how about a 3 lb axe with the edge dulled and for the elm you will eventually want a couple wedges and say a 6 lb sledge which is a unisex size. :cheese:
splitting ax for wife
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truthfully, a log splitter..she will get penty of upper body strength by lifting rounds up onto it
The Fiskars can't be beat as long as she's not over about 5'6" - the handle is really short. Fits my 5'2" model perfectly. While you're at it, get her the Fiskars cutting axe as well. Very nice, same 28" handle as the splitting axe.
- Dec 22, 2006
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I know this is an expensive option, especially since the dollar has taken such a beating against the Euro, but I love this thing.
Splitting Axe (20") by Gransfors Bruk $110.95
391-0441
(broken image removed)
The Splitting Axe by Gransfors Bruik has been hand forged in Sweden from the finest steel and then carefully hardened and tempered to Rockwell 57 for the best combination and hardness and toughness. The Splitting Axe is designed for splitting apart chunks of wood, "rounds". Upon impact the wedge shaped axe head powers apart the grain of the wood. Relative to a Splitting Maul, the Splitting Axe's head is slightly lighter and the poll is not designed for pounding on a splitting wedge. The head weighs 2 lbs and has a 2 1/2" wide face.
Relative to a large splitting axe, the main benefit of this smaller version is that it can be handled with one hand. The 20" long hickory handle has circular grooves at the grip to prevent slippage. Also, a steel collar near the head protects the handle for those rare times when you miss the target. The axe comes with a split grain leather sheath to protect the edge when not in use. Expertly forged in Sweden.
Splitting Axe (20") by Gransfors Bruk $110.95
391-0441
(broken image removed)
The Splitting Axe by Gransfors Bruik has been hand forged in Sweden from the finest steel and then carefully hardened and tempered to Rockwell 57 for the best combination and hardness and toughness. The Splitting Axe is designed for splitting apart chunks of wood, "rounds". Upon impact the wedge shaped axe head powers apart the grain of the wood. Relative to a Splitting Maul, the Splitting Axe's head is slightly lighter and the poll is not designed for pounding on a splitting wedge. The head weighs 2 lbs and has a 2 1/2" wide face.
Relative to a large splitting axe, the main benefit of this smaller version is that it can be handled with one hand. The 20" long hickory handle has circular grooves at the grip to prevent slippage. Also, a steel collar near the head protects the handle for those rare times when you miss the target. The axe comes with a split grain leather sheath to protect the edge when not in use. Expertly forged in Sweden.
I actually looked at that! I would love to get that for her, (and me), but it just isn't in the budget. :down: That will be a maybe someday thing I guess. Bummer I would soooooo
love to have a hand made, best quality you can get, tool. Unfortunately my budget says the 'Mart is the top end right now. Thanks for the Gransfors idea! I agree that would be really nice!
love to have a hand made, best quality you can get, tool. Unfortunately my budget says the 'Mart is the top end right now. Thanks for the Gransfors idea! I agree that would be really nice!
Update, the splitting ax just got bumped way up the priority list! I split the handle of the 8 pound maul working on large Elm rounds tonight! My wife took some of those big 18 inch rounds and turned them into wonderful splits for the Tribute, before I broke my tool! :ahhh: She was doing very well, taking her time, and hitting the same dent in the top of the round till it finally gave way. It took me on average about three whacks to get one to go the first time, so it probably took her on average of four to five. I am so proud of her! I plan on picking up a lighter splitting ax some time this week. I may need to replace the heavier 8 pound as well, but we will try the lighter one first. (18" elm rounds are tough! :bug: )
Elm is so much fun! Get a new handle for the maul and pick up some wedges while you're at it?
Frankly the only way I'd split a batch of elm is with a power splitter. Maybe it would be easier just to rent one for a day to get the job done?
Frankly the only way I'd split a batch of elm is with a power splitter. Maybe it would be easier just to rent one for a day to get the job done?
When you do split her, make sure they are small pieces enough to fit in the hole with nothing sticking out. Then comes the cement.... Oh, wait, I mis-read. My bad. I thought you said AXE FOR SPLITTING WIFE :gulp:
BeGreen said:
It really wasn't all that bad. Work...... for sure, but not that bad. I probably will get a new handle for it, if the splitting ax just won't do the job, but the splitting ax for sure. I only had to use the wedge on one, probably two by the time I get that nasty looking one tackled, but that will have to wait till I can get a new tool, and probably a handle. My wife said she feels so powerful :ahhh: when that big old round finally gives way and falls in two pieces on the ground! then splitting up the halves is allot easier, and they don't just split in half they go flying! She really did a good job! :cheese: I was very proud of her! The maul started to get heavy for her, and her aim started to wander a bit, (a few glances off the side of the split she was working on), so we decided that I should finish off the rest of this load. 'Till then we were going round for round. (I picked the straighter grained ones for her, I took the ones that looked like they would be a problem.) The splitting is mostly done for this load, but there are many more to come, see my other post "wood score" (I don't know how to add the thread link)
Is the Gransfors Bruks splitting maul really worth five times the money? I'm not being sarcastic I really want to know, I am considering dropping the money and getting one, but wow that's allot of money for a maul, when I can go to the 'Mart and get one for 20-25 bucks.
FOR SINGLE GUYS: we could just reverse this post....
Wife wanted for Splitting Maul.............
Wife wanted for Splitting Maul.............
