I didn't time myself but it goes fast , I just picked some short dry blocks of birch on the trial run , that Hults Bruks is a felling ax so it's a little on the big side for this . I have a shorter stubbier one that I tried on a second run with spruce and pine , I found it to balance in the hand better and work the best . You only need a mildly sharp edge , not hair shaving sharp . I split my kindling this way , I find it way faster than a hatchet .
That guy looked like he has prison pants on! also, he was wearing gloves so we can't be sure if he has all his fingers from that close chopping. I have to admit that it is wise to always have a good pile of kindling on hand.
I like that better. Just enough heft to do the work for you, but short handled enough to have good control.
Well you know, there's always more than one way to do it, but I like it, the weight does the work, you would be surprised what that little bugger will split also, I use it to resplit it if necessary. You have a nice Pile of kindling there Dancan
This is similar to what I do. I also prefer a heavier axe for kindling. I can always choke up on the handle. The extra weight and momentum of the head makes sure is goes through with one hit and I don't have to waste a bunch of effort with multiple hits. I use a Council 4# Dayton Axe; 36″ Curved Wooden Handle. You could go down to a 3.5# Jersey head, but I would not go to the 2#-ish heads. http://counciltool.com/axes-hatchets-mauls-wedges/
I do the same as the guy in the video. Like he said the key is selecting the piece of wood with no knots. I like to keep my kinlin snake free too.
Great video. Thanks for posting Dancan HDRock nice looking Eastwing. I just bought an X11 on sale to keep in the basement by the furnace for kindling and what not. I would have got one of those if knew they existed. I am getting some kindling together from scrapes in the woodshop now but I don't thing it will last the winter.
I have a old axe that I cut the handle down on and then wrapped the grip with some parachute cord. It works well and did not cost anything. I like the extra weight of the heavier head for kindling.
The splitter works well too. Saw a video once with a woman splitting kindling on a splitter and it went real quick.
i use light axes although a 3.5# would do the job. always the lightest tool that will work. instead of shaving thin sections i keep splitting by halves and wind up with some thin kindling and some heavier stuff both of which are handy for fire building. my favorite is a 2.2# husqvarna i got gifted. i also use a 2.5# helko and a 2.8# council tool broadaxe depending on the stock being split.
So for safety reasons I just made this. Bang the wood with a small sledge. Guy I work with was throwing it out. Simple and no worries about your fingers. It was also free.
Thank you. I did touch up the edge with a file. It is a little finicky, but my wife gets nervous when I use my X11.
I get nervous with the X11 to, it's so sharp and my aim is not that great. I have used BBQ tongs to hold the wood but it slows ya down
Rather than risking a injury, I just put the selected piece inside an old lawn tractor rear tire on a stump. Swing away as much as you want to split the kindling and the tire protects the handle from overstrikes. It also keeps the kindling in one place instead of having to bend over and pick it up. When out in the woods and there isn't a option of a safer splitting set up, it's even more important to keep your fingers and legs out the way IMO. A Froe would also work , and safer because both hands are used to split.
