What's the best options for cutting your own logs?

[rapalaman]

Got the x27 and 25 but prefer the 25 for most splitting. The 27 if it’s a bit knottier and then the Stihl Aluminium splitting wedge for nasty stuff 

[neiln]

I started out with the roughneck maul like you, then got an x27 for Xmas and boy what a difference!  I learnt lots of tricks, got quicker but just did more wood (12-15 cube a year) decided it was worth the investment in more axes....got an 8lb stihl/oschenkof maul for  the 'unsplitables' and an x21, that increased doubled or tripled my speed.  Then found the x21-27 gap too large, learnt to hang a head properly myself and got sent a true temper Jersey pattern head at just over 3lb.... that on 28" in easy stuff was sooooo fast. I only used a cheap haft though so eventually it broke.  At this time I was busy so just went online and bought cheap (very cheap,  spears and jackson) x25 and x23 ish copies. There is no 23, and the 2 axes aren't quite the right weight or length but you get the idea.   Those axes are rubbish compared to the fiskars but I use those 2 most as they are the right size for most stuff.   The x21 works BUT it's too short unless you're short.  This makes it impossible to use without a block and dangerous if you don't bend your legs..  2nd swing with it I hit my shin not the ground after a knot deflected the axe out sideways past my block... thankfully it was just stitches I needed.

Tbh, knowing what I know,  if buying fresh now, I'd get the husky/gardena axe at x23 ish size,  an x25 or s2800, an x27, and the stihl 8lb maul. Once you know how to split you'll use smaller axes most of the time. 

 

Oh and if you're any where near se19 you're welcome to come and split some wood for me....I mean try the different axes. 😉 

[spandit]

If you get all your logs cut to size you can hire a splitter for the day and do them all.

I have a large pile waiting to be processed. It's under cover, at least

[Dougie Stirling]

11 hours ago, neiln said:

I started out with the roughneck maul like you, then got an x27 for Xmas and boy what a difference!  I learnt lots of tricks, got quicker but just did more wood (12-15 cube a year) decided it was worth the investment in more axes....got an 8lb stihl/oschenkof maul for  the 'unsplitables' and an x21, that increased doubled or tripled my speed.  Then found the x21-27 gap too large, learnt to hang a head properly myself and got sent a true temper Jersey pattern head at just over 3lb.... that on 28" in easy stuff was sooooo fast. I only used a cheap haft though so eventually it broke.  At this time I was busy so just went online and bought cheap (very cheap,  spears and jackson) x25 and x23 ish copies. There is no 23, and the 2 axes aren't quite the right weight or length but you get the idea.   Those axes are rubbish compared to the fiskars but I use those 2 most as they are the right size for most stuff.   The x21 works BUT it's too short unless you're short.  This makes it impossible to use without a block and dangerous if you don't bend your legs..  2nd swing with it I hit my shin not the ground after a knot deflected the axe out sideways past my block... thankfully it was just stitches I needed.

Tbh, knowing what I know,  if buying fresh now, I'd get the husky/gardena axe at x23 ish size,  an x25 or s2800, an x27, and the stihl 8lb maul. Once you know how to split you'll use smaller axes most of the time. 

 

Oh and if you're any where near se19 you're welcome to come and split some wood for me....I mean try the different axes. 😉 

Thanks - I think birthday and Christmas are now both sorted. I'm very small 5'4" and while fit don't have the same strength as your regular tree surgeon handling logs every day. Sometimes makes me weep when I see the size they can lift compared to me but I'd like to think I'm better than average. So smaller axes may well suit me better. Sadly in the Edinburgh area or I'd have loved to trade axe blows so to speak - lol

[neiln]

As a 50yo home owner and dad of 3 young kids who take up all my time so I'm not a fit and active as I was....I share your pain.  One young lad who's a tree surgeon I occasionally get kids m logs from is particularly keen on delivering large rounds cut twice a long as the others.   I resort to running the legs m large saw in the front garden to buck these before shifting out back.

 

At 5'4"  I'd recommend the husky s2800 as your bigger but not the maul splitter and the first to buy.  Then the s1600 for a smaller size.   X25 and 21 are alternatives.  Be careful to bend your knees and ensure you'll hit the ground not your shin with the shorter option.   If you don't like the sound of that,  get a 28" handle and haft a 2.5 ish lb head on it as your light option.

[Muddy42]

Have you considered an mains electric splitter to go with your mains electric saw?  They can be slow but less effort than splitting by hand.

[Dougie Stirling]

1 hour ago, Muddy42 said:

Have you considered an mains electric splitter to go with your mains electric saw?  They can be slow but less effort than splitting by hand.

Yes, I've heard about electric splitters (5 tonne or so) and starting to think one might be amazing especially for the larger stuff (50cm+ diameter, and/or about 18inch+ depth), with a decent axe for normal/finishing stuff. A friend on the west coast actually has one and so I'm looking to head over in about 6 weeks to try it out.

 

I'm going to take away all the good advice and get next level stuff later this year I think - sounds like the husky s2800 and X21 are folks top picks but smoother good stuff in there too and likely see if I can try them all out. I definitely want a fibreglass handle though as changing handles seems beyond me at the moment.

 

....I'm also just turned 50 and have 3 kids so a guy's got to have somewhere to go hide 🙂  with toys to play with.

[Dougie Stirling]

Thanks for top tips, so it doesn't look like I'm being rude, I'm off on holiday for 10 days from tonight and so will catch up on advice when I'm back. Really appreciate the useful tips so far though.

[neiln]

This

Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Professional Chopping Felling Splitting Axe - 1.8kg

WWW.IN-EXCESS.COM

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Spear & Jackson; making everyday gardening easy and enjoyable through the precise and powerful...

and a smaller one that I can't seem to find are the 2 cheap axes I have.  You get what you pay for though,  I don't think these will last nor are they as good at splitting as the fiskars. 

 

 

 

 

[neiln]

O just realised,  I have the x17 as my small 'shin splitter'.  The X 21 at 28 inches should be OK.... but wear toe-tectors.