ISeeDeadBTUs said:
She wanted to learn, so if she had to do it, she could. It is that simple, and she wanted to build some upper body strength. Lets see, pay for the gym, or save on the heating bill, and split wood. Same results, very different expendeture of money!
The truth is I do trust her absolutely swestall. I trust her with a hell of allot more important things then running a splitting maul! I choose to take your comment as lighthearted jabbing, not an insult. I am far from lazy!
When I use to burn would might wife would split wood like an amazon, I could never quite figure out where this amazing strenght came from. She is only a half pint.
After switching to gas we traced her family tree and to my surprise we found out that Lizy Borden was her Great Grandma.
This is SCARY Glad I switched to Propane; Maybee!
John
After switching to gas we traced her family tree and to my surprise we found out that Lizy Borden was her Great Grandma.
This is SCARY
Glad I switched to Propane; Maybee!John
jeffman3 said:
I use the Gransfors splitting maul for splitting rounds and the small splitting axe for splitting kindling and large splits into smaller pieces. Both are excellent tools.
I've spent a lot of time with the Gransfors maul- in the last few years I've split probably 10 cords with it. I mainly split birch, oak, maple, ash, and hickory with some softwoods mixed in as well. It has become a favorite tool of mine. I've never used another maul, so I have little to compare it to, but it has never failed me, and the relatively light weight makes it easy to work for long periods of time with it. The edge retention is amazing- I usually sharpen it once per season.
It's well worth the price, IMHO.
Josh in CT
Seriously,if you got a wife that wants to try and help you split firewood, you gotta keeper there. I think thats really great.
It shows a family that works hard together for the same causes. To save money on your heating bills and keep warm.
This also allows for some quality time.
Find her something her size.
It shows a family that works hard together for the same causes. To save money on your heating bills and keep warm.
This also allows for some quality time.
Find her something her size.
Fire Bug said:
You hit it right on the head! I need to find something quick, I broke the handle on my 8# 'Mart maul. True Temper was the brand. I thought about re-handling it, but for another 4 dollar's I could buy a new one! (yea it was that cheap!) I will find something. I am looking for something in the 6 pound range for a Maul or a lighter splitting ax. I don't know if the lighter splitting ax will handle the bigger elm rounds though. I will be cutting and burning elm for the foreseeable future. (got me a honey hole
!!) See my other post "wood score!" So I need a tool that will handle the tough stuff, but something she can manage. I am starting to think that we need his and hers splitting tools? 
She is wonderful and really did a great job splitting down the last load with me. I look forward to doing allot more of that with her and the kids! They are in charge of stick patrol! we send them to find and break up branches and small diameter sticks and fill tubs for kindling. They think it's kind of boring but it saves me splitting down usable splits,and gives them something to do and be productive and helpful while I am running the saw and Jess is loading the truck!
Fugazi42 said:
Thanks Josh,
I will see if I can talk my wife into the better tool! She wants me to get the cheap one from the 'Mart again, and truthfully I can't afford to spend the money right now, even for the cheap one, but a buy it once, buy it for life, thing is tempting. I will just have to see if I can talk her into it, and what kind of overtime I can get at work.
Fire Bug said:
yup I agree totally! Family working together is rare and wonderful thing these days. :coolsmirk:
I don't think you need a megabucks maul. Might be nice, but if money is an issue why do that? I would recommend that you just get a new handle for your maul. Sure seems silly to spend almost as much as for the maul, but why not save a few bucks and fix the one you have. I was splitting today with our plastic/fiberglass handled maul, really prefer our wooden handled one which is falling apart. So I wanted to say be sure and get a wooden handle. They break over time but are so much less strain on your hands/arms.
I despise Walmart so would implore everyone not to shop there ever, but that is up to you. Another thing I would advise is have your wife read up on splitting techniques. Sounds funny, but I learned to split wood from reading about it online. I use the two hands apart and sliding the one down the handle to the other method while raising the maul. Works really well. Also use a short chopping block, any fat, fairly level round will do. Read
(broken link removed to http://www.motherearthnews.com/DIY/1980-11-01/The-Time-Honored-Art-of-Splitting-Wood.aspx)
Also, I am sure the person who said to keep your legs apart to avoid injury means well, and perhaps hit their foot at some point, but standing funny while splitting wood seems like it wouldn't help your swing or aim. If you are aiming at a chopping block, the maul comes down quite a ways from where your feet and legs are. Be sure you both have eye protection, and steel toed shoes are nice, too. Not that I think you will hit your foot with the maul, but the wood tends to tall on your feet sometimes.
I despise Walmart so would implore everyone not to shop there ever, but that is up to you. Another thing I would advise is have your wife read up on splitting techniques. Sounds funny, but I learned to split wood from reading about it online. I use the two hands apart and sliding the one down the handle to the other method while raising the maul. Works really well. Also use a short chopping block, any fat, fairly level round will do. Read
(broken link removed to http://www.motherearthnews.com/DIY/1980-11-01/The-Time-Honored-Art-of-Splitting-Wood.aspx)
Also, I am sure the person who said to keep your legs apart to avoid injury means well, and perhaps hit their foot at some point, but standing funny while splitting wood seems like it wouldn't help your swing or aim. If you are aiming at a chopping block, the maul comes down quite a ways from where your feet and legs are. Be sure you both have eye protection, and steel toed shoes are nice, too. Not that I think you will hit your foot with the maul, but the wood tends to tall on your feet sometimes.
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