The STIHL Loves Eating Red Oak

I promised on the other thread to show what I have worked on lately. This was a huge red oak that blew down at my sister's place during a hurricane maybe three years ago. There is a smaller red oak and a maple that I plan on getting as well. Sister helped me with loading and hauling the wood out and then bringing it to my house where it was split and stacked to dry. The rounds near the base got too large for me to move; it was enough to just roll them out of the way and flip them over. To get them out of the woods, I used a 15 pound splitting maul that nearly did me in near the end. I am real happy with the saw; thanks guys. I am thinking of saving my milk money for a possible future replacement saw but for now, she does the job.

 

15 lbs. maul would kill most of us . Good opportunity for noodling

 

15 pound maul!! Wow you a tough woman. A fiskars x27 will work wonders for almost anyone's hand splitting game.

 

The good thing about red oak is it is very straight grain and so easy to split. Plus I cut short to load north south so that helped as well.

 

I am hurting. One of these things (photo from the net). I pick it up near the head and then slide my hand down to the handle. Then I let it fall and I drop down as I let it fall so I keep my back straight. My problem is I can't hit it twice in the same place.

 

Well done, Kimberly. Most of us know the soreness from making firewood.

 

Holy Moley !!!!

 

With a lighter tool, you'll be able to improve your aim. I have one of those too, just as a collector's item. Way too heavy to use. A few wedges and a sledgehammer will get the job done too.

 

My brother has a maul somewhat like that, I forget the name, monster maul or something, and I do not like it. The x27 is far better.

 

The good old Orginal "Monster Maul". I had one and someone borrowed it but never returned it. I loved that thing! In high school a buddy and I made a nice little side income selling firewood. That maul split a lot of wood. I traded a truck load of wood for it and a log lift. I still have the log lift and use it when the tractor forks aren't easier.

Now I use my 22ton White splitter I bought in 96. But when it comes to hand splitting, the only thing that works as well as I remember that Monster maul, is the Fiskers ISO Core.

 

Awesome wood score. Red oak is my favorite.

 

A SOTZ Monster Maul. Very popular in the late 70's during the firewood heating craze post-OPEC fiasco. Many ads in the outdoor magazines of the time including Country Journal, I still have all the old issues.

My father still has his, and I bought a newer version about 15 years ago, from Northern Tool. Had a handle much too short so I had it cut off and TIG welded a new stainless steel handle on the head. it's just over 16#, 36" handle and totally unbreakable. I used it last week to split some red oak. My kids are scared of it.

 

Tie a rope around the handle and attach the other end to the bow of a boat. A much more useful application!

 

I love my monster maul and still use it a little bit occasionally. Used to split everything with it until my back said no.

 

I don't like it that much either; it is actually too heavy; no way I could do a swing with it. Plus, the head should be narrower at the top; it would start a split but the wide head couldn't continue through to finish the split.

 

So does this mean no exhibitionary pics of upper body physique ?

 

This is the exact log lift I have.

 

There was a ladies' version made as well, only 11.5 pounds. There's one on eBay.
Rare 11 1/2 lb Sotz Lady Monster Maul wood splitting collectible axe tool
$159.99
+ $36.33 Shipping