In the early 70s, I had two spltting mauls made by Woodings - 6 lb and 8 lb. Very effective conventional splitting maul head shape. ... I lived off grid in interior Alaska and heated primarily with White Spruce. ... While there, I added a "Monster Maul," mail ordered. It had a round steel pipe handle that was pressed into an oval shape. It and the abrupt, wedge-shaped, welded steel head were painted orange. ... The first time I swung it, at about -35° F, wearing two pairs of mittens, it flew out of my hands. A roll of friction tape remedied that. ... I didn't use it often, but if I needed it, no spruce round could stand up to it. ... I soon discovered that rounds that were really "tight" with lots of knots, could just be set aside. ... When the temperature dropped below -50° F, one swing with the 8 lb Woodings would cause those tight rounds to literally explode apart. It was a pretty amazing phenomenon. Some splits would end up over 15 feet away from the round! ... I'm sure you've ascertained that how you decide to buck up the logs and limbs, has a lot to do with how difficult they are to split. ... I had quite a bit of Aspen on my land too. It was normally easy to split with the 6 lb Woodings. Those modern 3.5 lb splitting axes you showed, would have been perfect for that. ... Incidentally, Aspen doesn't hold the fire very well for an overnight burn in the stove. It also creates a lot of ash. I reserved my Aspen for early Spring and late Fall heating. ... The ash is good for traction, when sprinkled onto ice and hard packed snow. Some of the ash, regularly went into the outhouse hole too. ... Great, practical, comparison video. Thanks. ... Would you consider thinning the wooden handle a bit, below the head on that ridiculously fat handled maul? ... I don't know if you have access to hickory where you live. It's very worthwhile to cut some straight hickory saplings. Auger a screw eye into one end and hang them up in the barn or garage to cure. Then fabricate your own axe and maul handles from them. The concentric circular grain pattern in those homemade handles is vastly superior to any store bought, hickory handle. ... My broken hickory axe and maul handles were used for hammer, hatchet and file handles. Some of them ended up making stout stanchions for the dog sleds too. ... Hickory is a valuable commodity in Alaska. ...Good luck.
i have a cut elm sapling and plan on trying that as axe handle.couldnt move the tree from where it was growing .thanks for sharing the cinders uses as well .
Great and helpful vid… full of real practical info. I cut and split my wood and thecFiskars is amazing but I also have mauls and wedges. Fun working with these tools and a great workout!
Very informative video. You’re spot on! I ordered a Fiskar’s Iso Core today. Have a small 17” Fiskar Splitting Axe for kindling that I love! I’ve been using a generic basic maul for years and am expecting a huge improvement with the Fiskar Maul! I still want to get a Fiskar x27 splitting axe for softer easier pieces to save on wear & tear on me! I know there’s a lot of hater’s on the Fiskar’s because of the plastic handle but I don’t have a problem with the Fiskar’s handles. Lifetime warranty so I don’t worry about possibly breaking itThe only small suggestion I have is to not split on the ground! I use large round piece of oak about 12”-14” high. Much less bounce when striking the piece on top.
Yeah I don't work about the plastic handle. Yeah it could break, but so could a wood handle. I think for the money the x27 is a hard splitting axe to beat.
Great video and good tips too! I bought a used x25 first and a month later a used x27. I have better control with the x25 at 5'10" over the x27 which is eight inches longer. If I was splitting bigger rounds 3'-5' I would go with the x27.
I have a Roughneck maul for bigger stuff, but generally use my Husky splitting axe most things and find it to be very good! If the handle was 4 inches longer, it would be perfect!
For those interested, the Stihl branded axe is I believe actually a German made Adler 951600 spitting axe, 3000g of juicy Germanic goodness. I have three of them 🤭 Also, the Husqvarna axe is made by German firm Gardena, and can be purchased cheaper in the grey and turquoise regalia of the original Gardena 2800.
Very helpful explaination; many thanks. For what I've seen, the X27 is my choice. More kinetic energy by the longer handle... For xtreme hard suckers I use a 5 kilogram (11 LB) sledgehammer with a Stihl splitting wedge. Seasons Greetings 🎄 from Holland 🇳🇱
Just got myself Estwing 6lb maul...jeez, ain't easy for me...cos I'm bit ill at the moment. .. I've got problem with precision and keep hitting base of the handle. .. Great video! Thank you!
