We've been splitting wood all wrong

Mother Nature Network ^ | 1/28/14

[Kartographer]

Check out the video this is a cool new tool.

[BradtotheBone]

That looks cool. But nothing beats my log splitter, lol.

[OneWingedShark]

That looks cool. But nothing beats my log splitter, lol.

A young teen-aged son?

[posterchild]

Is that what people mean by ‘unnatural axe?’

[9422WMR]

Oh hell, anybody can split pine with almost any tool.
Now let’s see that thing work on Texas Mesquite or Oak. Show me that and I will be impressed. Pine? Yea not so much.......

[smokingfrog]

[Sherman Logan]

I figure I’ve split something along the lines of 100 cords of wood over the years. Anybody who uses an axe for the job isn’t too bright.

An 8 lb. splitting maul works pretty darn good, though this device might work better.

I must admit you can get the maul and wedges wedged in the most astonishing way in cottonwood logs. Sometimes thought I’d have to burn the log to get the wedges out.

[knarf]

1/2 hr of using that and through the gloves .. blisters form from the twisting handle.

There's no weight to the head, so all the downward force is power by Armstrong.

LOVELY pieces of knot free, soft pine.

I wouldn't waste my money ... nor time.

[Born to Conserve]

I always use a double bladed axe for chopping. If you do it right, it never gets stuck, and never cuts through out of control. If you hold it on a five or ten degree angle, it starts to cut in to the log, and then rotates, prying the log apart. I thought everyone knew that.

Dumb gimmick.

[CurlyDave]

It works really well on that straight grain pine.

Now try it on some of my scrub oak and madrone. Wood is stronger, grain is not straight. Axe either gets stuck, or bounces off at a weird angle.

[Zeneta]

Next, someone will re-invent the wheel.

[vladimir998]

https://www.google.com/search?q=axe+for+splitting+wood&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ADRA_enUS418US418&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=AI7tUrW9NOTQ2QW2oIDYDA&sqi=2&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg&biw=1093&bih=453#facrc=_&imgdii=pJDwFo29domusM%3A%3BAyh1JJlE9pgY0M%3BpJDwFo29domusM%3A&imgrc=pJDwFo29domusM%253A%3B5atjd2jghepq1M%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.chopper1axe.com%252Fimagesupload%252Fcms_files%252Ffiles%252FaboutUsAxe.gif%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.chopper1axe.com%252F%3B214%3B282

[Born to Conserve]

Man that’s a long log!

[Proud2BeRight]

That is cool! I also like the tire idea.
Would like to know how it works with knotted and twisted woods. Even with a hard whack with a big splitting maul it often takes several hits (or worse, the addition of separate wedges).

[fso301]

anybody can split pine with almost any tool.

Unless it's heart of pine in which case it's like rock.

[CrazyIvan]

Just how tall was that tree?!

[Libloather]

That’s one long tree.

[PapaNew]

Hey, I’d sure like to get me one of them thar things. How mucharooni?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Looks good but how does it do on elm? ;-D

[CrazyIvan]

Designed a log splitter that was an attachment for the winch like I have on my Jeep. Never got the chance to build it.