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Firewood Splitting Axe Suggestions?

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hobby_guy

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I used the forum search function first and surprisingly didn't find anything. Looking for a firewood splitting axe for small to medium logs to replace a very old garbage one. Was going to repair the edge on it, but it isn't worth the effort. Budget is I don't know, up to $100. What do you think - 28", 36"? Double-side? Single-sided? Wood handle? Fiberglass handle? Fiskars?
 
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mwalsh9152

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I have a Fiskars X27 and their Isocore maul. I love them, especially for the price. They stand behind their lifetime warranty too.
 
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AngryBeaver

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I split between 5 and 8 cord a year with an axe. I heat with wood and I haven't touched a maul in 15+ years. I've used my splitter once in 5 years... Ive had this axe for 13+ years now

I made this about 5 years ago comparing the fiskars X27, husqvarna S2000 and the Stihl Pro splitting axe. Check it out for yourself. If it works on 30" rounds, it will be perfectly fine for small to medium logs...

Fiskars x27 video
 
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D

Den69rs96

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Another vote for the Fiskars x27. Just keep the edge sharp. I bought their sharper as well. I've split some decent size Oak with it.
 
F

finn

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The Fiskars 27” works for me, and is a quantum advance over the half dozen or so old technology splitting mauls I have accumulated.

The Fiskars is much lighter and relies on tip impact velocity and the engineered shape of the wedge to split the wood, not purely mass with a crude taper like the old, heavy mauls.

My Fiskars is the 27” version. The 36” is a newer offering. The Fiskars, specifically the 27”, doesn’t tear up your shoulders like the heavy, old mauls.

I think Stihl offers something similar now.
 
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AngryBeaver

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finn said:
The Fiskars 27” works for me, and is a quantum advance over the half dozen or so old technology splitting mauls I have accumulated.

The Fiskars is much lighter and relies on tip impact velocity and the engineered shape of the wedge to split the wood, not purely mass with a crude taper like the old, heavy mauls.

My Fiskars is the 27” version. The 36” is a newer offering. The Fiskars, specifically the 27”, doesn’t tear up your shoulders like the heavy, old mauls.

I think Stihl offers something similar now.
Click to expand...

you have the x25. they no longer make that length with that head. They now make that length handle with a smaller head as a camping axe.

They made the long handle 30+ years ago also.....
 
F

finn

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AngryBeaver said:
you have the x25. they no longer make that length with that head. They now make that length handle with a smaller head as a camping axe.

They made the long handle 30+ years ago also.....
Click to expand...

You’re probably right-25”.

Mostly I use the hydraulic splitter now, if it’s more than a few splits.

Hell to get old.
 
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SethB

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Jul 30, 2015
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Fiskars X27 splitting axe. Makes it super simple to split wood. Haven't touched a maul, axe or wedges since.
 
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Spacey_G

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Dec 31, 2015
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Another satisfied X27 owner here. I'm a relative beginner to wood splitting and I appreciate that the handle doesn't break on the occasional mishit.
 
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vanapplebomb

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Holland, MI
Axes are for cutting, mauls are for splitting. You will notice the ends are different shapes if you compare them side by side. The sides of an axe are concave and the tip sharp, a maul has convex sides and the tip is blunt. Using an axe to try and split wood is a pain because the tip cuts the fibers, and the concave side profile just wedges itself in the log and is difficult hard to remove when it gets stuck. The blunt end of the maul causes the fibers to split along the grain, and the concave sides are less prone to getting wedged tightly into the log.
 
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SJay3660

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On 30 Acres in Saginaw/Midland/Bay City Area
Build one of these - it makes splitting wood by hand much easier.

tire-jpg.57724
 
C

Copymutt

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I’m perfectly happy w/ my double bit axe. Hickory handle, now 60 some yrs. old. The axe, not me, I’m 70.
Chop 4 cord or so every yr. Accuracy, reading the round, specie of wood and strike through the round are my approaches. The occasional knotted up piece requires a splitting wedge. A maul or ten # wedge on a handle requires a lot more effort and accuracy suffers.
 
F

finn

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vanapplebomb said:
Axes are for cutting, mauls are for splitting. You will notice the ends are different shapes if you compare them side by side. The sides of an axe are concave and the tip sharp, a maul has convex sides and the tip is blunt. Using an axe to try and split wood is a pain because the tip cuts the fibers, and the concave side profile just wedges itself in the log and is difficult hard to remove when it gets stuck. The blunt end of the maul causes the fibers to split along the grain, and the concave sides are less prone to getting wedged tightly into the log.
Click to expand...

No. The Fiskars is a splitting axe, specifically designed for splitting, not cutting across the fibers as in felling a tree.

A maul is a tool that splits wood by blunt trauma, and is a crude instrument compared with the Fiskars splitting axe.

You are correct in that a regular felling axe isn’t a great tool for splitting wood.
 
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seanc_mt

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Burn 10-12 cords of pine and fir each year for the last 7 years. Hand split every piece with a Fiskars x27.
 
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Jazz1

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Thunder Bay On.
They use axe to split wood in the movies! I use a maul but prefer to split my wood when its cold as stink,,,gnarly silver maple splits easy when its -30
 
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