Need help picking my first splitting axe/maul

T

TimS01

Joined
Sep 16, 2013
Messages
23
Hi there, first time poster but have been reading a bunch of threads on here and hoping someone can help me make up my mind.

I confess I didn't really know what I was looking for when I bought my first axe for splitting, and now I'm wishing I'd bought a proper splitting axe/maul. I have a combination of big rounds to get through and a lot of pretty gnarly, knotty smaller ones and my axe just gets stuck again and again. I picked up a splitting wedge that works well enough, but reading here it seems I'd be a lot better served with a maul.

So, have been comparison shopping endlessly. Everyone loves the Fiskars but I confess I want something that... warms the heart a bit more, if that makes sense. Something I'll be happy/proud to use for decades (I hope). I also want something that will power through the knotty stuff and that I can flip over and use to hammer in the wedge when things get really gnarly.

I've been looking primarily at the Council Tool 6# maul, the Wetterling large maul, and the
Gransfors Bruks spliting maul. All three seem to do what I need, but I've read that the GB option may not be particularly ideally suited for hammering in wedges. It's also stupendously expensive, but I love the attention to detail on it (particularly the metal protection on the handle) and if it's genuinely worth it I'm willing to spend that much.

Is there something else I should be considering? Is the GB really worth the $$? I'll probably only be using this 4 or 5 times a year for a couple hours at a pop, so it may be overkill, but there are few things I hate more than going back and buying something better after trying to save some bucks and buy the cheap alternative to start. I must say the Council looks nice, but I've read a few reviews of people getting axes with loose heads and having to spend time sharpening them right out of the box. Shame they don't make a Velvicut maul, as I'd always prefer American...

Anyhow, thanks for your and suggestions. As a bit of a reward, here's a photo of my grandfather taken in 1937. He was a lumberjack in VT.

trgzfLT.jpg
 
Check out Wetterlings just got one of their hunters axes couldn't be happier with the quality for the money I'm sure you will get plenty of suggestions here . Welcome and that's a cool picture of your granddad .
 
The Wetterlings or GB. Wetterlings' quality has soared in recent years. The design is a good bit different between theirs and the GB, so check each out for the one you like most. I've had the GB since early summer and can tell you, it splits with the best of them. I go back and forth between the maul (open up the round) and the large splitting axe (finish the splitting). I've had no issues using it to pound wedges. Yeah, you may not split a lot, but the GB will be there for decades. Work your technique too; splitting is different from chopping!

Good vid: Maul in action.
 
Experience is the key. Beg/borrow some others before you invest. Or peruse flea markets and garage sales for a week or two.
 
Thanks, jpeeler. If you had to pick one, axe or maul, which would you go for? I had been leaning towards maul, since I hate dragging a sledge out with me for hammering in the wedge, and that could cover both bases.
 
300Six said:
Experience is the key. Beg/borrow some others before you invest. Or peruse flea markets and garage sales for a week or two.
Click to expand...

Sorry to say I know nobody with anything other than a basic felling axe or the like. I will take a poke around Craigslist, though! Great suggestion.
 
If you're not slinging it a lot, a maul can tire you out rapidly. That's why I liked the GB Maul- it's comparatively light at 5.5 lbs. Most folks prefer a heavy splitting axe- Something in the 5 lb weight, on a long handle to get a quick swing in. Splitting is about speed, not necessarily weight.

Like I said, I use the maul to split the whole round in half, then use a lighter splitting axe to split into smaller pieces. Don't need all the weight of the maul once the round has been split.

John
 
Firstly, cool picture of your grandfather!

In regards to your question...if I had to pick, I would go with the GB based on looks alone. I was going to try and talk you out of it but I like your reasoning of wanting a piece you could be proud for yours to come. I don't think I have EVER heard someone complain about their GB. If you have the money, GO FOR IT! If you have a surplus of money, buy both the axe and maul :p:eek:

Also, if I could pick only an splitting axe or maul I would say maul. It makes splitting large diameter pieces of wood much easier. You have to be in good shape to keep with it all day though. Personally, after splitting large sections of wood in halves or quarters I switch to a splitting axe, in particular the 28" made by Fiskars.

Best of luck with your purchase and welcome to the forums. Be sure to post some pics of whatever you get!
 
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Council Tools makes high value, working tools. When your specs match one of their products, Council is a great way to go, new or used. Made in the high country of NC, USA.

If you are concerned about getting an axe with a loose head, or an excessive amount of sharpening out of the box, why not ask them? http://www.counciltool.com/contact.asp?pg=contact
 
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Welllll I took a deep breath and ordered the GB maul -- and got a big roll of the eyes from my wife. Can't say as I blame her, but I couldn't find a single negative review online -- except for one guy who got a defective handle and was promptly shipped a new axe.

Thanks for all the recommendations. Now comes the impatient waiting!
 
Can't wait to get it. On that note, any care and maintenance I should know about? Other than not leaving it out sitting on the woodpile all winter...
 
Not really. Some people like to retreat the handles, but you can go years between treatments. I have yet t retreat any of my Gransfors handles, and I've been into them for 2 years now. Personal preference. And yeah, just check it over/clean it up when you get done using it, and you'll be golden.
 
I just picked up a Husqvarna splitting maul. I am very pleased with the feel and design of it. I have not given it a good world lout so I can't say how it performs.

I was all set, after a bunch if research, to get the wetterlings splitting maul. But, I stumbled across this at about $30 cheaper and decided to give it a try.

Keep us posted how that GB maul works out for you. I looked at it, but wanted a little longer handle.
 
I also went for the Husqvarna maul, just got it today. Tried checking it out prior to buying or buy used with no luck.
Hope to try it out tomorrow if I can work it out.
I've read that Husqvarna mauls is/ were made by Wetterling - no markings to give that away- but they sure look the same.
 
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I am kind of heartbroken here. The maul finally arrived today and this is what the sheath looked like:

KoCCA2V.jpg


When I first took the axe out I was disappointed at the dullness of it -- it certainly wasn't sharp enough to cut paper as I've seen others state. I then noticed all the leather dust, took a closer look at the sheath and saw that the maul had either cut through the sheath or that the sheath was torn to begin with.

You can maybe make out the nicks in the blade, which line up with the rivets, which are sheared off. The paint from the rivets has also stained the blade, as you can see at the very top. Thoughts on what to do here? Request a new sheath or demand a new axe?

Was also pretty disappointed at the angle of the grain in the handle, and there appears to be a fair amount of epoxy in there, too. Is this typical?

X98hNEc.jpg


Really, really wish I could have bought this thing local instead of rolling the dice online.
 
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Retailer was Barracuda Supply, an Amazon retailer. They're offering a full refund or $20 back to pay for a new sheath. Pretty strongly tempted to just return the thing and get something else elsewhere.
 
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