Big Orange Monster Maul

[JimA]

I was just wondering if they still made the big orange monster mauls for splitting wood. I used to have one back in the early 80's. These were the best for splitting big logs by hand. If anybody remembers these and know if they are still being made I would appreciate any info on them.

 

[brian_in_idaho]

This looks close:
(broken link removed)

The ones I remember didn't have the padded handle though, and I think were even heavier.

Some comments:
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=36409

 

[JimA]

Yes they just had a big orange steel pipe hand with a massive head. Worked great on large and small logs.

 

[suematteva]

I used one last summer for a day. I thought ( my half cent) the handle was too short.. When you get the rounds that resemble the side of a battle ship, could really feel the vibration even with the foam handle..

Prefer the 8 lb with the fiberglass handle

 

[ourhouse]

I have to agree with Vin.181 my father in law has one we both tried it and found that an 8 lb maul worked better.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I use a 10 lb sledge when splitting, but I've wondered if I would be able to do more with a lighter head on it. Force equals mass x acceleration, so if I could accelerate a lighter head faster I should be able to get more work out of every swing... If the 10 lb head is a bit heavy for me... I think I'm used to the 10 lb by now, but it's something I've thought about.

Matt

 

[smirnov3]

I use a 10 lb sledge when splitting, but I've wondered if I would be able to do more with a lighter head on it. Force equals mass x acceleration,

True, but what is more relevent is the amount of energy the maul delivers. And energy = Mass * velocity squared.

And the longer the handle, the higher the velocity of the head.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

True, a long handle would let you get the head moving faster. Since the velocity is squared, a lighter head may still do more work if it let you get it moving faster. I'll look around at garage sales and flea markets for something around 8 lbs. If I notice a difference, I'll report back. LOL! I'm not sold either way yet.

Matt

 

[My_3_Girls]

I finally broke down this year and bought the Stihl maul, PS80 ( I think) - 6.6 lbs, and "a specially designed head". I have to say, it does seem to work better than any #6 or #8 regular maul. It's around $60, but worth the money if you don't own a hydraulic splitter.

 

[z-man]

I can't say enough good things about the 4lb 'super splitter' ax I bought at Lowes. It has a red fiberglass handle, and a head with a very pronounced flare, very narrow at the blade and very wide near the handle. It works much better than my 8lb maul. Best part is that its light, so you can really get a fast swing speed (velocity squared). My maul would fatigue my shoulder, this ax is so light I don't even notice it. And since the blade end is so narrow, it will sink in deep to gummy woods like poplar so you can wack it with your sledge (acts as a wedge).

Similar to the link below but with a red fiberglass handle

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=147592-302-1156000&lpage=none

 

[Eric Johnson]

If you whack the back of that axe head with a sledge, z-man, it's not going to last very long. The hole for the handle will spread out and become deformed, and then you won't be able to keep a handle on it.

My fave splitting tool is a blunt-edged 8-lb maul with a wooden handle.

 

[Corie]

I'm with Eric. It's hard to beat an 8lb maul and to be honest I have maybe two piece laying on the ground that it simply wouldn't split. Otherwise, we get through almost everything together.

 

[BikeMedic2709]

I agree with Zman. I have the same splitter. I love it! It is lightweight, but you can swing it fast, and with the increased plane it will really split. The ones that I have a hard time with, I use my "MonsterMaul". I love that thing. It does have a short handle though. I have wondered, too, if it did have a longer handle, how much difference would that make. It makes going to the gym obsolete.

 

[z-man]

If you whack the back of that axe head with a sledge, z-man, it's not going to last very long. The hole for the handle will spread out and become deformed, and then you won't be able to keep a handle on it.

My fave splitting tool is a blunt-edged 8-lb maul with a wooden handle.

I never thought of that, I have really beat up the back so far splitting 3 cords, I may just keep doing it and let you know if it holds up. It will be a 30 dollar experiment. I also have an 8lb maul where the head is duct-taped to the handle.

Have I mentioned that I'm new to this arena??

 

[EatenByLimestone]

That's pretty scary. Handles and wedges are cheap.

 

[smirnov3]

If you whack the back of that axe head with a sledge, z-man, it's not going to last very long. The hole for the handle will spread out and become deformed, and then you won't be able to keep a handle on it.

My fave splitting tool is a blunt-edged 8-lb maul with a wooden handle.

I never thought of that, I have really beat up the back so far splitting 3 cords, I may just keep doing it and let you know if it holds up.

Make sure that nobody is standing directly behind you or in front of you - if the handle slips out mid swing, it could make the head into a missile,

 

[DonCT]

I have the same 4 pounder from Lowes. But I also have a 8 lb. maul. I use the 8 to break up the large stuff, and the 4 to split to the final size. The head on that thing sends the splits absolutly FLYING. Talk about a missle

But I have a friend who picked up a hydraulic splitter and is having it rebuilt. He's offered me use of it any time. So my hand splitting days are coming to an end.

