X27 Update

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DonNC said:
I may be able to fix the flare with a sawsall

That & fine tune afterwards the shape with medium then fine half-round cabinet rasps.
 
I know it is probably not going to help anyone but maybe Fiskars is trying to make a maul instead of a splitting axe. It is a totally different tool. You still swing and hit wood but if you go and use a maul of 6 or 8 pounds you might see what I'm saying. With a maul you kill the wood, with a splitting axe it is a faster motion, you have to use both to know what I mean... My 8 pound maul has a 36 inch handle and it works great for the long throw required to force the wood. :mad:
 
tw40x81 said:
DonNC said:
Are you talking about the flare on the bottom side of the handle?

Yes. They ruined the handle. How can we get this fixed? Write in campaign demanding a recall? Class action lawsuit?

Top is the 7854 Super Splitter, Bottom is the 7884 X27 in the picture.


In fairness, the x27 is an entirely new model altogether (the 7854 was replaced by the x25...nothing was "replaced" by the x27).

Better get out and buy some of the older 28" super splitters (or Gerber splitters) before they are phased out and while they are still available.
 
tw40x81 said:
DonNC said:
Are you talking about the flare on the bottom side of the handle?

Yes. They ruined the handle. How can we get this fixed? Write in campaign demanding a recall? Class action lawsuit?

Top is the 7854 Super Splitter, Bottom is the 7884 X27 in the picture.

I think the handle size is perfect. Obviously fiskars designed the X27 to fill a void for taller users. Therefore, the assumption is probably that most taller people have larger hands and thus, the larger handle.

I've never used a 28" model, but I find the handle on the 36" to be fine, I probably wouldn't complain if it was a touch thicker. But I'm also 6'6" 240 and can very easily palm a basketball.
 
wait a minute, wait a minute.

what is all this talk about buying up all the old 28" super splitters?

there is a new model, the X25, that still has the 28" handle, correct? so what is the problem? or is someone saying that the maul HEAD is now different on both the X25 and the X27????

certainly people wouldn't freak out about the little flare on the bottom of the handle. ?


can someone who has both, post a picture of the heads of the old 28" model and either the new X27 and or the X25 ???
 
FLINT said:
wait a minute, wait a minute.

what is all this talk about buying up all the old 28" super splitters?

there is a new model, the X25, that still has the 28" handle, correct? so what is the problem? or is someone saying that the maul HEAD is now different on both the X25 and the X27????

certainly people wouldn't freak out about the little flare on the bottom of the handle. ?


can someone who has both, post a picture of the heads of the old 28" model and either the new X27 and or the X25 ???
Certainly would freak out about the flare. For me it is completely unnatural/uncomfortable feeling, and sometimes down-right painful. IMHO, that is something to freak out about. Then you combine it with the head change and the 36" looks less and less desirable.
 
I noticed the above x25 handle. Did they redesign it, because it looks exactly like the x27 in this pic taken directly from their website.
 

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FLINT said:
wait a minute, wait a minute.

what is all this talk about buying up all the old 28" super splitters?

there is a new model, the X25, that still has the 28" handle, correct? so what is the problem? or is someone saying that the maul HEAD is now different on both the X25 and the X27????

certainly people wouldn't freak out about the little flare on the bottom of the handle. ?


can someone who has both, post a picture of the heads of the old 28" model and either the new X27 and or the X25 ???

Yes, they redesigned the head and the handle for the 28" splitters.

I like the new x27 because of it's added length. The issue with the head and handle changes don't bother me. So, if you like the older 7854 Super Splitters you better hurry and stock up before they are replaced with the new x25.



The old 7854 28" super splitter (above) and the new 28" x25 (below). The x27 has the same head and handle as the new x25




Fiskars-7854-Super-Splitting-Axe-Gear-Patrol.jpg



sekera-fiskars-x25-stipaci-plastove-pouzdro.jpg



I find the new x-splitters have a handle similar to the fiskars 7859 pro splitting axe. So, you might be able to find some of these older models at Sears and see how they feel.
7859 Pro Splitting Axe
21p9wBe3tHL._SL500_AA300_.jpg




 
nice video.

I'm still wondering exactly how they changed the head design. Is there now more or less of a flare/taper to the head? Is the weight the same?
 
