Safety gear using an axe

AnalogKid said:

I am curious though, how does one hit their chin?

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Actually I have a friend who knocked all his front teeth out splitting firewood. He was standing beside their clothes line and when he swung the maul it hooked on the line yanked it down and when the line recoiled it pulled the maul right back up into his face.

I know what you are going to say now, if he had just wore his goalie masks like we should when splitting that wouldn't have happened.

Actually, for a newbee who hasn't mastered the swing yet, a full goalie outfit, with steel toed boots instead of skates, might be the ticket.

An yes i meant shin, not chin.

I use a splitting/chopping block, which makes it virtually impossible unless I completely miss my round to hurt my feet. I've been splitting wood for 20 years with just standard winter apparel and gloves and have never received a wood related injury from splitting. Chainsawing on the other hand is a completely different matter. After taking well over a dozen hits to the shins and leaving NASTY bruises, I'm going to also be wearing my motocross shin guards as another person here mentioned.

I finally upgraded to a splitter this year, but still bust out the Fiskars when I'm feeling frisky. I don't feel the need to wear anything else honestly. Never had anything come flying off at my face, etc. Then again, all of my wood is difficult splitting hardwood too.

mostly a lurker - I just logged in to tell you guys about my accident with the fiskars 27 - I was used to a blunt heavy splitting maul, and walked out to the stack with my brand new fiskars, and walked straight back in with a very deep gash to the inside of my calf. Never swung the first lick with it. I just wasn't use to the handle length, shape, the feel of the tool, and did something stupid. it is SHARP.....

Andrewj said:

mostly a lurker - I just logged in to tell you guys about my accident with the fiskars 27 - I was used to a blunt heavy splitting maul, and walked out to the stack with my brand new fiskars, and walked straight back in with a very deep gash to the inside of my calf. Never swung the first lick with it. I just wasn't use to the handle length, shape, the feel of the tool, and did something stupid. it is SHARP.....

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Yikes. Hope your ok now. That gives me the shivers.

Ouch. Really sorry to hear about that, Andrew. They are impressively sharp.

My dad taught me to make sure you keep the butt of the handle at or below the head of the axe when contacting the round. Even if you missed the round completely it ends up in the dirt a handle-length away from your toes. This has, thus far, always worked for me.

Good luck.

1750 said:

Ouch. Really sorry to hear about that, Andrew. They are impressively sharp.

My dad taught me to make sure you keep the butt of handle at or below the head of the axe when contacting the round. Even if you missed the round completely it ends up in the dirt a handle-length away from your toes. This has, thus far, always worked for me.

Good luck.

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+1 on that.

English BoB said:

Happy New Year from a Shropshire lad across the pond.

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Now I'll have AE Housman in my head all day. Not a bad thing, actually.

Boots, goggles (which I never wear when splitting), gloves (just for splinters or caluses- no real danger). I use a standard 8# maul, sharp. I'm of the very strong opinion that a sharp maul works better than dull. The angle and profile of the edge prevents it getting stuck- not being dull.

Here's a pic of me after I busted my head open with the poll of an 8# maul... twice (with a nice photoshop neck tattoo). It was barely stuck in a long round, which squeezed it out at me. Strangest thing. In all the years I've split wood- never had it happen, then twice on the same log. Burned that effer whole in the kiln after that, and I got a story out of it.

The well protected wood splitter with a vintage Fiskers. [emoji12]

I always wear eye protection when splitting now. I split with my rounds in a tire and a couple of years ago I had a bunch of bark and debris fly up into my eyes. Bad deal. I ended up finding my way into the house and getting in the shower, with my clothes on, to flush the junk out of my eyes.

Mwinder98 said:

I'll probably catch some flak for this, but I've been known to swing my 14 lb maul in nothing but flip flops and basket ball shorts...

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I've done with less (less in the footwear I mean, not pants!). I tend to do most things barefoot, including hiking in the mountains and running marathons, and splitting wood. I've been surprised that in many more usual woodpile incidents I've been much safer barefoot. After using the Fiskars for a few years I'm pretty used to it, and like someone else said your swings even if missed or deflected should hit the dirt no closer than a a good ways from you. Now the short handled Fiskars is whole different animal, I'm used to the 36er. I always have glasses on anyhow, and usually jeans just to help from splinters from chips and small pieces being flung.

Chainsaws I still wear kevlar chaps and kevlar/steel toe boots, helmet with face, shield, etc.

OhioBurner© said:

I've done with less (less in the footwear I mean, not pants!). I tend to do most things barefoot, including hiking in the mountains and running marathons, and splitting wood. I've been surprised that in many more usual woodpile incidents I've been much safer barefoot. After using the Fiskars for a few years I'm pretty used to it, and like someone else said your swings even if missed or deflected should hit the dirt no closer than a a good ways from you. Now the short handled Fiskars is whole different animal, I'm used to the 36er. I always have glasses on anyhow, and usually jeans just to help from splinters from chips and small pieces being flung.

Chainsaws I still wear kevlar chaps and kevlar/steel toe boots, helmet with face, shield, etc.

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Eye pro is a good thing, I just had emergency eye surgery Friday from a broken piece of zip tie that hit me, tore my cornea and tucked it under my LASIK flap, it was some of the worst pain I've been in, I'm a huge fan of Oakley, currently checking out their M frames, they probably offer some of the toughest lens out there.

Wow that does not sound pleasant. I wear glasses all the time due to vision anyhow, but funny you should mention Oakley I'll have to pull up the pic I got of my splitting wood barefoot and wearing my sunglasses - I usually wear my Oakley Racing Jackets while outside. Mine are pretty thick prescription lenses though, so probably even tougher yet!