Splitting by hand

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I got my Monster Maul 20 some years ago. I still love that thing, indestructable and you feel like a heman. I also have a regular maul and bought a fiskars a few years ago when I got serious about burning again. I split over 20 cords by hand in a matter of 2 years. There are always a few rounds that were impossible to split, or just not worth the effort. Some went in the outdoor firepit. Recently I found a used 28 ton huskee and it split all the unsplitabbles with ease. I have only split about 3 cords with it so far, so it is kind of new to me. But I am sure I will still always enjoy splitting by hand, at least as long as I can. I prefer a workout routine that produces something rather than just going to the gym.
 
I like the workout sometimes its the only workout i get. I do wish i had some hydraulics though for the tough stuff. Cant tell you how many times this summer while swinging the ol maul I had to take a break because of the heat and the work its self, thats when I grab a icy cold beer and slam it. ( just saying) Dont forget the calories you burn processing wood when Im done i eat like a beast.
Nothing like busting rounds in the summer and cooling off with a few cold barley pops!
 
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Started splitting manually with then-new 15lb Monster Maul at 17.Used it for years (and occasionally double bit 5lb axe and sledge/wedges for either easier or tougher stuff). Bought Speeco 20 ton H/V with 8HP Tecumseh in spring '96,used it until Dec 2005,sold that when needing quick cash due to layoff just before Christmas.MM was reinforced with heavier 1/4" wall galvanized pipe handle,which added 5 pounds.Back to manual splitting ever since, in May 2011 bought the X25 which tackles 90% of what I've got with ease.As I get older the MM will sit for months at a time anymore,not as easy to swing that 20lb beast now.

An hour or two per session is enough for me now,especially after my regular job.But I still enjoy it.
I used a Monster Maul for about two hours, once. Once was all it took to make me feel like I fell down a flight of steps the next day. I went right out and bought an X27. I love swinging the Fiskars!
 
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I used a Monster Maul for about two hours, once. Once was all it took to make me feel like I fell down a flight of steps the next day. I went right out and bought an X27. I love swinging the Fiskars!
LOL
The funny things is this is all I've known and never have had a reason to replace it.
 
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As many on heart.com know, I started splitting wood at an extremely young age. An age when most want to keep sharp things away from the kids. Well, my father and brothers did it, why can't I. So I just went out alone and started to split. Not much at first for sure as I just was not strong enough but I learned much that way.

I continued to split, mostly with a double or single bit axe but on tough stuff I never hesitated to use the old sledge hammer and wedges. I quickly found out it is good to have 3 wedges! Many times using 2 wedges together to get a wider split and other times using the spare wedge or wedges to free a wedge that was in a bind! Ugh.

Then 20 or so years ago I graduated to hydraulics. I had an accident 28 years ago and got along for a few years by hiring a neighbor kid and even doing some splitting myself (Sitting! Using sledge and wedge and just tapping with the sledge got the job done. Slow, but it got done.). I finally realized the pain was not going to go away so finally bought the hydraulics. Had to assemble it myself which was a bit testy but after running that wedge through 2 splits I let you a yell! Hey! I can split wood again and now don't even have to work up a sweat.

It also did not take me long to figure out the best way to split using the hydraulics. Vertical is the only way to go for me and I also do it while sitting (see my avatar). I also learned that it does make a huge difference of the height you sit. Sitting low works the best as I can put my elbows on my thighs to get great leverage when putting the log on and also when turning it. The guys will also add that I use the old milk crate. lol Yes, I do and find it the ideal height.

For those who complain of hurting backs when trying to split vertical and even those who have tried when sitting. I'll still hold that the height does make a difference. As far as hurting backs; that was my injury. I have not been pain free for over 28 years now. But I can still split wood!


We are very similar...splitting by hand at a young age and bad back. I will at some point have to invest in a splitter, but I am holding out as long as I can.
It takes me longer to split by hand now and I pay for it longer, but I still enjoy it. I have warning signs from my back that I have to heed and as long as I do I can still split enough to get the job done.
 
All of my firewood i process i split by hand great exercise and i love splitting wood.
 
I use a twisted heavy wedge
Twisted wedge? Sounds interesting...got a pic or link?
The only time I use wedges is if I'm getting wood somewhere else and have to bust down big rounds to be able to lift them onto the trailer.

