Outdoor Living & Lifestyles - wedges

What is the best wedge to split logs for fire wood, I can't afford a log splitter so I guess all that is left is to use a wedge.
any links to a pic or part number would be appreciated,thanks.

If you can swing an 8 pound weight over your head (which you would do with a wedge and sledge also), I wouldn't bother with a wedge and go with a splitting maul (an 8 pound wedge on a stick). They can be a little more dangerous (you are swinging a blade rather than a hammer), but they are much more effective than the wedge and sledge.

Be careful, there are some "hi tech" mauls you can get, they cost a lot and add little benefit.

Of course, there are some woods that need a splitter (or a lot of determination... IMO, splitters are too much work... unless they are related to you :) ). Unless you are doing gum, perhaps beech, fresh poplar, elm (these are the hard ones I am familiar with), the maul should be more an enough.

How do you use a maul, just keep swinging it into the split in the log untill it separates in two.
I have been told that mauls were not as good as a wedge,well maybe i have heard wrong.
I always figured a maul would be better.

You use a maul the same as you would an ax, it's just heavier and shaped a little different. Because it's heavier you can use it like you would a wedge once you buried it into the log.

As for gum tree logs, I've found if you split them as soon as you cut them, they will split fine, let them air for a few hours and with out a hydraulic splitter the best you can do is to peel it apart in layers :eek:

I like using a maul on logs that can be split in less than a couple hits. If you try it on logs too large then it will stick in the log and you spend a lot of time wiggling trying to get your maul free for the next hit. If you plan on using the maul as a wedge make sure you make your hit near the edge or leave the handle up at an angle so you can drive the maul head into the log without the handle stopping your progress.

I like plain wedges. The kind that are a simple shallow triangle, not the four point type. I use wedge and sledge on larger logs that cannot be split with a maul. I generally have 2 or 3 wedges on hand and place them in a line across the log. Take one or two hits on each and move to the next wedge creating a crack across the log.

Hmmm a vote for wedges i guess.
I'm not as young as i used to be so i'm concerend as to which is easier for most tree logs, if i get a gum or a too hard to split log, i'll just forget it and move on.
I'm not sold on what to use yet,hmm.

I guess I always looked at it this way, swing a heavy sledge trying to hit a wedge, or swing the wedge and not worry about hitting anything other than the log. Honestly, I have never had much of a problem with the maul sticking and I can do 24+ inch oak logs in 2-4 swings (one inside corner, one outide corner and maybe one right down the middle for a called strike 3 :) ).

Knots can also cause a problem, but they will cause problems with anything other than a splitter.

I have never had luck with wedges or an axe, perhaps it is in the swing (the aim is important too, but I seldom have problems hitting where I want to hit). With a maul, to be most effective (Dad taught me), you have to bring it high over your head, large arc and the maul does all the hard work for ya.

All in all, it is what is best for you. You can always ask to borrow a friend's and see which you like best.

sounds like good advice Dave.
I don't know any friends who have hard working tools like mauls ,lol.
Thanks.

IMO it is a good idea to have both although I don't often use my wedge. 90% of the wood I split is done with a maul alone. When I do get it stuck, I'll get the sledge hammer and if that doesn't complete the split I'll add a wedge to the crack and finish.

If you just bought a wedge - how would you get it started? It would be difficult to start a split with a wedge - you would first need to get the crack started with an ax or maul, which brings us back to having a maul is best.

You have no friends with such tools? I have an idea. Get a maul (8 pounders are the best IMO), and maybe a wedge a sledge. Invite your friends over and tell them you are having a hard time deciding which is best. Ask them to try each several times so they can better give you an opinion.

By the time they are done testing for you, the wood may all be split... and you will know which works best the next time you need to split wood. :)

lol, thats a good idea Dave, But they aint that dumb, they always say stuff like my arthritis is bad or they are left handed and thats a right handed sledge,lol.

When is the best time to split wood, when it's fresh or let it dry for awhile?

When is the best time to split wood, when it's fresh or let it dry for awhile?

Usually as fast as possible, If you get it frozen it is the easiest.

dsk