Broke another one

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Stelcom66

Minister of Fire
Nov 6, 2014
725
Connecticut
Don't know if it's just bad luck or quality - not the first time I've done this. I bought this less than a year ago. I wonder if it's worth trying to make a point again with a grinding wheel. I'll still get a replacement, I always have 2 of these on hand.

grenade broke.jpg
 
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Like your workouts Eh...
 
It was about 19º when I was done for the day. I'm sure many on here don't consider that especially cold. Nice having the ground frozen. Made for easier splitting IMO.
 
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Swinging a sledge hammer=workout
Try a Fiskers to prolong your swinging time

With maple (if only all wood could be that) my Fiskars X27 is usually all I need. I think that does better than my 8 lb. axe.

Looking at wedges - I see Estwing makes them. If they're as good as their hammers I'd buy one.
 
The temperature won't make much of a difference (19 F or 40 F...) for steel.
I suspect you accidentally hit it not straight on, but at an angle. How high was the round standing? If you hit it with the sledge hammer, is that tilted down already? If you're considerably past 9 o'clock, the head of the hammer will have a fraction horizontal momentum, and if the wedge is not perfectly straight, it might end up breaking its tip off. These things don't do well when experiencing horizontal components of forces.
 
The temperature won't make much of a difference (19 F or 40 F...) for steel.
I suspect you accidentally hit it not straight on, but at an angle. ...

I think you hit the wedge (nail) on the head - it was in fact at an angle. So my technique came into play. I think this time the round (with knots) was on the ground since it was frozen. As for the height, not very - maybe 16 - 18".

Looking at various wedges though, the one that broke does seem particularly thin toward the point compared to others. If I could buy one
of those Estwings locally I would.
 
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