EDIT: OK, I found it. Forty bucks though. It is the Fiskars of wedges! ;lol
I like that thin tapered tip. A lot of time I will take an angle grinder to a wedge to get a narrower angle so that it is easier to start...
Looks like a variation on the wood grenade, the idea being to push the wood further apart at the top of the wedge.


http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=41142&cat=1,41131
 
Do you guys use a wedge to split? I am fairly new to the wood burning game, and last may I got about 3/4 cord of fresh maple rounds. There was no way a maul was going to cut it, so I bought a grendade wedge and that make short work of getting the round in half at least.

A 10 lb sledge and 4 lb wedges is all I use and I love them. I don't own hydraulics, not that I wouldn't like too, just can't afford a splitter at the moment. Not to worry however, Washington tells me the economy is getting better every day! Guess I'll have that splitter soon!;lol
 
I hand split too. I'll keep it up as long as my body allows me to. It can be very satisfying to go outside and break stuff for an hour or so. I prefer the lighter weight Fiskars splitting tools. They seem to be a little easier on my not so young anymore body.
 
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Just for fun, I put on the heart rate monitor a couple of times while splitting (Mostly with a Fiskars X25). Keeps the heart rate in the 160-170's, about 900 calories/hour. Or slightly more than when I'm biking at a 15-16 mph clip.
 
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We are very similar...splitting by hand at a young age and bad back. I will at some point have to invest in a splitter, but I am holding out as long as I can.
It takes me longer to split by hand now and I pay for it longer, but I still enjoy it. I have warning signs from my back that I have to heed and as long as I do I can still split enough to get the job done.

Hey, I will still split a few by hand every now and then and wish I could do more. But once you start with the hydraulics, splitting wood will never be the same!
 
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At 77 I stay mostly with hydraulics horizontal homemade.
Except when rounds are to heavy to lift, I use a 10# maul and a grenade wedge.
Noodle as last resort.

Jack, you are just a little ahead of me but I won't use a 10 pound maul!!!
 
Just for fun, I put on the heart rate monitor a couple of times while splitting (Mostly with a Fiskars X25). Keeps the heart rate in the 160-170's, about 900 calories/hour. Or slightly more than when I'm biking at a 15-16 mph clip.

But biking is more fun.
 
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I enjoy splitting with mauls, wedges and sledge more than the borrowed machine. What is cool is to do some sessions with the 14 lb. Monster maul- enough to get tuned to it again. Then swing the 6 pounder- it feels like a feather! Makes me laugh...
 
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99.8% by hand here. I enjoy it and actually find it way faster than hydraulics. I throw the real bad rounds in a pile and once a year borrow my dads 20 ton.
 
At 77 I stay mostly with hydraulics horizontal homemade.
Except when rounds are to heavy to lift, I use a 10# maul and a grenade wedge.
Noodle as last resort.

Wow, inspiration to us all!
 
Just to add my vote (once again) for splitting by hand for as long as possible; your heart, and back, will thank you. Don't overdo it, it's like any exercise, you can't just get off the sofa after many years and split for an hour, but try 10 minutes, and increase it a little at a time. I do sympathize with those who have already hurt their back, but for the rest of us, building muscle is the surest way to protect those joints. Unless you suffer from some relevant medical condition, splitting 2 or 3 cords in a year should be no problem for anybody below retirement age, and if you start then, you'll be splitting by hand well into that retirement. Splitting by hand is at least 30% of the pleasure I get from burning wood, long may it continue.

TE
 
and, do some situps! Building ab muscles is the best way to protect your back.
 
Since converting from wood pellets to wood all I do is hand split. Probably on about 6 cords over the past year with my 8lb maul. Good exercise and a good excuse not to go to the gym. Someone on here mentioned a twisted wedge.This is a picture of the one I use and it works great on those knotty pieces of white oak.


wedge.JPG
 
June 2011 stack 6 ft tall x 12 ft long,mostly with X25,about 15% with 20lb monster maul,about 3hrs total including 30 min break to stretch out my legs/back & take a short walk on one of the trails.

Not bad for an old fart.
 

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I do all mine by hand, too cheap for a splitter. Wedge and sledge for what I can't do with my splitting axe (not maul, looking at some though). You know what they say, firewood warms you twice, when you split, and when you burn. ;)
 
I will buy a splitter when I get some extra cash or find one of those great deals out there. I love being outside and processing wood with a maul and with a splitter its all fun to me.
 
I love maul splitting too, it helps to elevate those testosterone levels better than any other physical activity I do.
I have a chronic back problem as well, but fortunately splitting doesn't bother it. Actually it may help it somewhat. I wish I could say the same for running the chainsaw, because that's an activity that really hurts my back. If there was some sort of hydraulic device that I could sit on a milk crate and use instead of a chain saw, I'd buy it in a minute.
 
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