Share your favorite splitter!

[FortyTwoBlades]

Here's mine. A 2500g (about 5.5lb) Rinaldi maul with a slip-fit 88cm (34.6") handle as measured below the head (when measured end to end the handle is closer to 38".) Because of the slip-fit handle I can use multiple handles for the same head and I've been enjoying using it for basement splitting (either single splits to reduce the size of a large piece a bit or for kindling) on a 20" curved handle (as measured below the head.)

 

[mewolf1]

The small splitter out does my much heavier cast splitting mauls.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

It's all in that geometry!

And yeah, I'll take forged over cast any day. A cast head still gets the job done, but there's a good chance of there being voids in the casting and generally when a manufacturer makes the decision to go with casting the steel quality and heat treatment aren't so hot either.

 

[Operator1975]

The Sotz Monster Maul is still by far my favorite.

 

[Crazyotter]

I have a 6lb True Temper Japan) on a 32" handle. Profiled it so it'll bite and then split without hanging up. First decent maul I've found, and it works well. Been meaning to get a Fiskars though, there something else.

 

[Square_peg]

My 5 pound Plumb rafting axe with hardened waffle poll.

Not sure if this image is loading properly.......dang mobile devices!

Edit: fixed it

 

[Ugaldie]

That's my fauvorite, Jauregi's 3Kg splitting Basque axe,
[video=youtube;vqNoXP4yQP8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqNoXP4yQP8&sns=em[/video]
That oak died a year ago, you can see me splitting a piece with a knot. Don't be too hard, my rithm was slow because we had been working for several hours when I took that video.

 

[Steve Tall]

My 5 pound Plumb rafting axe with hardened waffle poll.

Not sure if this image is loading properly.......dang mobile devices!

Here it is:

I had a little fun with this axe today out at the splitting stump. The thing is amazing. It has absolutely no respect for knots.

You can chop right through 'em. The combination of weight, sharpness and bit geometry is just devastating.

You can also set the piece of wood on its side and split the knot lengthwise.

You can see the waffle pattern on the poll in this image.

Or if you hit knots square on center you can split them with an end blow.

I had dueling brothers out at the wood pile today, the big 5--pound rafter and his little brother, a 3-1/2 pound Plumb single bit. The 3-1/2 pounder did fine on most stuff but on the big knotty stuff it was no contest.

If you've ever framed houses then you might know the pleasure of driving a hardened 'teco nail' into a knot where you could never drive a sinker. That's kind of how it feels to bash the crap out a knot with this axe. It's like getting even with all the knots that ever got in your way.

Good fun!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

That's a beautiful rafting axe!

 

[rjdankert]

Bob

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Hahahaha--if I got one for Christmas it'd be my favorite, too!

 

[Square_peg]

Bob

You win!

 

[Axe nut]

Usually grab one of these big beasts

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[Beachlogger]

Here's mine. A 2500g (about 5.5lb) Rinaldi maul with a slip-fit 88cm (34.6") handle as measured below the head (when measured end to end the handle is closer to 38".) Because of the slip-fit handle I can use multiple handles for the same head and I've been enjoying using it for basement splitting (either single splits to reduce the size of a large piece a bit or for kindling) on a 20" curved handle (as measured below the head.)

That's a handsome maul, do you sell them? I looked around at your site but didn't see them

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Not yet. I will be, but I got this one in as a sample to see how I liked it (plus I needed a better one personally.) Won't be for a few months before they're available.

 

[davemonkey]

Here is my splitting setup. Fiskars x27, 8LB maul, wedge, and a 10LB sledge. I am now completely sold on the Fiskars design.

 

[thunderstick]

I have a 6# maul on a fiberglass handle with a good handle protector that goes thru the eye ... got it many years ago and don't know the brand ... but with profiling that maul it splits really well. The handle flexes and transfers force very similar to my wood handled maul

Also the Fiskars 36" splitting axe. Those two are a great combo for attacking different types of wood ...

 

[cooperhill]

my GB collection has dwindled to 2 - this is my favorite for splitting large rounds - this is the splitting maul.

 

[vcbvcbvcb]

I used my Fiskars x27 on oak today for the 1st time and was surprised how well it did. I have an old 8 pound Japanese "Boss" maul on the way. Couldn't find much on the net about them, but it looked good.

 

[bengriswold]

Peg- I noticed it looks like you made the handle yourself. Is the handle straight to the end or fawn's foot? I have been getting serious about the whole splitting axe (vs maul) thing as I have a very nice working modified maul but that rafting pattern setup you got looks ideal for stuff I otherwise wouldn't need the maul for.