I called several of my local Ace stores. Most didn't know anything about it or couldn't look it up, and one guy stated with conviction that they don't carry Fiskars products.

tw40x81 said:
Ordered on the 17th from AceHardware.com, with free ship to store.

Somehow that didn't work for me. I went to AceHardware.com and could not find it by name, desription or Fiskars number (only the older 28" model). So I called their national Customer Service number and he couldn't find it either.

Finally called Shattuck Hardware in Mass (from a previous post, page 2) and they gave me the Ace item number. Put this item number into AceHardware.com and......no joy. Ace national Customer Service says item can only be ordered from some independant stores. Aaargh, called my local Ace again with the item number and.......it came right up -- in the Virginia warehouse for $49.95. Whew.

The Ace item number is 7268675.
 
samdog - sounds like and adventure you went through! Thanks for the number I am on the fence about getting one myself.
 
FLINT said:
nice video.

I'm still wondering exactly how they changed the head design. Is there now more or less of a flare/taper to the head? Is the weight the same?

Weight is the same.
Not sure if there is much of a change to the flare/taper.

The leading edge of the blade (the portion that you sharpen and the portion that hits the wood) is longer/taller.

The older super splitters' head was more rectangular. The new x series heads are more trapezoidal when viewed from the side.

There is more info on the arborist forum website
 
TN_WOOD said:
FLINT said:
nice video.

I'm still wondering exactly how they changed the head design. Is there now more or less of a flare/taper to the head? Is the weight the same?

Weight is the same.
Not sure if there is much of a change to the flare/taper.

The leading edge of the blade (the portion that you sharpen and the portion that hits the wood) is longer/taller.

The older super splitters' head was more rectangular. The new x series heads are more trapezoidal when viewed from the side.

There is more info on the arborist forum website

Thanks,

I'm still not sure why we would want to buy up the old models. Unless someone does a side by side splitting comparison and determines that the new ones are inferior, they sound great to me.
 
FLINT said:
TN_WOOD said:
FLINT said:
nice video.

I'm still wondering exactly how they changed the head design. Is there now more or less of a flare/taper to the head? Is the weight the same?

Weight is the same.
Not sure if there is much of a change to the flare/taper.

The leading edge of the blade (the portion that you sharpen and the portion that hits the wood) is longer/taller.

The older super splitters' head was more rectangular. The new x series heads are more trapezoidal when viewed from the side.

There is more info on the arborist forum website

Thanks,

I'm still not sure why we would want to buy up the old models. Unless someone does a side by side splitting comparison and determines that the new ones are inferior, they sound great to me.

I think it all comes down to preference. Nobody likes change (except for a wet baby and a toll booth operator) :)

I've seen discussions on another website where folks went on and on about physics and mathematical calculations due to the fact the new head has a larger cutting edge and the longer handle would require more effort to swing, etc. I thought it was a bit silly. Nonetheless, some folks just don't care for the changes they made to the 28" model and I simply wanted folks to be aware that they can still run out and find a few of the older 28" 7854 Super Splitters (but they'd better hurry because they are no longer being made).

Regarding being inferior. Based on some side by side comparison a couple folks did (you can read on some other website forums) the verdict was they all worked just fine.
 
cool man, thanks for all the info - and that video you posted was really neat to watch - I like how they tested some of the other 'fancy' mauls/splitters, and not just selected models that they knew they could 'beat'.
 
samdog1 said:
I called several of my local Ace stores. Most didn't know anything about it or couldn't look it up, and one guy stated with conviction that they don't carry Fiskars products....
.....I went to AceHardware.com and could not find it by name, desription or Fiskars number (only the older 28" model). So I called their national Customer Service number and he couldn't find it either.

Finally called Shattuck Hardware in Mass (from a previous post, page 2) and they gave me the Ace item number. Put this item number into AceHardware.com and......no joy. Ace national Customer Service says item can only be ordered from some independant stores. Aaargh, called my local Ace again with the item number and.......it came right up -- in the Virginia warehouse for $49.95. Whew.

Well after all the rigamarole, my local Ace got the X27 for me in a day and a half (ordered Tues night, arrived Thurs morn). So due credit to them for quick work.

They wanted $49.95 and I printed a coupon from Ace's website for $10 off on $50 or more. At the counter, I added a Milky Way to put me over $50 and thusly got my X27 for $40.70.

