Thoughts on woodsplitting

jblyttle

jblyttle

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Sep 3, 2014
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One of the tools that I have picked up lately is an Estwing Fireside Friend for $10 at a flea market. It is the only one that I have seen, and for those that don't know, it is a leather wrapped typical Estwinf handle but it's like a hatchet sized maul. The total weight is 4lbs. I have been using it and found it to be really valuable. I will not sell it until I can replace it.

I personally split a ton of green pine, as I pick it up fro free when people give it away. I only burn outdoors so it is ideal once dry. However, green pine is the devil to split sometimes. It's a great workout. I regularly use a maul and splitting wedges. What I have found with this Estwing is that I can split smaller pieces while keeping control. I can simply use the handle to keep it on the spot until I drive it in with a hand sledge. I love it, and it is handy to the point that I am going to hang my next 6-8lb maul head in an 18-22" handle to duplicate functionality. It will not be swung, but placed and struck. Think of it like a splitting wedge with a handle for placement. Also, my first blacksmith project was going to be to taker a large farrier's rasp and turn itnto a froe. I am now thinking that I will pick up a rough 4lb head and hammer one end of it into a wedge. Super useful, give it a try/
 
It's my belief that sledge-eye mauls were intended to be used in a similar manner. The handle would be more prone to damage if swinging it vs. an axe eye, but the sledge eye gives thicker eye walls that can resist repeated blows in such usage.
 
Hey man, whatever works! My oldest daughter took me camping in BC last spring with a really lousy profile "JobMate" (China?) hatchet. It was so GD dull that I showed her how to use it as a splitting wedge for pounding on with a heavy piece of firewood. Holding the handle was handy just to get it started in the wood.
 
I think that back in the days before hydraulic wood splitters that a two man combo of a sledge eye maul and a sledge hammer or heavy beetle would have put up a lot of wood in short time. Even a three man combo so you could have one man load the chopping block.
 
My 5 brothers-in-law and I help my dad with his woodpile, and we've teamed like that, sometimes with two sledges, a maul holder/wedge placer, a block loader, and a stacker. Works well.
 
thanks for searching the link RustyHammer
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