Best Maul For Splitting Firewood?

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

What is the best maul for splitting firewood?
Thank you in advance.

 

[fuzziebutt]

I don't know, but have you looked into an electric or gas splitter? We have an electric one, and it's great! We got too old to swing a sledgehammer.

 

[dacjohns]

There are monster mauls that are supposed to split wood easily. I don't think the average wood splitting person would be able to swing it too many times.

I have a fiberglass handle maul that is about eight pounds I think. Fiberglass because occasionally you miss.

Similar to this one:

http://www.columbussupply.com/products/?productid=410

You should also have two or more wedges and a sledge hammer.


Like the above poster said, a log splitter is pretty good but go for more power and a solid wedge. One that splits horizontal or vertical is nice. Keeps you from having to lift the heavy logs up to the tray.

 

[TedJan92_in_Idaho]

What works well for me will not work for you. Or at least maybe not. I use a 15 lb maul. I have worked as a laborer all my life and am 260 lbs, 6'4". In good physical shape. You may need a lighter maul. I can swing mine all day and have a good nights sleep.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

I just bought a new one. Looks like a large single bit ax with a wedge made into it. Hard to explain, but I like it. I always liked a large single bit ax for splitting wood, but was getting a little old for it.
This one is a "True Temper" brand, fiberglass handle with a rubber grip, very easy to hold and a good "feel" to it. The downside is it's made in Tiawan, probably won't hold an edge long.

Edited to add; this one is only a 4# head, whole things is around 6 or 7 pounds I'm guessing. I'm a fair sized feller, 6' 5" and around 224 pounds, but after a heart attack last January and several other health problems I'll admit..... I swing like a little girl nowadays.

My old 12 pounder was just .... Let's just say I wasn't man enough to swing the darn thing anymore.

 

[wsmoak]

We have the third one down on this page: http://www.bissettnursery.com/hardgoods/Striking/hg_strik_axe.htm (Ludell 12304)

The head is shaped like the one mississippifarmboy posted. The 4lb head seems to be just the right weight -- DH can split nearly *anything* with it, but I can still handle it and split easy to moderately difficult logs.

The handle is long enough that if I miss, it's going to hit the ground and not swing back to shatter my shin bone.

But... we just bought a Grizzly electric splitter.

-Wendy

 

[Avalon1984]

I use 2 different ones. one is a heavy Maul with a flat head so that if I turn it around I can use it with the litte sharp edgie thingy for splitting big logs and knots. Then I have a lighter axe once I have the round piece split and i use that to make the small pieces.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
I agree--do not buy one of those electric splitters--they aren't worth the powder to blow them up. I have a good hydrolic splitter that does both horizontal and vertical splitting but prefer the 8 lb fiberglass handled maul, especially if the wood is dry and not cross-grained. I'm 73 and like the exercise that comes with splitting wood--as long as I don't have to do a lot of it, then the gas-powered splitter gets used. If the weather is right--not too warm and out of the wind--I'll split wood for an hour or so, there is something satisfying about starting with one piece of wood and turning it into two with one swing.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

My wife made me put gas logs in the fireplace!