I hear you on not liking the round stihl handle. But to be fair, the rotation of the head upon contact. Is actually helping with the splitting action. If u allow the head to rotate. It helps kick the pieces away from one another. Maybe instead of fighting it, try allowing it to rotate. I think that might help u more, obviously if u are trying to force it not to rotate. It would definitely hurt the hands rather fast.. Just a thought..
So i dont know if its a plecebo or not, but sometimes on that really knotted stuff i will take a couple cracks at the knots with a regular chopping axe to just try and break up that kind of curl of knots running through it and it seems to split a bit better. Again it might just be in my head but worth a try if anyone gets really super stuck on a knotted piece
Just bought the solid a19 fiskars online 😄 and was looking for some inspirational content on the axe😄. And guess who has it 🤩🤩🏴☠️🏴☠️💰. Remembering the “old” videos I watched on the f1,s1 and others. Bk knives 🔪. Fun times 😎. A19 looks nice, it’s an old model but, will se what’s coming I the mail. Fingers crossed 🤞. Hopefully it’s not something else 😄
So, generally speaking, get a Fiskars? I try to find a good value felling axe, ideal for hard woods, but they all come with bent handles and their bevel geometries, require sometimes literaly days of filing them down, to make them work properly. I had the Fiskars X17 in mind, to get it as my spliting axe, Nice video, Keep it up!
Yes buy the 28" and the 36". See which fits and feels better to you. I'd say you absolutely will not find a better splitting axe for the money. Just purchased a Collins splitting axe it's on its way. Can't wait to try it out. Thanks for watching.
@@shane4176how’s that Collins? They used to be great till they moved production from original factory in Connecticut to Mexico. Nothing against Mexican craftsmanship, but in this case, the old ones were supposedly much better. my Collins splitting maul handle broke after very little use. I am a beginner, so I was probably hacking away on knots (thanks for that very informative point about “flip your log“, that was my big takeaway from your fine video).
@rhythmfield thanks for watching and for the kind words. As for the Collins I haven't used it a whole lot. When I have its worked just fine. Seems to be great steel with good heat treat. I have a couple of their small forged forest axes. They are both very nice axes. I use those for kindling and bushcrafting.
@@shane4176 lol I'm just messing with you. I appreciate the review(s). I'm new to the #axelife game and I came across your video via searching for the Husqvarna A2400. I just ended up going with that one for now. I was originally dead set on a Helko Werk axe, but I've seen too many people talk about their ch0nky handles and I'm just doing this as a hobby and/or when the need calls for it due to downed trees. Thanks for the video, m8. Have a nice one.
@hodlwise2470 yeah the husqvarna is not my favorite axe for splitting bit it's decent. The Helko is nice but the handles are definitely to big for medium to large size hands.
Cool video. You need to get a Gransfors Bruk splitting Ax in your stable. And a splitting maul. I've tried many in my 40 plus years of hand splitting wood, and these GB splitting tools are by far the best I've tried. I use a Fiskars X27 as well.
Gerber went down hill after fiskers. They have alot of big adds but. My old Gerbers much better than new. Evan the Fisker knives. Gerber/Fisker machete no distal taper no balance, vase shape handle requires a tight grip bad news if you work all day. The edge is a hallow ground bound for failure. I was given one the edge was a mess to much to grind, I had to straiten the edge with a couple of hammers. Caronas, Collins, Cold steel and others alot better.
I friggin hate my double bit. I have been stuck using it all month waiting to get my proper maul back from a friend. It gets stuck or I over swing and kill my splitting block. Also it's not more then six pounds so it's more of a copper I guess.
I used a x27 for all the wood I split I do have the 8 pound maul but haven’t found it to be better for me personally. I was advised to quit splitting by hand so now I use my splitter that I bought for wood that didn’t want to split by hand. It’s not as fast as hand splitting but that’s the way it is.
