Question about Fiskars

Same height and love the X27, but have not tried the X25. It may depend on how good your aim is.

I'm 61 love the x 27. The 25 is good too ,literally just got done swinging both. Depends on what you're doing. My wife, 5 8, slender build can swing either safely.
The 25 gets a little dangerous if you start over working it (at least with me) as its short and follows through quickly (read as; comes back at your feet fast)

Generally I use the 27 outside and the 25 in the garage for re splits in winter.

Get one of each!

Edit: I just picked up my X27 at BJ'S on clearance for $39! Worth looking if you go there.

I find the 25 a little short but I am 6ft I love the 27.

Jan Pijpelink said:

Tanks for the replies. I have been reading so much about the X27 on this forum, I decided to get one. Just bought one on Ebay, new for $37.50.

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You won't be disappointed

When I read all the hype around here about the x27 I thought it was just that. I needed a new axe and i couldn't find he x27 locally so I reluctantly ordered one without ever handling one. The thing is magical. I now refer to it as my "Excalibur" axe. One if the best tool purchases I made.

On good wood I can agree that it is almost magical. Lately I have been splitting some nice straight mulberry and it is one hit for each split but I am also processing an ash yard tree with twisted grain and it just laughs at the Fiskars. That stuff is taking 10 whacks or more on the steel wedges to make a single split.

Just re read my post. Should read " I'm 6'1"" not 61....
Ha! No need to date myself by 20+ years. ...

I hope I'm still swinging a splitting axe at 61....

Oldman47 said:

On good wood I can agree that it is almost magical. Lately I have been splitting some nice straight mulberry and it is one hit for each split but I am also processing an ash yard tree with twisted grain and it just laughs at the Fiskars. That stuff is taking 10 whacks or more on the steel wedges to make a single split.

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I never messed with mulberry but I have had loads of sweet gum and it's a bear. Fiskars bounces off. I have to let it dry for months in rounds then it "peels " like an onion. I get a free load on sweet gum every so often and swear it's the last one but I keep getting it when it's close and free. It must be some type of insanity disease I got from sweetgum sap.

Get yourself a real splitter, and be done with it.

Hogwildz said:

Get yourself a real splitter, and be done with it.

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wedge and sledge?

Warm_in_NH said:

Just re read my post. Should read " I'm 6'1"" not 61....
Ha! No need to date myself by 20+ years. ...

I hope I'm still swinging a splitting axe at 61....

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Well, I just turned 60 and still swing an axe, but it hurts like heck.

Jasper said:

wedge and sledge?

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Nah,
Something with a motor...

Jasper said:

I never messed with mulberry but I have had loads of sweet gum and it's a bear. Fiskars bounces off. I have to let it dry for months in rounds then it "peels " like an onion. I get a free load on sweet gum every so often and swear it's the last one but I keep getting it when it's close and free. It must be some type of insanity disease I got from sweetgum sap.

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67 yo here but mulberry is sweet splitting. One whack and set up the next round or decide you want smaller pieces so set it back upright and give it another lick. It almost splits itself when I use my Fiskars.

For me it's simple Jags. I have become too much a couch potato and this is exercise with a purpose. I don't kill myself doing it but I am good for at least an hour a day. Most days I do 2 or 3 of those sessions. It beats paying a gym membership to do pointless exercises.

I don't split all my wood. Most comes in a truck already split and cut to length. But there are times when the occasional tree gets dropped or the wood guy split a little large and additional splitting needs to be done.

I thoroughly enjoy it. The picking up, setting and stacking are the hard parts, for the most part, swinging a Fiskas is the reward to the rest of the process. Especially if you're used to an 8 pound dull maul.

If I were to get a grapple load dropped I would most definitely either buy or rent a hydraulic unit. But at $200+/- a cord, cut n split, I can't justify a $100/cord/7 cord grapple load.

I make my money doing what I do so I can pay others to do what they do, it all works out in the end.

I rank mine on a par with an 8 pound go-devil type maul. The big difference is what it takes to swing it. The Fiskars feels much lighter.

Jags said:

I don't understand why peeps that are in this for the long haul wait until they have done irreversible damage to themselves before they move to a powered splitter. Get the dang thing BEFORE you wreck yourself.

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If I lived north like lots of you guys I defiantly would. But I'm in South Carolina so I haven't had the need for one yet. I think a big part is working within your limits and knowing when to take a break or just stop. And of course working smart and safely.