Gotta do it. It is one great ax. It must be one of the most popular newer designs since the Monster Maul. And it saves your back too.
Okay, I'll also make a first here. I couldn't see why people were so hi on them but then got a chance to use the X27. Personally, I thought it was junk. I split wood for 25 years or so by hand and the Fiskar's proved to be my biggest disappointment. I can do better with a regular single bit or double bit axe or splitting maul. Sorry guys, but that is the way I see it. Incidently, I started splitting wood before I was 10 years old. I used mostly a double bitted axe and on the tough stuff, it was sledge and wedges.
Although I love it it is no maul it's an axe ! If you want to split big rounds buy a wedge or a maul finish them off with the Fiskars. My x27 is a very good AXE however it has defiantly lost its edge even using the Fiskars sharpener. Would I recommend it yes would I buy another possibly. There are much better hand made and forged axes recently I used a Gransfors Burks 36" axe it puts the Fiskars to shame any day of the week.
Is it the be all end all don't need anything else for manual splitting ax? No. But for the price compared to other single bladed splitting axes its the most bang for the buck. I use to swing a 6# maul exclusively now I leave it behind and if the x27 won't split it I noodle or bring the round home. If I ever get a gransfors I'd be scared to use it for those are things of beauty.
Yes they are ! It's like holding art in your hand when your a rebellious 16 year old except its made to bang around
For my more difficult wood, I put a first crack in it with the fiskars, and then finish it off with the 6 lb maul. I like them both.
Let's mix it up... How about the good 'ole Super Splitter. I love mine. I use the SS for everything. I have a 6lb maul also but it would kill my shoulder. The few things the SS won't handle get the wedge and sledge for some encouragement.
Yup. Depends on what your splitting. I have a Collins 2-1/2 axe. A Fiskars x27. A good size maul. A sledge and wedges. The 2-1/2 for the small stuff. The x27 works great on small to medium size stuff. The maul on the large stuff. And the sledge and wedge on the really big stuff and nastier knotty stuff. The right tool for the right job.
When I was in third grade, firewood became my chore. I have two older sisters that covered everything else in the house. When Pops brought home wood it was my job to split it (he did help with the big stuff). Pops had two monster mauls a 12 pound and a 16 pound, Id barely be able to lift that orange beast and let it drop on the wood. He'd be swinging away. I grew up with monsters, own a orange one now. But last year I gave in to the fiskars craze, own two now. Both serve there purpose, as does my collection of wedges and sledge. I don't think there is any "ONE" manual splitting device that is going to always work, but a Fiskars sure is light and can be swung fast.
I carry the fiskars, the 4 and 6 pound mauls, the sledge and wedges out to the pile each day. They each get their turn.
I just picked up an X27 from Wal-Mart which is a story by itself. Walked into our local WalMart a few days ago and saw they moved all there wood cutting display around to make room for Christmas displays (what else in early October?) Throughout the summer they had several x25s and x27s for sale that were not moving at $50. I didn't see them displayed so I asked the manager about them. I just happened to ask whether they were on sale (I laughed to myself) but as we dug them out of storage he said he would get me a discount. When he checked the price it was still $50. He looked at me and said "How's $25 sound". So I now own an x27. I use the absurdly heavy monster maul a lot, have a Gransfors axe and now the x27. All nice but completely different beasts (not a big surprise to anyone here) The maul will destroy anything....including your will to swing it after doing it too long. The x27 is a nice compliment and it actual split some elm I had better than the maul. But in ash the maul made much quicker work of it. The Gransfors is a cutting device of sheer beauty that I'd never split with but love to use limbing as it slices them like butter. My un-edumacated 2cents.
I knew this thread was coming..... worst part is they have a tendency to multiply (Fiskars threads that is.) like rabbits.
A few years ago we had 3 different types of conventional mauls and a Fiskars X27 & X25. All the heads eventually broke off all the conventional mauls, so that just left us with the Fiskars X27 and the X25 which are both still in great shape. So the question is now, do I just keep using the Fiskars, or should I buy some more of those conventional mauls? What would you do?
Having grudgingly conceeded to old age and all of its assorted affirmities, my days of busting thru large rounds are reserved for my hydraulic maul. I too, have a shed full of the assorted implements of destruction. I now generally use the X 27 as it is the least offensive to my bad discs and bum shoulder. Use what makes you most comfortable..................now carry on.