That sthil 1 has its got any stamps on the head because I got 1 on a fle market and its got the same looking head as that but myn has just got 3kg stamped in it no sthil stamped on it and the handle on myn has been changed at some point but the head looks identical
Isn't a maul used to drive a wedge vs a splitting axe. I've heard that you can damage a splitting axe when hitting steel on steel. When not driving a wedge your maul comes into play (as you said) when splitting tougher wood or knotty lumber.
Oh yeah it's an awesome watch!! I never take it off. The thing I like about it most as it comes with a compass that works very well. It is absolutely bulletproof. It's a Casio gwg 1000. You are correct it is of high quality and fairly expensive. But in my opinion more than worth the money I spent on it.
No I usually just split it on the ground I just did it this way for the video. I don't know who would have time to pick up a piece of wood set it up on another piece of wood to split it every single time?
@@shane4176 There is a Hungarian proverb for this: What he gains at the toll, loses at the customs. All in all, it is worth splitting a log for several reasons. One reason is that you don't drive the ax into the ground, where there may be stones. So you don't ruin your ax. Most trees have to be set up anyway. (Sorry for the mistakes, I'm working with the translator.)
Not correct. The h in the German language makes it a pronounced steel. Actually, the proper way to say it would be shteel because st letter combination in German is like sh in English like in shoe.
In the early 70s, I had two spltting mauls made by Woodings - 6 lb and 8 lb. Very effective conventional splitting maul head shape. ... I lived off grid in interior Alaska and heated primarily with White Spruce. ... While there, I added a "Monster Maul," mail ordered. It had a round steel pipe handle that was pressed into an oval shape. It and the abrupt, wedge-shaped, welded steel head were painted orange. ... The first time I swung it, at about -35° F, wearing two pairs of mittens, it flew out of my hands. A roll of friction tape remedied that. ... I didn't use it often, but if I needed it, no spruce round could stand up to it. ... I soon discovered that rounds that were really "tight" with lots of knots, could just be set aside. ... When the temperature dropped below -50° F, one swing with the 8 lb Woodings would cause those tight rounds to literally explode apart. It was a pretty amazing phenomenon. Some splits would end up over 15 feet away from the round! ... I'm sure you've ascertained that how you decide to buck up the logs and limbs, has a lot to do with how difficult they are to split. ... I had quite a bit of Aspen on my land too. It was normally easy to split with the 6 lb Woodings. Those modern 3.5 lb splitting axes you showed, would have been perfect for that. ... Incidentally, Aspen doesn't hold the fire very well for an overnight burn in the stove. It also creates a lot of ash. I reserved my Aspen for early Spring and late Fall heating. ... The ash is good for traction, when sprinkled onto ice and hard packed snow. Some of the ash, regularly went into the outhouse hole too. ... Great, practical, comparison video. Thanks. ... Would you consider thinning the wooden handle a bit, below the head on that ridiculously fat handled maul? ... I don't know if you have access to hickory where you live. It's very worthwhile to cut some straight hickory saplings. Auger a screw eye into one end and hang them up in the barn or garage to cure. Then fabricate your own axe and maul handles from them. The concentric circular grain pattern in those homemade handles is vastly superior to any store bought, hickory handle. ... My broken hickory axe and maul handles were used for hammer, hatchet and file handles. Some of them ended up making stout stanchions for the dog sleds too. ... Hickory is a valuable commodity in Alaska. ...Good luck.
Thanks for the great comment! Yes I have lots of hickory where I live
i have a cut elm sapling and plan on trying that as axe handle.couldnt move the tree from where it was growing .thanks for sharing the cinders uses as well .
Great and helpful vid… full of real practical info. I cut and split my wood and thecFiskars is amazing but I also have mauls and wedges. Fun working with these tools and a great workout!
Thanks for watching and thanks for the kind comment. I truly enjoy being outside and working with these tools and staying in shape.
True! 🪓🪓🪓
This was excellent... I have replaced (still have them) all my wood handle axes / splitting and mauls with the composite handles.
thanks man I appreciate that! The composite handles are definitely tough to beat.
