Estwing Fireside Friend review...

[Tar12]

I had been thinking about getting one of these for some time and it arrived 2 weeks ago...at 4lbs it is not light weight but I have found that it is easy to handle...even one handed....the little Fiskars hatchet it replaced was just not up to the task of splitting the larger oak splits that I like running in my stove...it would take multiple swings with the under weight Fiskars hatchet....not so with the Estwing...I think of it as a mini maul...best $30 I have spent!It came with a nice heavy ballistic nylon case as well..

 

[XmasTreefarmer]

Sweet! It's so great when you get a new tool and it does exactly what you wanted it to do. Heating with wood is a lot of work - it's always smart to change/add tools or techniques that will make things easier.

 

[ikeepgrnbarsfull]

I've had one of these for 5 years. I wouldn't use it on wedges if I got a new one as years of using it on wedges has deformed the back end pretty badly. Nonetheless, it's great for when I've split rounds in slabs instead of splits. Makes real quick work of slab wood