Fiskars Maul

What is so special about a Fiskars splitting maul? I have read alot of threads on here and you'll read things like " nothing my fiskars couldnt handle" " Fiskars maul made short work of those rounds" I use a yellow plastic handled maul i bought from the local hardware store and it splits ok I guess since I have nothing to compare it to and its 8 lbs.

Used a variety of splitting tools over 31 yrs (still do on occasion).Heard all the talk about how good they were.And was skeptical at first.Bought my X25 (couldnt get the X27 locally) in May 2011.Used it on 12+ cords of dead mostly Red/Black Oak,some White/Bur Oak & Shagbark Hickory from then until Jan 2012.

Its great & much easier/faster to use on 90% of what I'm splitting.One strike splits everytime on that stuff.Larger rounds over 16"-18"diameter,most White/Bur Oak & anything gnarly or with large knots/spiral grain is a problem though,it either bounces off or gets stuck.Have to use the 20lb Monster Maul or sledge/wedges for the tougher stuff.Did split some green Honey Locust last week,straight grained stuff it flew through,the twisted gnarly stuff it was more difficult but eventually busted it.

All in all,I'm very pleased with it.Somedays I wish I ordered the X27 with same head weight & longer handle for more power instead.Will eventually however,

Great question! I have two mauls, 8 lb. and 11 lb., and have also wondered if I'm missing something by the fact that they don't say "Fiskars" on them. What's so different about these mauls, versus any other?

Nothing. So far as I know there's no such thing as a Fiskars maul.

I've used the x27 extensively and my opinion is that the lighter weight and design of the Fiskars allows you to get more velocity when striking the round and it is less fatiguing than my conventional mauls so I can split for longer periods of time. The thinner head with a non-stick coating is also helpful in making splitting an easier task.
That said, I finally bought a splitter this year after 25 years of doing it by hand. It was just too much to keep up with even with the Fiskars!

4 lbs, longer handle, is easier than a 8 lb'er on me, I can swing it for a longer time. The non stick coating helps it go deep, or maybe it just holds an edge better.. seems to anyway. Anything that doesn't pop in 4-5 whacks gets tossed aside for the hydraulic splitter... and theres suprisingly little tossed aside.
I even like the feel of that composite handle vs my wood, plastic, or steel (monster maul) handles.

That composite handle is the very reason I haven't bought one. I feel unclean every time I touch one.

What stores carry the Fiskars? I live in Michigan. I am 36 years old and like splitting wood for the work out.

The handles seem pretty integral to the whole piece, so I think that it is composite or nothing for the Fiskars. If you wanted to spend the big bucks you could get a Granfors Bruks splitting maul for $160 or so. It has a similar head design with a wooden handle. I have to say that I like the feel of the handle and I've tried many different splitting mauls through the years from conventional designs to the steel handled "Monster Mauls."

Sears, Ace Hardware, Walmart, and just about every mom-and-pop hardware store I know.

Sweet, one is in my future.

I used to use what your using now and had to try a Fiskars after reading all the hype, I can vouch for the hype, its much easier than using my splitting maul and comfortable to swing.

I find that the lighter weight and thinner design allows me to split faster with less abuse to my not so young anymore body. Does a Fiskars splitting tool do what no other toll will do? Maybe not, but, you can probably work faster and longer with one.

Tiger, Meijer's also carries the Fiskars.

FWIW, last winter a friend purchased a Fiskars x27. Brought it here and boy was I disappointed! I could split much easier with my single bit axe than with that thing. Better yet is a splitting maul. I just fail to see what folks see in the Fiskar's except that perhaps they are new at splitting wood and they picked up one of these and it split the wood. Then the mold is set that it is super. I've split for way too many years (now usually only with hydraulics but occasionally with maul) and just fail to see what is good about that axe. Sorry folks. I just find the wood splits easier and faster using other tools. Danged things are costly too.

It didn't turn me into Superman or allow me to split rounds that I couldn't split with my 8 lb (3.6 kg for our friends outside the US) maul but I can swing it faster and work longer.

There is no "magic" mall out there. I do think the Fiskars X27 that I have been using, and probably most European splitting tools, are a superior design compared to the traditional American splitting maul. I have both, both split wood. I prefer to run the Fiskars tool.

x2 Been splitting wood for over 20 years by hand. No it's not something "Super". But like flatbed said, it's lighter and easier on the body. I'm not a big fan of non-wood handles but have grown to like this one and I think it's just the right length.

fiskars is not the first maul to have the 'wings' or 'points' on the maul head. what i can't stand about that design is when it gets pinched in a big round it drives me batsh$t trying to get it unstuck.

i prefer the old-style 6 and 8 pound maul head with a monster maul for bludgeoning.

thankfully we can all choose whatever design works best for us.

OT

Yeah, OT... mauls should not have concave cheeks. The convex or zero-concavity cheeks on a standard maul is what keeps the head from sticking in the wood.

There is nothing magical about the Fiskars Splitting Axes. I will say this: It does not split everything that I can split with a 6lb maul, and the 6lb maul does not split everything that I can split with my 8lb maul.

This is important to note because I do not poo-poo its effectiveness to easily split easy wood, it sure can be handy for that, but don't think you'll entirely replace your big mauls with it.

Also, maybe it's because I'm still young, but I can swing a 6lb for longer than I ever have the time to put towards splitting. This is important because it means that my 4 hours of splitting doesn't become 3 hours because of fatigue, but then the magical fiskars suddenly lets me split for 5 hours. If I have 30 minutes or 2 hours, it doesn't make a difference which one I grab, I can split for the entire time without rest. I also do not notice any production increase with the smaller lighter axe. I do notice less fatigue, though, so I often start with it and when I come to wood it struggles with I move to a bigger maul. Sometimes I just like using the 8lb because it makes me feel like a caveman and grows my beard faster.

If I could only take one splitting tool with me to the timber, it would be the 8lb.

If I could take as many tools as I like, the fiskars would be in the mix.

I use one and like it most of the time. Its still work though.

The beauty comes when a neighbor or a friend says " Hey whats that"
you say here give it a try and commence to stacking while they split away. LOL

My 8 lb. maul is my "small" one! I only used an 11 lb. maul and an 18 lb. monster maul before that. Same as Danno here... never had to put down the 8 lb. maul because I was tired. The 11 pounder does wear me out after a few hours, though.

for fun, here is a really sad video of me splitting wood last year I think it was. There were two points. One was to show the fiskars and the other is to show how wood can be split as it lies. I waste alot of energy moving wood around and aiming trying to get it into position for the camera and whatnot, but you don't have to do that when you are in the timber. too many people waste time standing it up, or putting it on a block. I'm not going to say I don't use a block, I just don't find it necessary all the time, usually only with knotty stuff.

I use an 8lb and the older fiskars that would be equivalent to the X25 now. I'm a skinny wimp, just imagine what a bear like Quads does when he splits.

P.S. here are the instructions that they should include with any new fiskars. If you don't have them, you need to print them off and take them with you. I post this about once or twice a year. Because I find myself to be so danged humorous it never gets old.

I'm a little confused . . . what make and model pick-up is this? what species of tree is this? What brand beer should I be drinking . . . and what if I prefer a Woodchuck Cider instead of beer? Is that an eight-foot body on that pick up? Do you have Timbrens on anything on that truck? How do you mount the Fiskars on the front?

Answers Danno . . . we need answers to these burning questions.