Oops forgot the source: http://www.caintv.com/brand-new-type-of-axe-shows-us
I’ve preferred to use a heavy splitting maul instead of an axe. But I’m getting older, and that tool of low tech wonder looks pretty good. Thanks.
I think that’s a good product, but I better AXE it again!
Oops. The price is a little high. I might build a hydraulic splitter instead.
The video looks impressive, and it seems like a winning design. However, I never had much trouble using an ordinary splitting maul on straight-grained, cured wood (as in the video). I have had 2 ft. long pieces that twisted nearly full-circle. The only way I could split them, was to wait until it dropped to 30 below, or colder. At that temperature, the wood becomes brittle, and splits easily. It would be interesting to see this lever splitter attacking some more challenging wood.
I’d like to try one. However, my problem is not with wood like that that will split easy but with wood full of knots.
This was on “The Blaze” last week and I looked into it ...
1st , it isn’t new , this design dates to 2009 ,, and a similar design with the offset blade but without the “kick” preceeded it...
2nd , it isn’t useful for felling trees ,, WITH THE GRAIN ONLY ... it is useful for splitting cut lengths only.
3rd , it’s expensive ,, $250+ ,, and it’s out of stock
4th , in all the video’s you’ll see it’s being used on straight grain fast growing varieties of european softwood.
5th , also in all the video’s it’s COLD outside ,, and we all know that wood splits easier when cold/frozen
6th , Since the manufacturer hasn’t found a worldwide distributor for it in 5 years I’d say it’s usefulness is rather limited OR any company he approached is afraid of the wrist breaking twist action.
In 1940`s I watched my grandfather blow trees apart with dynamite for kindling and wood for the iron stove in the kitchen—
Sweet Music-
Who need Chopin?
Leni
I’d like to take it down to city hall here in NYC and test it on a piece of really thick wood, namely DeBlasio’s cranium! Then sit back and smoke a stogie in front of my “real” fireplace.
I’m impressed.
Doesn’t look like oak but a softwood. I’ll stick with my double bladed axe.
I understand how the blade end works but I don’t get the purpose of the curved part on the head of it.
Spam.
Here is a link to another article on this where the inventor entered a comment. Link and copied comment follow:
http://www.mnn.com/family/protection-safety/stories/weve-been-splitting-wood-all-wrong
Hello.
My name is Heikki Kärnä. I am the inventor of the Vipukirves/Leveraxe.
I red the comments and I noticed, that for some people it seems to be very difficult to understand the splitting technique with the Vipukirves/Leveraxe.
There is practically nothing to do with cutting and wedging when splitting with the Vipukirves.
Leverage is the way how to do it.
There is no friction as with the conventional axes and mauls, because on an optimum strike the blade penetrates into the block only about 5 millimetres, less than a quarter of an inch. At the very moment, when the edge of the blade touches the surface of the block, the blade starts to lean to the right. Here comes the leverage that multiplies the splitting force up to 35 times bigger. The edge of the blade grabs to the side of the part of wood. All the kinetic energy turns to the left and pushes the piece away. Initial spitting force can be even 15 tons.
Splitting is now much easier, because you do not have to use so much power. By holding the handle as gently as possible you allow the rotation in your hands. You will not get such chocks to your hands and body as with the conventional axes and mauls.
It is very important to hold the handle so, that you do not resist the rotation.
This way also the safety elements, which are build in to the design of the blade, function as they have planned to do. The blade will stop on the top of the block, or slows down the speed so, that it is fully under the control of the user.
Vipukirves has been on the market over 8 years. There has happened NO ACCIDENT.
It is advisable to split the wood as green as possible, because this way it splits easiest, the insects cannot multiply in it and it dries best.
Vipukirves has spread all around the world. The feed back is excellent.
There is a lot information in my websites, Google etc. Youtube. Search by words Vipukirves and Leveraxe.
I wish you to make yourselves acquainted with this new kind of tool which is in commercial production first time in the history. I would also like you to understand that among the other advantages the safety elements make the splitting really enjoyable because you do not have to be afraid all the time about the blade.
Based to the feed back, so called hard wood is not any more a problem when using the Vipukirves.
Of course it requires some knowledge about the structure of the tree to optimize the splitting.
In the videos you can see myself splitting. I am around 70 years. Now I am 74 and my total experience is splitting firewood consists of 67 years time.
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Why , the Demonuts will soon ban burning of wood
Careful with that Axe, Eugene.
Mr. Fancy Axe, me Mr. Elm.