dealing with firewood. At my age (63) I guess the axe could be
thought of as an investment as a piece of "exercise equipment" as I do
think there is a health benefit from doing all the tasks related to
getting wood cut, moved, split, burned, and so on.
I was a little worried as to whether the axe would perform in a way
that would justify the cost. I had read a semi-scientific evaluation
of the axe at this internet location:
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=46925&page=8
The article is not entirely favorable to the Vipukirves and says
that the axe would have problems with the hard varieties of wood we
have in this part of the world. I was particularly concerned as I
split a great deal of Red Oak. I read this article AFTER I had hinted
to my family that I would like this axe for a gift.
So, when I went out to split about 15 rounds of recently cut red oak,
averaging around 25 to 30 inches in diameter and about 16 inches in
length (basically trunk wood) I wondered how the axe would work. I
hoped that I would not have added an extremely expensive, but little
used tool to my garage.
The axe performed beyond my expectations!! I could not have been more
wrong in doubting whether this tool would work for me. With my family
watching through the dining room window, I blasted through a sizeable
stack of red oak in short order!! They were impressed with the amount
of power the old guy (me) could generate and were genuinely impressed
with the tangled knot wood i was splitting.
As I had watched a lot of video of the axe in action, I felt I knew a
little about the technique to be used. It did not take long for me to
feel as though I was using the axe in the intended manner. I produced
decent sized spits (for my woodstove) and did so very quickly. I used
a chopping block with a tire as you show in your videos. I would say
I can swing an axe with considerable force (I can hit a golf ball over
300 yards) so I may not be a typical user. However, I did split
through knots in the red oak. I was extremely impressed with the
amount of splitting force being brought to bear on the knots I was
going through. Again, I was quite impressed and produced much better
results than I thought I would get after having read the Arborsite
article.
As with any man powered device used in attacking a tough round of oak,
judgement must be used. There are techniques learned over the years
in splitting wood and those must be applied with the Vipukirves, too,
or you will waste a lot of energy. Techniques and knowledge of how
splitting wood works (at least with a non hydraulic man powered
device) are essential.
But, if you do know a thing or two about splitting wood, this
Vipukirves is a fabulous tool. No matter what the cost, if you like
making firewood, and you consider it a fun and challenging activity,
this is the best item you can buy.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL PRODUCT AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO USING IT FOR YEARS TO COME.
Sincerely,
Gary X
(axe was purchased by my daughter, Kelly X)
Thank you for reading all this.
Best regards
Heikki, the inventor
http://www.vipukirves.fi