And I still think I need a tractor.

Well, you axed and I'm stumped.

I'm splitting.

I think you would ‘feel it’ if your chopping block was to tall. Seems fine to me.

quote:

Originally posted by sourdough44:
I think you would ‘feel it’ if your chopping block was to tall. Seems fine to me.

Never had one before. The maul isn’t hitting the taller pieces square and I’m not getting my knees into the swing.

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:
Well, you axed and I'm stumped.

I'm splitting.

Maybe a decision tree would be helpful.

I split on the ground and chop on the block. I’m 6’2” so I have a taller chopping block for kindling with a hatchet/small forest axe. No issues and it is easier on my back. Since the splitting is done on the ground, no worries about getting a good swat with a good angle.

I was splitting on the ground where the wood lay after sawing, but the ground is gravel.

Dig your block into a gently hillside, you can rotate around until you find the perfect height.


BTW, is your splitting tool of regulation length, or a bit shorter?

Regulation length? Is that a really a thing? Last time I chopped wood was over 40 years ago in the Yoop with a Monster Maul, so really this is all new to me.

It's a 36" Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe. I'm not doing big oak or maple and figured this would be more manageable than the Monster Maul. The saw has a 20" bar and took cuts from both sides to get through that tree.

Your saw looks great.

I just use a common 6 lb ‘splitting maul’ one gets at Fleet Farm or wherever. I can’t measure now. In the picture yours looks maybe a tad shorter than the ‘standard’.

I wouldn’t like splitting on the ground, especially over gravel.

If you're in the picture then the answer is yes

From what the OP said in his second post, I would cut about 6 to 8 inches off that chopping block

Looks like a good height if you are going to perform medieval executions....

I read it should be knee high, but I’m going to cut some off today; of the block not my legs.

It’ll have to wait until I get back from the airport in Flint. Dropping my son’s friend of and picking up three of my daughter’s friends up. It’s a 7 hour round trip; the things we do for our kids. At least we coordinated it on the same day this year.

"knee high" certainly a variable worthy of exploring. For my own lighter splitting chores it wasn't critical. For actual heavy hardwood or knotty target blocks, my best technique preferred the block to be split, was more reliably smacked when IT was top surface about knee level. Also easier to mount heavy rounds to the splitting block. PS: I've got the same splitting axe, after many years seeking a 'best tool' for my purpose.

I like the axe or maul to hit the wood to be split at about level. Too high and not getting full force downward. Too low and not hitting squarely. So, chopping block plus 18" should be about level in my swing.