Very informative video. You’re spot on! I ordered a Fiskar’s Iso Core today. Have a small 17” Fiskar Splitting Axe for kindling that I love! I’ve been using a generic basic maul for years and am expecting a huge improvement with the Fiskar Maul! I still want to get a Fiskar x27 splitting axe for softer easier pieces to save on wear & tear on me! I know there’s a lot of hater’s on the Fiskar’s because of the plastic handle but I don’t have a problem with the Fiskar’s handles. Lifetime warranty so I don’t worry about possibly breaking itThe only small suggestion I have is to not split on the ground! I use large round piece of oak about 12”-14” high. Much less bounce when striking the piece on top.
Yeah I don't work about the plastic handle. Yeah it could break, but so could a wood handle. I think for the money the x27 is a hard splitting axe to beat.
My favorite maul; if I have to use one; is the SIX pound Fiskars maul. The eight pound one rather unwieldy. The six pound one swings like an axe!
Huh I didn't know about that one. I guess I gotta get one of those now!
I would agree. It is also my favorite, and I have quite a few mauls. Great all around.
Great demonstration!👍 Thanks for sharing🙏
No problem thanks for watching!
I'm envious of you collection of axes. I've got only Fiskars.
You should see my forest axe collection. I have several wetterlings axes.
Great video and good tips too! I bought a used x25 first and a month later a used x27. I have better control with the x25 at 5'10" over the x27 which is eight inches longer. If I was splitting bigger rounds 3'-5' I would go with the x27.
I prefer the x25 myself I'm 5-'9". Both work great but the shorter handle I can split a bit faster with.
I have a Roughneck maul for bigger stuff, but generally use my Husky splitting axe most things and find it to be very good! If the handle was 4 inches longer, it would be perfect!
For those interested, the Stihl branded axe is I believe actually a German made Adler 951600 spitting axe, 3000g of juicy Germanic goodness. I have three of them 🤭
Also, the Husqvarna axe is made by German firm Gardena, and can be purchased cheaper in the grey and turquoise regalia of the original Gardena 2800.
Fiskars maul is my go to for Aussie hardwood 💪
Yeah that stuff looks tough as heck!! I seen videos of guys splitting it looks horrible haha.
Very helpful explaination; many thanks.
For what I've seen, the X27 is my choice. More kinetic energy by the longer handle...
For xtreme hard suckers I use a 5 kilogram (11 LB) sledgehammer with a Stihl splitting wedge.
Seasons Greetings 🎄 from Holland 🇳🇱
Thank you for watching
My two best wood splitters are my gransfors Bruks splitting maul and a Tuatahi work axe. Impressive.
Just got myself Estwing 6lb maul...jeez, ain't easy for me...cos I'm bit ill at the moment. ..
I've got problem with precision and keep hitting base of the handle. ..
Great video!
Thank you!
Well I hope you get better soon!!
I hear you on not liking the round stihl handle. But to be fair, the rotation of the head upon contact. Is actually helping with the splitting action. If u allow the head to rotate. It helps kick the pieces away from one another. Maybe instead of fighting it, try allowing it to rotate. I think that might help u more, obviously if u are trying to force it not to rotate. It would definitely hurt the hands rather fast.. Just a thought..
I have that Fiskars Pro 8lb maul. It’s a beast.
So i dont know if its a plecebo or not, but sometimes on that really knotted stuff i will take a couple cracks at the knots with a regular chopping axe to just try and break up that kind of curl of knots running through it and it seems to split a bit better. Again it might just be in my head but worth a try if anyone gets really super stuck on a knotted piece
Very informative, keep up these videos .
Good stuff! I really like the fiskars products!
For sure I have had any problems with any I've owned. I'll continue using them.
Thanks nice job God bless
You are welcome thanks for watching. God bless you my friend.
I have Fiskars x11, x17, x21, x25 and x27 😁🙋🇷🇴
Oh yeah!!
Just bought the solid a19 fiskars online 😄 and was looking for some inspirational content on the axe😄. And guess who has it 🤩🤩🏴☠️🏴☠️💰. Remembering the “old” videos I watched on the f1,s1 and others. Bk knives 🔪. Fun times 😎. A19 looks nice, it’s an old model but, will se what’s coming I the mail. Fingers crossed 🤞. Hopefully it’s not something else 😄
Haha glad to see you back!! Yeah hopefully that one works out for you. I'll have to look it up I mat have one I'm not sure?
