felling wedges

[Jay]

what are the best felling wedges to use? at college we use the stihl high lift wedges which i think are cr@p we have used them for 2 days work and there all knackered only be used for about 15 trees tops but the ends are all spit and broken some even completely broken off. don't seem good value for money if you ask me.

 

Jay

[Peter]

Depends how you use them. If you buy your own, then you hit them with something large enough to drive them in without splitting the shafts.

[Lee Winger]

Stihl high lift are the best! they want banging in with a good 12lb+ sledge hammer

[Arborist]

Or a fencing maul.

[madmatt]

Agree with the above, I have a stihl hi-lift wedge its a year old now and still good. I drive mine in with the fencing maul, The wooden bit can be bought seperatley for a few quid.

[Brushcutter]

I managed to split a Hi lifts wooden shaft first time i used one. About 2 months later i broke another while it was in the tree. Since then i've not broken one i've got an extra aluminium ring to put on them that gives them an extra bit of support. I use a 12lb sledge to drive them in but a fencing mell sounds like a much better idea.

[Peter]

Whatever you use, the surface area of the striking tool must be significantly larger than the area of the end of the wedge to avoid splitting.

[Mike Hill]

That ring must be fitted on the shaft if they are going to last any lenght of time.

As was said above a wooden Maul is best,the kind I use has two steel rings around the head.I soak it in Diesel,it makes the wood swell and they last alot longer.

Makes the Maul heavier as well.

[Mr Ed]

And always use 2 aluminium rings. (on the wedge)

[Arborist]

That ring must be fitted on the shaft if they are going to last any lenght of time.

As was said above a wooden Maul is best,the kind I use has two steel rings around the head.I soak it in Diesel,it makes the wood swell and they last alot longer.

Makes the Maul heavier as well.

 

Soak the maul shaft or the wedge shaft?