Then I tossed up the Milky Way, deftly swung the X27 and split it 4 times in mid-air. :lol:
 
samdog1 said:
samdog1 said:
I called several of my local Ace stores. Most didn't know anything about it or couldn't look it up, and one guy stated with conviction that they don't carry Fiskars products....
.....I went to AceHardware.com and could not find it by name, desription or Fiskars number (only the older 28" model). So I called their national Customer Service number and he couldn't find it either.

Finally called Shattuck Hardware in Mass (from a previous post, page 2) and they gave me the Ace item number. Put this item number into AceHardware.com and......no joy. Ace national Customer Service says item can only be ordered from some independant stores. Aaargh, called my local Ace again with the item number and.......it came right up -- in the Virginia warehouse for $49.95. Whew.

Well after all the rigamarole, my local Ace got the X27 for me in a day and a half (ordered Tues night, arrived Thurs morn). So due credit to them for quick work.

They wanted $49.95 and I printed a coupon from Ace's website for $10 off on $50 or more. At the counter, I added a Milky Way to put me over $50 and thusly got my X27 for $40.70.

Then I tossed up the Milky Way, deftly swung the X27 and split it 4 times in mid-air. :lol:

Awesome.
I only had a $5 coupon.

Enjoy
 
Got my x27 on Wednesday, but didn't try it out until a couple hours ago. Mind you I've never owned the 28" super splitter. This thing is a serious piece of craftmanship. Freakin sweet tool. Anyhow, just like a previous post mentioned, if you let your hand slide to the handle while striking the wood...you'll feel it. It's the curviture or "flare" of the handle that esentially pinches or puts undue pressure on your fingers. So after feeling that, I choked up a little. Not a big deal.

The base of the shaft in comparison to my maul and Home Depot's "log splitter" is more rectanglar in nauture. Of course it is rounded but it's witdth seems to be more prominent.

Onto to splitting. I put some ol' nasties on the chopping block and tested all 3. I must say the x27 outsplit the other two. What I love is that it never sticks.

Oh, and one more thing. The bottom of the handle isn't capped. Now I'm curious about the rave of the ol' 28. I think I'm gonna snatch that one too.
 
The bottom of the old one isn't capped either, its hollow and open.

Also, I bet you could take a wood rasp or a belt sander and round down that little spikey thing on the end of the handle if its a problem.
 
Well, I just spent the last two days splitting with the X27. Slight tingle in the wrists, but no serious fatigue issues, I can split all day with this puppy.

I still use the wedge-and-sledge to halve big rounds (20" diameter) , but from there the X27 will take off splits in the size I desire. It's really easy to swing and easy to be extremely accurate. I think I could start a toothpick factory.
 
What's going on here, Amazon doesn't carry it anymore, and the Ace link through Amazon is dead?
 
I ordered mine through Amazon about two weeks ago and it showed up yesterday. I wanted to give it a serious workout, but we are in the midst of a nasty storm and the rain was pounding down almost horizontally. I did run outside and take a few whacks at some hickory rounds, and it felt much safer to be further away from the round than with the 28-inch version. things are supposed to clear up for the weekend so a more thorough test is in order.
 
I used my X27 for the first time yesterday.It's the best axe I ever used.I like the flare at the handle's end.At rare times my gripe on my other axes might not be tight enough and the axe would slip out of my hand on the down stoke.The X27's flared end would help prevent this which is a good feature for me.I went through some stubborn maple with much less work and got more done than I ordinarily would have.The axe felt good and was well balanced with no vibration when hitting the rounds.This axe makes my wood splitting more enjoyable.It's raining now otherwise I'd be at it again.I just might get another.I grade this axe an A.Now I'll see how durable it is which is the last test.If it passes this test it get's an A+.
 
OK, following some seroius scrounging today I put the X27 through a trial. It feels much safer to be farthher away from the round than with the 28-inch. I busted a few small rounds in half and they flew apart.....a tire setup would be very helpful. On some bigger, nasty rounds, the X27 just wouldn't bust through, but my 16 Lb Mega Mule Maul got it done. It looks like a combo of the two is needed....the mega maul for the intitial splits on big rounds and then the Fiskars to dice things up into usable size. Overall, I am pleased with the X27. It definately has more b@lls than the 28-inch, feels safter to use, and I had no issues with the shape of the handle. Amason got it delivered to me for $50.00 which was very reasonable.
 
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