Best splitting maul?

Building off of Axeman's thread on chopping axes, how about some feedback of splitting axes / mauls?

I borrow a log splitter once a year, but I split lots of stuff by hand. We also get lots of flatland visitors who need a dose of authentic country living, so we fill 'em up with homemade pancakes and send them out to the woodpile to split some rounds.

Last year, I went through four wooden handles for my splitting maul. Seems like the handles are made of cr*p wood, and they break even without being abused (and much quicker when you do abuse them). I remember splitting wood for several seasons with a single handle in my otherwise mis-spent youth.

The center axe in the photo below has the last generation of handle-protection technology: 3/16" fiber-reinforced EPDM shock absorption layer, fiberglass tape, formed titanium(!) impact spreading sheet, aircraft cable wrapping. After cracking the handle, my testosterone-poisoned teenager added a layer of duct tape just to be safe

For me, a seven or eight pound head on a 34" or 36" handle is just the right balance. I like the feel of wood handles.

I bought the cute little Fiskar's splitting axe just for fun. It splits wood with amazingly little effort, and the axe style handle is great. However, it's so short that I can't really use it, and it's a little light for serious splitting. It's the first synthetic handle that I've liked.

What are people using out there? Is there a source for high quality replacement handles? Is there a make or model that beats the crude and lumpy made-in-India/China models that seem to be the only thing out there now?

Thanks for any help in this quest.

The maul with the red plastic guard on it was a cheap blunt unit. I was able to dramatically improve its performance by grinding the snot out of the head so that it wasn't quite so blunt. Having used the Fiskars, I'd say I improved the performance from 1 on a scale of 10 to at least 3 out of 10...

I like the wooden handle, but the tool feels cheap and shoddily made.

Good heads-up on the Fiskars - I think it's going to be for the use of my vertically challenged helpers, who are less likely to break it.

I think I want a man-sized version of the Fiskars head mounted on a real replaceable white ash handle.

When I go to any of the local hardware stores and ask what a maul handle is made of, I think the only answer I'll get is "wood". I have a feeling I'll get a blank stare if I ask for white ash - any suggestions on how to clearly identify the species used in a replacement handle?

Eric Johnson said:

Hickory tends to be darker wood with black or dark brown grain streaks. White ash is a lot lighter, and the grain less pronounced. If it looks like a baseball bat, it's probably white ash. And WA and Hickory are usually your only two options for handles, if you have options at all.

There are two schools of thought on maul head design. I prefer a blunt edge because I think blunt force trauma is more effective than slicing action when splitting wood.

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Thanks - I was concerned that some of the handles that appear to be ash might be something else. I've also seen a third wood - white and very close-grained. I think it comes from a tropical rainforest or wherever China/India can get wood most cheaply. It seems to be very common, and it's not hickory or white ash.

After using a series of mauls that range from very blunt/convex to kinda sharp/straight to razor sharp/concave, I now give much more credence to the 'foot in the door, then crank up the force' school of thought. The Fiskars head is actually concave on both faces. Requires dramatically less force.

Titan said:

I must check to see if any body carries Monster Mauls up here,I've never seen one in these parts.My Super splitter gets the nod here;I believe it's a 6lb. flared face that allows you to hit rounds with a mean head speed.Works a little better than a regular maul IMO.

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I found one online that said it was a 4lb head - seems a little light, but the handle's the right length. Do they make more than one model?

I've used steel handled mauls and really heavy mauls / sledge hammers - I prefer a handle that has a little give to it, and a head that's light enough to get some speed. If the Super Splitter comes in a six pound version, I'll have to give it a try.

Titan said:

Nofossil,I could be wrong,it's happened before!I thought it was a six pound head,but I never weighed it either.Whatever it is,I've used multiple axes and mauls of varying weights, and I'm more impressed with this WOODEN-HANDLED Super Splitter .

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What wooden handled super splitter? The only one I could find was a red Ames/True Temper fiberglass model and this antique. Do you know of a source for the one you're talking about? How long is the handle?

Deerlope said:

The best maul should be in a deep sink hole. I am old school and I was taught to split using a double bit axe. Just a twist of the wrist is all that is necessary. No heavy mauls or brute force.

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I'm a pretty dedicated axe user, but I find that the thinner head on my chopping axes will bind when trying to split any knotty piece of wood. I'm with you on weight, though. I prefer speed and control to brute force. I take some pride in being able to hit the same spot repeatedly.

My hope in starting this thread is to discover a range of tools that do a better job of splitting than what I have. I think that an axe-like tool with a slightly thicker, heavier, and differently shaped head might just be the ticket.

Titan said:

Here's what I'm using nofossil,$49.99 @ local hardware store,works well.
Made by Garant:4 lbs,36" hickory handle.

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Looks great. Appears to be a Canada-only item even Home Depot in Canada has them. No one in the states, though. I guess it will give me an excuse to visit hardware stores on our next trip north...

Anyone know of a US source for this or a similar item?