Splitting oak?

[Alberta Ed]

Dried oak is a b*tch to split. A maul works best, along with wedges.

[d.weglarz13]

Okay, sounds good. I am checking the council site now. Thanks.

dave

[Georgecatl]

2 words - Monster Maul

I have one......when all else fails.....the orange metallic beast is brutal.

[G-pig]

Ive been using a 3 3/4 pound regular axe with fat cheeks on a 31 inch handle for most of my splitting lately (swing ala Tom Clark and Sparrow92). If something is so strong that it requires swinging a 12 pound maul at it, id just get the wedges and sledge. I have a 6 pound maul that I like, but Ive swung 8 pounder and I just dont like them at all.

[d.weglarz13]

something to think about.....I do already have a sledge, so I'll let you guys know what i decide to do. Thanks for all the ideas.

dave

[bearhunter]

You should look into getting a Estwing
wedge. There made in the USA and are sweet

[trailmaker]

You should look into getting a Estwing
wedge. There made in the USA and are sweet

+1. All wedges are not equal. Estwing makes a good wedge.

[mossyhorn]

I had a lot of frozen oak, maple and hickory to split last year. I bought a maul made by Truper. The total weight is 15 lbs and the OAL is 30" . It performed wonderfully. I picked it up at Tractor Supply.
[IMG][/IMG]

[Operator1975]

I had a lot of frozen oak, maple and hickory to split last year. I bought a maul made by Truper. The total weight is 15 lbs and the OAL is 30" . It performed wonderfully. I picked it up at Tractor Supply.
[IMG][/IMG]

I have a maul similar to this as well. It works well, though I wish it was longer than 30 inches - way to short.

[d.weglarz13]

great, thank you I will also look at estwing wedges...I think i need more than one, right? Looks like council tool has a decent one too..

[Ravaillac]

IMO a maul and a few wedges are generally more versatile than a maul.

[Operator1975]

Most mauls though u cannot use to strike wedges with, so then u need a sledge hammer now as well.

[coreboy]

8 pound Sledge, cone wedge, black "normal" wedge and a rail road spike is the only tools i use to run through rounds

[Operator1975]

8 pound Sledge, cone wedge, black "normal" wedge and a rail road spike is the only tools i use to run through rounds

Though now u are hauling 4 items when you could only haul a Monster Maul.

[bjp]

Most mauls though u cannot use to strike wedges with, so then u need a sledge hammer now as well.

no, most mauls have a hardened striking face just for this very purpose. now, if you're thinking of "splitting axes", that's a different story.

[Operator1975]

no, most mauls have a hardened striking face just for this very purpose. now, if you're thinking of "splitting axes", that's a different story.

No, both mauls I have both came with distinct warnings not to use as a sledge.

[Operator1975]

Ah you are probably talking about the smaller 6-8 lb mauls, which yes you can sledge with, while the bigger 15 lb or so mauls you are not supposed to.

[d.weglarz13]

Now, i am officially confused. Oh, and I took that tree into sections today with my chainsaw, and started splitting the smaller rounds with my axe. So, i will post some pics tomorrow since its dark now, but it sure felt good to use this axe some more.

So, now i need a monster maul, some wedges, a sledge.....wow, these decisions are proving to be a real pain. No, just kidding, thats half the fun, right? I think i am gonna get a couple wedges, and see how that does for now with my 8 lb sledge, but its a crappy one with a fiberglass handle, so i wouldn't mind getting a good one too, maybe like the council ones. oh well, sure is good to hear all my different options!

dave

[SamuraiDave]

Wow guys. I have a 6 lb sledge and a 6lb maul. I thought they were huge.
8 lb sledge? 15 lb maul?
(I see that Council Tool makes a 8lb mauls and even a 20 lb Sledge Hammer! WOW!)

I just hope I'm not the pack horse that gets to carry them.

I have a friend that is 6'5" and is pretty big. He was reading a (fantasy) book about a character who uses a 10 lb blacksmith hammer on bad guys. I thought he was being silly and explained to him how heavy such a tool would be, and how unwieldy it would be as a weapon as the character used it.
He did not understand my point of view.
So I took him to Home Depot to show him what a 10 lb hammer would be like. They had a 4lb hammer a 6lb sledge hammer, and a 16 lb sledge hammer.
He then understood why I felt a 10lb hammer (for single handed use) was a bit ridiculous.

[bearhunter]

I've been using an 8# sledge for years.
It's really not that hard to use.