@@shane4176 😄👌👌🔪🔪 me to. Ohh yeah maybe it has another name in the states 👌
@@shane4176 yeah is called a (Splitting Axe (28")) Fiskars in the states😎. Not Solid a19 like it’s called in Scandinavia 😄🏴☠️
So, generally speaking, get a Fiskars? I try to find a good value felling axe, ideal for hard woods, but they all come with bent handles and their bevel geometries, require sometimes literaly days of filing them down, to make them work properly. I had the Fiskars X17 in mind, to get it as my spliting axe, Nice video, Keep it up!
Yes buy the 28" and the 36". See which fits and feels better to you. I'd say you absolutely will not find a better splitting axe for the money. Just purchased a Collins splitting axe it's on its way. Can't wait to try it out. Thanks for watching.
@@shane4176how’s that Collins? They used to be great till they moved production from original factory in Connecticut to Mexico. Nothing against Mexican craftsmanship, but in this case, the old ones were supposedly much better. my Collins splitting maul handle broke after very little use. I am a beginner, so I was probably hacking away on knots (thanks for that very informative point about “flip your log“, that was my big takeaway from your fine video).
@rhythmfield thanks for watching and for the kind words. As for the Collins I haven't used it a whole lot. When I have its worked just fine. Seems to be great steel with good heat treat. I have a couple of their small forged forest axes. They are both very nice axes. I use those for kindling and bushcrafting.
@@shane4176 thanks 👍🏻
The entire time I was waiting for you to use the Husqvarna lmfao. Why include it and not use it in the demonstration? Lol gg.
I simply forgot sorry
@@shane4176 lol I'm just messing with you. I appreciate the review(s). I'm new to the #axelife game and I came across your video via searching for the Husqvarna A2400. I just ended up going with that one for now. I was originally dead set on a Helko Werk axe, but I've seen too many people talk about their ch0nky handles and I'm just doing this as a hobby and/or when the need calls for it due to downed trees.
Thanks for the video, m8. Have a nice one.
@hodlwise2470 yeah the husqvarna is not my favorite axe for splitting bit it's decent. The Helko is nice but the handles are definitely to big for medium to large size hands.
🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪 great video,if you split 50/50 on the inner or outer edge, you get better results,less mass to deal with,👍
Yes for sure
Cool video. You need to get a Gransfors Bruk splitting Ax in your stable. And a splitting maul. I've tried many in my 40 plus years of hand splitting wood, and these GB splitting tools are by far the best I've tried. I use a Fiskars X27 as well.
I have the small but I need to get a large for sure.
GB tools are an admiration for craftsmanship
Good work 🍻
Hey thanks and thanks for watching!!
Gerber went down hill after fiskers. They have alot of big adds but. My old Gerbers much better than new. Evan the Fisker knives. Gerber/Fisker machete no distal taper no balance, vase shape handle requires a tight grip bad news if you work all day. The edge is a hallow ground bound for failure. I was given one the edge was a mess to much to grind, I had to straiten the edge with a couple of hammers. Caronas, Collins, Cold steel and others alot better.
Thoughs axes and malls how dose that plastic on the side of the face and handle hold up. I have axes maybe a hundred years old, and mals.
What do you think to the Husqvarna 2800? I personally think the handle looks great
It's OK not my favorite. I think the bit is a little to long. But it's not bad
I friggin hate my double bit.
I have been stuck using it all month waiting to get my proper maul back from a friend.
It gets stuck or I over swing and kill my splitting block.
Also it's not more then six pounds so it's more of a copper I guess.
Yeah double bits can be a pain. They are great if you have the correct wood for them. But not my favorite for actually splitting firewood.
I’m splitting up wood myself
Enjoy it!
my fiscars is too light,not into chopping kindling on every round 😅 i ve been on red oak.
Yeah I love splitting red oak. It splits super easy. Hickory and beech not so much.
@@shane4176 bought a 8 lb maul like yours only 44 dollars. its so going thru those rounds. lol
@budtackett8347 yeah man those are hard to beat! Enjoy thanks for watching!
