pafire
ArboristSite Operative
After using my splitting wedges to quarter some large pieces of red oak and elm my wedges are starting to mushroom at the top. What methods do you guys use to reshape the head of the wedge back to the original shape?
turnkey4099 said:A grinder works but it takes time.
Jim Mesthene said:I've used a torch before. It works fine. You want the top soft anyway, so don't worry about temper.
And, don't wait so long.
Oregon Engineer said:Grind them or file them, please don't torch them. Splitting wedges are typically a mid to high carbon steel so they will react to the heat of the torch. Likely you'll get a real mixed microstructure in the metal with large grain sizes. All put together the torched wedges will mushroom more, assuming you just let it cool slowly and don't throw it into a bucket of cold water to quench it.
If you quench the hot torched wedge in water you'll likely get localized hard spots and quench cracks. The localized hard spots will chip off at very high velocities when struck by the maul or sledge. The impact force from the maul or sledge will accelerate chips fast enough to pierce your clothing and enter your body. The chips are typically the size of the tip of your finger. And the quench cracks will cause much large pieces to break of unexpectedly.
Please grind'em or file'em.
Enter your email address to join: