The Best Wood Splitting Axes and Mauls: My top recommendations after 5 years of professional work
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- čas přidán 27. 09. 2023
- 6 of my favorite ever splitting axes and mauls including Stihl/Ochsenkopf, Muller and Vintage Axes. I also explain why I don't like traditional Swedish mauls such as Husqvarna/ hults bruk and why modern felling axes such as council tool don't split well compared to a vintage felling axe. Fiskars and gransfors bruks splitters are pretty good but didn't make my list for various reasons. ymmv
On this subject, you can take this man’s opinion to the bank.
The only CZcams axe dude that’s out there axin balls on the regular, while making vids or not.
I have various axes and mauls, and they all have outlasted me.
Really helpful guidance -- You give key points and info critical in deciding which axes to buy and how to work with them (much better than most other videos)
Yes sir, you convinced me to go Ochsenkopf last year AFTER I had bought a Gransfor Bruk maul. Returned the Bruk unopened and have a few cords on my Big Ox maul and Spalt-fix at this time. I also use the mini Spalt-fix for small BBQ splits.
Excellent - that's a lot of wood! I was so stunned by the stacked wood I missed what you were saying and had to go back. Anyway, sound advice, many thanks for the useful tips.
Legitimately worthwhile channel Ben! You have mad ax skills and just watching you split, there's no doubt you know what you're talking about. I hope your channel grows because it should. There are clueless guys out there getting crazy views because they know how to lok good in front of a camera but really don't know much! Keep sharing the knowkedge!
Great video, Ben! 🪓 Good point about the ash handle for absorbing vibrations. Personally I prefer it to hickory
didn't knew you had a wife! happy marriage and loads of wood to split! so refreshing to see someone else in the vids, on topic I just bought a fiskars x25 and I can t w8 to put it to work
The x25 and x27 are really effective axes, i think i prefer the x25. Just for me the x27 was a bit odd to swing
Great video! I liked your point about ash handles and shock. Ash is less durable than hickory but it feels great to swing.
For driving wedges regularly its a must to avoid injury
Ben congratulations on getting married! The only maul I like that's locally available is the Fiskars 8 lb Isocore maul for gnarly rounds. Our traditional American maul pattern is bad for splitting, I highly dislike them. I like my Husqvarna S2800 in straight grained wood but I'm liking the Fiskars X25 with a 3 1/4 ish pound head and a 28 inch handle. I've come to prefer and like the 28 inch handles when using a chop block.
The fiskars maul seems very good, id like to try one given the chance. Definitely like shorter handles on a chopping block
Great video Ben! "The devil is in the details" is such a true comment.
Cheers! Its a small difference but a big change to performance
Great video Ben.
Also nice to see your wife splitting some wood.
🤟👌
Nice Axes
Greetings from Germany
Peter
Hello! Love all of your videos.
Question.
Do you sharpen the Ochsenkopf Spalt Fix and your German Maul? I saw your sharpening video that I really like but is that more of a guide for a felling axe or are these two axes included?
The reason I ask is because I just bought a Ochenkopf Spalt Fix 2.5 kilo and also the Ochsenkopf Big Ox Maul.
Would you recommend I sharpen them or leave them as they are out of the box?
Thank you!
Hey Ben, I’m 19 and never cut any wood before. I’m in great shape and I’m sure I’d have no problem with a bigger axe, but I’d imagine I don’t need a large axe. Someone in my neighborhood had a tree cut down and left big logs by the curb. I grabbed a couple hundred pounds of them, but don’t have an axe. What would you recommend for a simple job like this? I’m looking for something cheap, but reliable enough to get a very small job done! Thanks :)
Thanks for your review Ben, I’m wondering about the “vintage” axes. I’m like your wife I need a good axe for breaking down the mid sized pieces that have been split with a maul or “splitting” axe. When you say vintage, do you have a good brand recommendation, or source to buy from? I don’t like synthetic handles. I know one youtube reviewer said they like the council boys axe but not one of your picks. I like the style of the council boys but not sure what brand would be better or where to buy. Thanks!
Council Tool has a fairly new 5lbs splitting axe which looks interesting. the poll is supposed to be a bit heavier, which some say makes the flick technique easier, and the profile is thicker (wedgier?) than some of their others. I don't know if it comes on any handle shorter than 36", but I'm like you; I prefer around 32". I used to have the Fiskars X27 and gave it away; my first choice these days is the Husqvarna like yours. the handle seems to have a bit more flex than the Fiskars; therefore less shock to the hands (although technique helps mitigate that, no matter what axe you're swinging). I always enjoy your content, even though I haven't been able to swing an axe for the last couple of years. I have new cobalt/chrome/teflon shoulder joints now, and may be able to ease back into it. If you talk to Owen, tell him to post more!
Yeah the council tool splitter looks good, 36" or on a 28" fallers axe
@@benscottwoodchopper I was eyeing that one as well. I have at least 5 Council Tool axes; it's hard to go wrong with them stateside. I'm not sure how prices run in UK or Europe, though.
@@dennisobrien3618 theres only one place ive found that even sells them and they are very cheap but looks like they are clearance prices with no plan to restock. I gues europe has far too much competition between all the makers here
Hello Ben, thank you for your videos, I bought Husqvarna A2400 and two wedges and I am happy with it. Quick Question: should I leave wood that needs to dry after splitting outside or should I put it inside a ventilated storage?
If you have a week without rain leave it outside but if its going to rain get it under shelter but well ventilated
great video mate. do you think the Lamaca work axe would be suitable to do this sort of splitting?
No. The lamaca work axe is a thin wedge shaped axe best suited to limbing and felling small trees. It would stick badly splitting
Thanks for the video Ben! Did you ever try a French "Merlin" maul?
No, however by the look of the geometry I'm sure it would work identically to the german type just slip fit. I might give one a go in the future
I need a tutorial on why his tool ends the swing rotated about 90 degree around the handle. I've not been around someone that does that.
Hi Ben, have you ever used the STIHL AX range of axes? Any feedback?
What was the name of your pick for best all-around splitting axe? I couldn’t understand and don’t see a description anywhere. It was after the first maul.
Ochsenkopf spalt fix, also sold by stihl just red pro splitting axe
If you had to pick between the Husqvarna A2400 with the plastic handle and the Ochsenkopf/Stihl Spalt-Ax 2500g, which would you choose for general splitting work?
Ochsenkopf spalt fix
Nice! I see you don't stack your wood onto pallets or under some sort of roof?
At the moment its not possible, i will in the future however
Why is it that you don’t recommend something like Fiskars? I read the description but missed any more details other than that, in the video
I think they are pretty good albeit I prefer the husqvarna a2400 to the x25 and an not a fan of the x27 as its 4lb on a 36", just not my preference. I also quite like customising and replacing my wood handles which obviously you cant with a fiskars but they are generally bombproof.
Hey Ben, I notice you dont mention Tassies, do you not rate them? thanks.
The brades 1562s i use are very close to tassies, basically same in performance
@@benscottwoodchopper I have quite a few Tassies and a brades / Stanley Canada axes like you mention in this video - not flat cheeks, and they split as well as the Tassies tbh.
Whats the name of the second axe?
This man's golf swing must be nuclear.
Great Video thanks
Hello, can you kindly advise what is the name of the axe that your wife is using? Greetings from Poland.
its a vintage axe i restored. eagle edge tool co 1562
You are either very good or I'm doing it wrong. I've been splitting dry oak, 18" long, and there are times my sharpened Fiskar 8lb maul just bounces off the top. A few more whacks and I'll split it, but boy oh boy does the shock go down to my bones when it just bounces off.
Sometimes, dry wood splits much harder than green. I prefer splitting oak and beech green. Also maul profiles can bounce a lot. Some woods a felling axe splits better
Lucky for me they cut a bunch of oak trees back where they are logging red pine, my wife and I just cut up the dead and down oak as it's just in their way. I don't get much choice on green or dry, but thanks for the tip.@@benscottwoodchopper
That looks like really soft wood. In Australia we have the hardest wood in the world so a mauls like the fiskas isocore pro works good
Wood janka hardness is not a measure of how hard it is to split, but how much pressure it takes to force a steel ball half way into it. What really matters is grain straightness and knots. Softwood can have a lot of dense knots and be a right bugger to split
Very good vid and I agree with your conclusions - but then I'm tall, too. BUT you need to wear safety glasses to split wood.
safety glasses for splitting wood is optional, the risk is so infinitely small of having anything fly in your eye but not being able to see due to fogged up glasses from sweating is much more of a danger!
Brades 6 1/2 pounder all day long..😁was that plastic handle splitting axe doing a bit of sycamore 🤔
Can anyone tell what type exactly is the German maul? Want to order one exactly like the one in the video.
Stihl pro maul/ochsenkopf big ox
Sorry if I’m being picky but when I typed that on Google I kinda got confuse because of all the options that popped up. Can you send me a link that way I can know exactly what it is?
www.stihlusa.com/products/forestry-tools/axes/prosplitmaul/
This is the first time I ever buy a maul. I want to get your opinion before buying it. I’ve been reading the reviews and alot complain that the handle broke on them. Also Im curious because you said in the video it’s a German maul and on the website it says made in the US. What’s your advise?
Buy it and you’ll happy all the time you have to work.
For Hard wood the big ox 635 for needle Wood the ox638.
Ich have the 2508 H splitting Axe too. With these both you are got the best.
Testing
The bavarian pattern is also known as „Schlegelaxt“, if you ever be able to pronounce that haha
Links to purchase????
Google for your country plus axe name
@@benscottwoodchopper I've been looking for the best durable and efficient axe for chopping logs. I have ash, hickory, oak
Live in Oklahoma
Also, does the length of the axe handle matter?
What shape of axe head is best?
I want to use it for chopping logs from 6inch - 4ft circumference
I just don't know what to look for, which will actually last long with out breaking
Thanks
Go to a stihl dealer and pick up one of thier mauls
First
Greetings from a french-canadian traditional carpenter and woodsman who lives in the forests of the Yukon.
I would like to thank you personally for all this rich and valuable information that you provide us freely about the world of axemanship.
It helps me a lot in developing intelligently my passion about my favorite tool.
You are a great reference to me in the axe domain, keep making good videos! 🪓
Thank you, glad you find my videos useful. If you have any questions i'll do my best to help
Of course, if I have any questions I will axe!