I used a x27 for all the wood I split I do have the 8 pound maul but haven’t found it to be better for me personally. I was advised to quit splitting by hand so now I use my splitter that I bought for wood that didn’t want to split by hand. It’s not as fast as hand splitting but that’s the way it is.
That sthil 1 has its got any stamps on the head because I got 1 on a fle market and its got the same looking head as that but myn has just got 3kg stamped in it no sthil stamped on it and the handle on myn has been changed at some point but the head looks identical
I am not sure I will have to check once I get home
@@shane4176 thanks appreciate it 👍
So splitting axe is the first one you buy, and then when you have a decent bunch of failed splits you buy a maul
Yep sometimes you simply need a maul
Isn't a maul used to drive a wedge vs a splitting axe. I've heard that you can damage a splitting axe when hitting steel on steel. When not driving a wedge your maul comes into play (as you said) when splitting tougher wood or knotty lumber.
No I would not say a maul is designed specifically for driving a wedge. They are made to split wood but can also drive a wedge
thank you...@@shane4176 @Wranglestar put out a short vid stating what I had written. All good opinions.
Is the handle of the 28-inch fiskars carbon axe stronger than the 36-inch fiskars of the same model? (not the 36 maul)
I'm honestly not sure sorry.
Try a Tuatahi work axe?
I have not but often thought about it!
It’s worth every penny.
Seems like a recurrent problem, the Fiskars handle breaking at lower temperatures. Being in Canada, makes me nervous.
I have split at -10 to 15 and not had a problem, the beauty of the fiskars is if it breaks you send it back and get a new one
The first one I bought broke on the second hit. It was below zero that day. But they replaced it and I haven't had a problem since.
Just had to comment to ask you what brand of watch are you wearing? It looks to be of good quality
Oh yeah it's an awesome watch!! I never take it off. The thing I like about it most as it comes with a compass that works very well. It is absolutely bulletproof. It's a Casio gwg 1000. You are correct it is of high quality and fairly expensive. But in my opinion more than worth the money I spent on it.
@@shane4176 thank you for your reply and also good video I wish I had the money to buy a Husqvarna Maul lol
@@chrisalarcon7013 where are you located?
@@shane4176 Pennsylvania I'm thinking of just buying the 8 lb Maul from harbor freight currently
@@chrisalarcon7013 I'll send you my Husqvarna splitting axe
fucken epic video mate thanks
Hey thanks brother I really appreciate that I'm really glad you enjoyed it thanks for watching.
Can I hit a wedge with the other side of the Fiskars Iso Core maul?
Yeah I'd say so it's soft enough it shouldn't be a problem.
@@shane4176 Thanks.
@@woodbalt no problem my friend
There is no information anywhere about which Fiskars model can hit the wedge with, I have an X 27 but it says categorically not allowed
@@woodbalt are you thinking of a metal splitting wedge or a plastic driving wedge?
Які колун серед них найкращий
I like the fiskars splitting axe
That wood sounds very thin, the more dense the wood,the harder it is to split,
I'm not sure what you mean by the wood sounds thin? It's white oak that's pretty dense wood.
That still maul is beastly
Haha it definitely is
You don't split wood on the ground, you split it on a log.
No I usually just split it on the ground I just did it this way for the video. I don't know who would have time to pick up a piece of wood set it up on another piece of wood to split it every single time?
@@shane4176 There is a Hungarian proverb for this: What he gains at the toll, loses at the customs. All in all, it is worth splitting a log for several reasons. One reason is that you don't drive the ax into the ground, where there may be stones. So you don't ruin your ax. Most trees have to be set up anyway. (Sorry for the mistakes, I'm working with the translator.)
Hello Shane, just subscribed 🚜🪵👍🏼🇺🇸
Hey thanks so much!!
Something for my American brothers out there, stihl is pronounced still, not steel
What!? no? Are you german?
@@thomaslindroos1667 I am
Not correct. The h in the German language makes it a pronounced steel. Actually, the proper way to say it would be shteel because st letter combination in German is like sh in English like in shoe.
@@EuroYardService read the comment above yours
@@EuroYardService
Kompletter Unsinn was du da schreibt!
Mach die Leute hier nicht müde; hau ab.
Grüße aus 🇳🇱 11 km von der BRD Grenze.