Axe Or Maul

[stoker-steam]

You experienced chaps might think this a daft question, but here goes.

 

What would you recommend for splitting firewood for the small production home user, an axe or a splitting maul?

 

The reason I ask is that I use an Ex Royal Navy firemans axe

(Liberated off HMS Eagle just before she went to razor blades)

 

to split my wood, often I get lumps of wood flying through the air, as you know firemans axes have a gentle taper. If I were to use a maul I think the wood would fly violently in all directions due to the wedge shape of the maul,

 

would this happen?

 

Cheers

[Pine Marten]

Use both! That's what I do. I use a large axe for most wood and a maul on the tougher stuff; just be aware of the flying bits!

[nepia]

Once you've used a maul for splitting anything you wonder why you ever used an axe! You'll know yourself what it's like freeing an axe from wood; with a maul all you do is give the end of the handle a bang with your hand.

I would now never split with a felling axe or similar.

[Tom D]

I used to split al my wood by axe untill I got the splitter, I had an axe and a maul. I used the axe over the maul every time, it just worked so much better, It was a large headed axe and was as heavy as the maul, I found the head lying around somwhere and put a new helve on it, I also kept it sharp, When it stuck I'd just tap the helve downwards and it would come out. I think with a good technique an axe is better.

 

Maybe I had a crap maul and a really good axe? who knows.

[Pine Marten]

I agree with Tom - a good axe is always better, but when the going gets tough (and I like to think my technique is o.k. ) I reach for the maul.

 

It also depends on where you split - in your (small) backyard then expect chips and splinters to fly all round with the maul! I always buy decent mauls with hickory handles, never had a problem, although I know one old geezer who used a plastic/fibreglassed handled one and almost wrecked himself with the vibrations......they were'nt good ......

[Chris Sheppard]

I'd say both too, though I do prefer an axe. Mauls are good on smaller stuff with straight grain (but so is an axe) but have a tendency to bounce on harder stuff (ours did anyway!)

[Robert_S]

i always preferred an axe over the maul, the maul seemed to bounce (may have been a crap maul) but i know have a small electric splitter, i dont sell the logs only split for personal use but i will never swing an axe again after having a splitter.

[Charlieh]

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/firewood-forum/4615-need-new-splitting-maul-2.html

 

fiskars super splitting axe, half way down the page are some pics of mine, its great

[Dave Martin]

Maul every time but you do sometimes need an axe to get it started .... although I use neither now just the splitter and saw...... after months of using the maul you end up ready for the knackers yard ... stiff neck, aching shoulders, bad back, dodgy hip, bad elbows etc etc etc

[Nick B]

I use a maul bits do fly in all directions,

but I find it better than the axe my mate uses

 

I only split small amounts each year or i would get a log splitter