splitting ax for wife

My wife has decided she wants to help out with the wood splitting! She wants to build upper body strength, but thinks my 8# maul is to heavy. I know there are lighter weight options out there.
(have thought about it for myself as well.) What are your experiences and suggestions. We burn a mix of cottonwood and elm. (It's what is available and free) The cottonwood is great for getting things going, and the elm is wonderful for letting the Tribute flex out, if you catch my meaning.(This is more stove then people give it credit!) My wife hasn't tried the elm yet, I have some trouble with it, so she doesn't want to try it yet.

This Fiskars is a nice unit. A bit over 4 lbs and manageable.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004SD7B/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I was going to suggest that you post your barter offer on yahoo personals, but I see now that it's not
a barter. I don't have any suggestions, but I think it's great that your wife wants to help with the
splitting.

I dunno... it might not be that bad of a trade.

-SF

Perhaps one of the small electrics? still good exercise without the risk of rotar cuff or back injury.

I wouldn't trade her for the world! Any woman that can shoot her own deer, field dress it, drag it back to the vehicle, butcher the deer, help cut the wood, split the rounds into firewood, cook the animal, and when it is all done, be the most beautiful thing the gods ever created, is DEFINITELY not going to be traded, anywhere, anytime, for anything, period!

Whoa Jeffman! She's lucky to have YOU. Pat yourself on the back and make her some venison jerky.

Take a look at the Snow and Nealley axes and hatchets. USA made (Maine) for over 100 years and top quality!!

http://www.snowandnealley.com/

I just looked at www.snowandnealley.com and saw the 3lb mini maul #952S. Looks perfect for small splitting jobs.

Use the Fiskar's splitting axe. It splits extremely well yet only weighs 4 lbs. Also, remind her to NOT try to aim for the center of the log, especially if it's large. Just have her work slats form the edges and spiral in.

I've been using my Fiskar's splitting axe for years and still love it.

[quote author="jeffman3" date="1200284292"]I wouldn't trade her for the world! Any woman that can shoot her own deer, field dress it, drag it back to the vehicle, butcher the deer, help cut the wood, split the rounds into firewood, cook the animal, and when it is all done, be the most beautiful thing the gods ever created, is DEFINITELY not going to be traded, anywhere, anytime, for anything, period![/quote

WHOA! - could you get her to talk to MY wife?

Your a lucky man and it sounds like your wife is a lucky woman. This is the splitting maul I use. I'm a pretty strong guy but it works so well that it's all I use though I do use a wedge and sledge to bust open stuff over about 15" or just really tough gnarly stuff. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=147592-302-1156000&lpage=none

Actually I use a 6lb maul. Perfect, and I weigh 200lbs, gives more shock and awe rather than trying to just bludgeon the wood to death. It seems to allow for more striking power(without the effort). However, if ya find her measuring your neck Just kidding, think you will both be happy with the 6 pounder.

Ames Super Splitter is what I use

Jeffman
Some very good suggestion's here ,Fiskars, Snow and Nealley, another one you might look at is the Stihl pa50 splitting axe. http://www.stihlusa.com/handtools/axes.html. 4.4lb head...
Oh buy the way, does your wife have any sisters ??? Just a thought.

Jeff

Not sure if this thing works or not but it seems easy enough.
www.firewood-splitter.com

Thanks for the ideas, and suggestions! We will check them out. She actually said tonight that she wants to use the 8 pound for awhile and see if she can work into it. I think it's to heavy for her, as it is borderline for me, but I will let her steer this decision I guess. My only concern really is that it is allot of force behind a sharp edge, and if not in control, can be very dangerous! I would think that a lighter tool would be easier to control. Does that sound right to you? My wife is a very capable woman, but I don't want her to get hurt! She is very conscious of the danger, and very safe in her actions, and approach to this. I think I am going to try to steer her to a lighter alternative. (for her and me)

Sorry guys, no sisters, she is one of a kind!

I feel I am a very lucky man indeed!

Since all women are not the same, it would be helpful if you said how big your wife is, what kind of shape, age, etc. I use an 8 lb. maul myself, but I am kind of an Amazon woman. I do kind of have to work up to it. I don't mean I ever use anything smaller (sometimes I go with the 12 lb. although not lately) but that for a while I started with the maul over my head as the furthest back part of the swing. Now that I am 'in the mode' again with sufficient splitting this season, I can swing it behind me, with good control, which gets more momentum going for the splitting. I gave up my health club membership last year in favor of the schlepping and splitting wood workout.

My wife is probably about 5' 10" or so and of heavier build,( read... real woman! not runway model, sick looking, bony woman.) early thirties. She doesn't have the upper body strength she wants to have, so she decided to try the splitting instead of the health club thing. She starts with the Maul over her head, a bit back, and when balanced and steady swings through. She is as safe as one can be while swinging an 8 lb maul, but I know she doesn't have the strength yet to really control the maul like I can. ( And I could use some help there too, but I am getting better ) I am 5' 7" and 190 lb. or so. Solid, but not "buff", if you catch my meaning. We are both learning together so to speak.

Jeff:

In all seriousness, you and your wife do make sure that you place the wood you are going to split so that if you inadvertantly miss, or get a glance, that the maul will carry-on-thru, between your legs instead of hitting one of them. IE- never ,never line up a strike, in direct line with one of your legs. Always,always, so that if you miss, the maul will come back between your legs. Get it??? Not being a smart ass, I learned this the hard way when I was much younger. Always split with your legs as far apart as you are comfortable with. Again, if the maul, happens to come right back at you it will go between your legs instead of hitting one of them. The eight pounder is too heavy for her, get the 6 pounder, and soon.!!

I can't resist...

That is beautiful, I hope you say this to her too.

You are both lucky

I'm a strong guy and I use a 6 pound maul it splits well so if the 8 pounder is little much give a 6 pounder a try I can swing it all day long the one I have is very narrow on the blade then about 1/3-1/2 way up it ramps out very quickly and works pretty good I see they sell it at my walmart now.

why dont you try a 3lb hammer and some splitting wedges (mauls)..

I do say this to her, and it is the truth! Thank you, I am a very lucky man!

Thank you sonny,
I agree with you and as soon as the 'Mart gets some back in, I will look at what they have to offer. I know they carry some, but the pegs that they hang on were empty last time I looked. They had a splitting ax type that has, for lack of a better term, wings on the side of the blade to drive the wood apart. I don't know the manufacturer, but I will look at them, along with some of the other suggestions here. Money is tight right now, and some of the suggestions I have looked at are way more then I can spend right now. I would love to get a high end, hand made, splitter, but if you can't aford it, it won't help.

We are very careful, and one way or another a lighter splitter is probably in the near future, for both of us.