I ran across some free oak pieces already bucked, and will be splitting it by hand. I have split lots of oak and other hardwoods by hand over the years, but not recently after I stopped collecting and burning oak in my fireplace. Now that I have some, what have you used with success in terms of splitters to use with a sledge hammer ? I already have a german splitting maul, but these boles are pretty big and solid green, so I will need to use some splitting wedges, and I'm not sure if my old wedges are up to task for these bad boys if those types of tools have been updated recently.

What types of wedges have you had success with, particularly for really big pieces of oak and other dense hardwoods ?

one thing about oak the longer it sits the harder it is to split. sorry thats all I have.

I have a 14lb Monster Maul that I've had for about 40 years. I have split cords of red oak with that thing over the years. I purchased a 34 ton hydraulic splitter some years ago to make it easier on my own bones but the monster Maul is never far away it gets put into service now and again.

This one from Estwing looks like it might do the job...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBuPpVUPeaA

Flip the axe head just prior to impact.

quote:

Originally posted by Redleg06:
This one from Estwing looks like it might do the job...

Yep...I have a few of these. Wouldn't be without em.

I’m a big fan of the Fiskars super splitting axe. It only looks like an axe. It punches way above its weight. With big rounds, I always go around the outer edge first and work my way in. This axe is the perfect blend of sharp edge and wedge shape to pop wood apart.

https://www.fiskars.com/en-us/...g-axe-36-375841-1001

I split this red oak by hand with ease with it.

A few things, if ‘Red Oak’, that’s one of the easiest, most other oaks aren’t to bad.

Starting with the wood itself, the fewer knots the better, sizing below ‘behemoth’ helps also. The length of the blocks contributes, shorter is easier.

With one 8 lb ‘splitting maul’ and one regular steel wedge, should be enough to get it done. Start with an easy one. You want to strike with the maul to have a crack to start the wedge.

If you have a chainsaw, one trick is to cut down into the block 4 or more inches, with the grain from the top. Doing so creates a slot for the wedge and reduces the amount requiring to be split. After this cut, the splitting maul may be enough.

I grew up with splitting mauls & wedges as the only way to create a woodpile, U.P. of MI. Later I used splitters off & on, finally treating myself about 10 years ago.

Or better yet

^^^
That vertical splitter looks ok for when the pieces being split are small enough to be hoisted onto the deck; this would not be of much use for my as a large amount of what I split are BIG rounds you can’t pick up without busting a nut.

My neighbor has a heavy duty splitter that has a pivot point which rotates the anvil to be flush with the ground so you only have to muscle the round into place to start the splitting process.

You’re not truly stuck until you’re double stuck.
Use two or more wedges.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
I’m a big fan of the Fiskars super splitting axe. It only looks like an axe. It punches way above its weight. With big rounds, I always go around the outer edge first and work my way in. This axe is the perfect blend of sharp edge and wedge shape to pop wood apart.

https://www.fiskars.com/en-us/...g-axe-36-375841-1001

I split this red oak by hand with ease with it.

That's a powerful recommendation friend, thanks. There is a local hardware store that has those guys, I'll swing by and fondle one. The rectangular cross section of the handle looks like it could be helpful in helping keep the vert blade angle the way you want it on the strike.