inexpensive splitter blocks?

I have a cheapo harbor freight hydraulic ram splitter that does a fine job on the biggest wood chunks I can lift... problem is that some chunks are shorter than the mouth of the splitter so by the time the ram is fully extended, the chunk is not yet split.

so I use rectangular hardwood chunks and or construction scraps of 2x4 and 2x6 as blocks. These typically don't last long, getting squashed and split rather quickly (makes great fire starter).

I imagine using a brick would be dangerous as they may shatter.

what do other folks use as splitter blocks, that is available in a range of widths, nice and cheap to obtain?

I use a 6" long x 4" wide piece of elm. 3 cords later, it is still ramming for me.

just another short chunk