 

[Mo Heat]

I got a couple deliveries of white oak and red oak yard trees this summer. Maybe 2 - 3 cords in all. Been working on them a little each day. I started out as always with a 6 lb Sears maul (wooden handle is currently in bad shape), an 8 lb HD Ludell with fiberglass handle, wedges and a 3.5 lb hand sledge. After about 6 sessions I realized that I was fighting a losing battle, especially against the twisted grain, 18 - 24 inch long X 18 x 24 inch diameter, white oak rounds. They are monsters and can bring me to my knees (figuratively speaking). I was swinging so hard (accelerating) the 8 lb'er that I was hyper-extending my elbow at the end of some swings. And nothing was happening. I'm no Paul Bunyun, but I'm no wimp, either.

I needed some bigger guns. I considered buying an electric splitter, but couldn't justify it. I went to ACE Hardware to buy some gloves and there was one of those 12 pound Collins Mauls (perhaps aka: 12 lb Monster Maul). It was $28.99. I stared at it for a few seconds and then picked it up toying with the notion. Oh my god, is that thing heavy. By the time I got it to my car I thought I'd made a serious mistake (I park a long way from the door to preserve my paint job).

By the time I got down the hill to round town carrying the monster, my 8 lb'er, and a 3.5 lb sledge for my first monster fest I was certain I'd made a big mistake. I wondered, "Would they take this thing back after I tried it for just a couple swings to see what was what?"

I started off with the 8 lb'er. No dice. Just couldn't cut the massively twisted white oak. Then the monster maul. *POP*! Wow, was that a fluke?! *POP*! Nope, no fluke. *POP*! *POP*! *POP*!

The 6 or 8 lb'ers can't compete with the 12 lb monster for my particular wood situation. YMMV.

BTW: the technique for using a 12 lb monster is different than the swing for a 6 or 8 lb'er. Just lift it essentially straight up in the air and over your head, then let it drop with a bit of assistance. I am amazed at how much more accurate my stroke is with less effort in the swing. I can consistently hit the same spot if I need to, but I seldom need to with the monster. Usually it splits first time ever time. Even with big, twisted stuff. There are only a few crotch pieces that have thwarted me so far. And they are super gnarly!

As an experiment I even managed to split one of these big boys without shaving around the edges first. It took a few strokes on some beginning checks, but eventually I busted the whole round right in half. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that the monster has it place. Mo says, acceleration is over rated.

 

[rhcvpi]

From what I found on the internet, Monster Maul went out of business (or something along those lines). There are other companies that make them - Iron and Oak -

(broken link removed)

Good group of folks - $33 (shipping included) and you can have one at your door. I got one last year and love it.

 

[Roospike]

I vote for these Iron & Oak models , I think they work best. :cheese: (broken link removed)

 

[BikeMedic2709]

I had the same situation, Mo Heat. I actually bought an 8 lb. maul at Ace Hardware. After looking at the 12 lber and thinking..." Wow... that is a really wide angle..." When I was walking out of the store, I ran into a friend that works there and asked him about it. I said that he had both and never used the "normal" maul anymore. So I turned around. Returned the 8 lb. and bought the 12 lb. I went straight out to the woods where I had been cutting (white oak!!) and blasted right through a 18 inch round, whith that beautiful POP sound. There is nothing like that sound! Wooo Hoooo!

 

[bruce56bb]

mo, save one of those green rounds for a very cold day,the colder the better. then take your small maul out and see what happens. i think you'll be surprised how easy the GREEN stuff splits when frozen.

 

[elkimmeg]

For a minute I thought this was a golf forum Mo talking about his back swing and follow threw and his accuracy witha big bertha.
that white oak can be quite gnarly Split a bunch yesterday with my electric splitter. Amazing tool I am saving some American Rock elm just incase a few of us forum members ever meet. I will post a picture later with my monster maul..

Hey moe or any other forum members has any one installed and used a Dutch west insert? looking for feed back

 

[BrotherBart]

I vote for these Iron & Oak models , I think they work best. :cheese: (broken link removed)

I vote with ya Bubba. I find that my three hundred pound monster maul with wheels does the best in my side by side comparisons.

Split some by hand yesterday. Seems after a few months I forget about that old rotator cuff injury in the right arm. The way it feels after I woke up this morning I figure it will be about a month before I get a chance to start forgetting it again.

 

[begreen]

Ouch BB. My right shoulder froze about 5 years ago. This was the longest and some of the worst pain I've ever experienced. It took almost a year to recover. This happened after I split up a batch of wood and I blamed it on that as well. But for me, it ended up not being the wood splitting, it was computer work, mousing in particular. I live by the computer and when my shoulder froze, I still needed to work, so I trained my left hand to do all mousing. Still do and that has dealt with the problem (until my left shoulder gets wise). If I use my right hand for mousing more than an hour, my right shoulder starts complaining very seriously. An ergonomics doc also instructed me to change the way I type and that has helped a lot also. PM me if you want more details.