Splitting Axes?

[HillBill]

I need a large splitting axe or maul. I have some logs to split and a hand axe makes it hard work.

I don't want to spend too much so the cheaper the better. Anyone know of any decent ones? What do you use?

Thanks
Mark

 

[pwb]

Hi Mark . A splitting maul will definitely make your job a lot easier .
Although I've not tried one , you could check out the various fiberglass hafted mauls on the market.
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/26985/Hand-Tools/Hammers-Axes/Axes-Mauls/Forge-Steel-

I use a hickory handled one from Sthil- IIRC, and use it to split various wood but for the last few years I've been burning a lot of old dead elm and would be lost without a good maul.

Cheers, Pete.

 

[woof]

Try aldi, they had some in last week.

 

[forestwalker]

I'm very happy with my Gränsfors (the full size splitting axe). But then I split all wood for my house (25 m^3) that way, so quality might be more of a point for me than you.

 

[Toddy]

Have a look towards the bottom of this page

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6669

cheers,
Toddy

 

[HillBill]

Thanks guys so far. I like screwfix one. I like the head shape. Thought about the GB one but i don't want to chip it like i did my SFA. Cheap and cheerful for this tool.

Toddy, I bought a chainsaw so i didn't have to do that. Going hunting the council blokes lopping the trees down tommorow. They always leave the best stuff. The blokes coming round to collect it must wonder where a couple ton of wood went over night

 

[rapidboy]

I just got a GB splitting hatchet this week, lovely wee tool for splitting logs for the stove , my big maul is just a cheapo from a farm shop and it's works very well - think i paid £20 for it - bargain.

 

[British Red]

As a man who loves quality axes I use.....

A big snotty fibreglass handled farm shop maul with a rubber collar. Its not a precision tool and I use the reverse end for pounding steel wedges.

Works though

Red

 

[addo]

Cant go wrong with a cheap maul. Been using one regularly for 9-10 years and going strong. cost £15 with a hickory handle.

 

[demographic]

Hi Mark . A splitting maul will definitely make your job a lot easier .
Although I've not tried one , you could check out the various fiberglass hafted mauls on the market.
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/26985/Hand-Tools/Hammers-Axes/Axes-Mauls/Forge-Steel-

I use a hickory handled one from Sthil- IIRC, and use it to split various wood but for the last few years I've been burning a lot of old dead elm and would be lost without a good maul.

Cheers, Pete.

I have one like the maul shown in your pic, its great.
Plus I got given a "broken" Stihl 038 chainsaw a few months ago.
Cleaned its carb out, adjusted the mixture screws, dressed the burr on the bar off and fitted a new chain and its a corker.
For the cost of a chain, I have a fully functional chainsaw.

 

[pwb]

I have one like the maul shown in your pic, its great.
Plus I got given a "broken" Stihl 038 chainsaw a few months ago.
Cleaned its carb out, adjusted the mixture screws, dressed the burr on the bar off and fitted a new chain and its a corker.
For the cost of a chain, I have a fully functional chainsaw.

Good for you demographic .
Amazing what a little mechanical TLC will achieve.

The maul is a real labour saver but I've also been known to borrow the estate tractor mounted hydraulic log splitter .

Cheers , Pete.

 

[Wayland]

I was very impressed with a Fiskars maul I saw being used at Middlewood.

I've had a few that have broken the handles near the head (always in someone else's hands I must add. :bluThinki )

The Fiskars one has a synthetic handle with a lifetime guarantee and the head itself is very well designed.

 

[demographic]

I was very impressed with a Fiskars maul I saw being used at Middlewood.

I've had a few that have broken the handles near the head (always in someone else's hands I must add. :bluThinki )

The Fiskars one has a synthetic handle with a lifetime guarantee and the head itself is very well designed.

I haven't seen the Fiskars maul yet but read somewhere that it's got quite a short handle which some people find problematic?

 

[mr dazzler]

I'm very happy with my Gränsfors (the full size splitting axe). But then I split all wood for my house (25 m^3) that way, so quality might be more of a point for me than you.

Is the steel collar on those Gransfor splitting axes of any real use or is it a gimmick? If the hhead breaks and you need a new handle how much more difficult is it to do the fettling and fitting including the collar, does it get more complicated? Or is it a case of sending it to the gransfor's factory to get it rehandled
cheers Jonathan

 

[HillBill]

I was very impressed with a Fiskars maul I saw being used at Middlewood.

I've had a few that have broken the handles near the head (always in someone else's hands I must add. :bluThinki )

The Fiskars one has a synthetic handle with a lifetime guarantee and the head itself is very well designed.

Can you remember the thread on here about the young lad in America cutting a tree down with the Gerber back paxe? The one where the tree fell down first?

Well, on some of his other videos i think there was a bloke showing how to use a large axe. It was the fiskars splitting axe you talk about. Only thing was he was using it to chop through a foot thick log and totally destroyed the edge I had a laugh over that. It shows the edge to be a bit brittle when used incorrectly. He was only hitting the wood though.

I'll look for the link.

 

[HillBill]

Found it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-M78KIy19E&feature=related

Look at the edge on 9 mins +