Hi all, I bought a Kindling Cracker this year and I love it. Given that making kindling other ways isn’t hard, I was surprised at how much I used it and liked it. I like cutting and splitting all my own wood, but I think making kindling is a drag to do a year in advance. in winter, my wood splitting area is all muddied up and unusable. All we have is our little covered deck area next to two big ranch slider windows. Using the Cracker means I’m no longer swinging blades near large sheets of glass all winter, and we can just make kindling as we go from the tidier bits of wood we’ve already dried. It’s a nice design, and it lets you split as you go in a much more controlled way. Our little two year old has already got the idea, and it’ll probably be something he could use with a chunk of wood as a hammer next year. Also, New Zealand FTW! Glad we’re contributing something to the cause. I hear that shipping is expensive for our Northern Hemisphere friends. Moving heavy things across the world will always cost. We do it more often down here so we get used to it. Did I tell you about my $97US Logrite hookeroon? Just got it for Christmas. Which is better than $130US Logrite Hookeroon 36 | Treetools But if you were buying it in the USA the it’s only $60US. Logrite 30" Hookeroon | Hookeroons & Sappies | Log Handling Tools | www.www.baileysonline.com.com Glad you like it Rudedog.
I was gifted one in our Secret Santa exchange thread from Well Seasoned. It is a well built unit. It does give you great control and I like that it is pretty safe to use. Knotty wood can be a little difficult. Straight grain hard or soft woods, no problem. If using a large split it takes a few hits to get through. Once split in half and working it down to size it goes quickly. It can make a bit of kindling in short time. I'm not a 24/7 burner, so I have frequent re-lights and use a bit of kindling. It will be great for making smaller splits for the outdoor mud oven. I would definitely recommend it.
I'm sure lots of folks wavering on the purchase because of the price. There has to be a price point to shift more sales.
I got one from the wife this year for Christmas. Thinks she paid 79 bucks shipped. I've been using it nonstop, I have enough kindling for a season or two! It's much safer, faster and very heavy duty, should last a lifetime or longer. Making kindling was always kind of a drag for me but this thing is actually kind of fun too.
That is the best price I have heard. Dexter might be interested in knowing where you were able to get it for that price.
DexterDay. It's on northern tools website. It's 89.99 with free shipping and if you use the coupon code 251087 it's ten dollars off, coupon code expires in February. Looks like it's back ordered right now, must be selling a few of them.
I'm not to sure about the 4 screws holding the wadge $59.99 Free Shipping Mighty Hand 8 inch Wood Kindling Log Splitter Cutter Lightweight Metal Frame | eBay
HD, that is not the kindling cracker, that is a cheap knock off. Stole the idea from the "little" girl who developed the original, I think she was 14 at the time. Very interesting back story to the real kindling cracker.
A lot of potential failure points on that one. The Kindling Cracker is one piece, solid cast iron and well made. Something that can be handed down.
What is this "wadge" you speak of? You're distantly related to clemsonfor, aren't you? At least in the fingertip development DNA department? J/K HD
I had an unused wedge from Harbor Freight laying around in a tool box so I had a friend weld it upside down to a plate which I attached to an old piece of oak. It should do the same thing and it was free.
Bought one - seems pretty sweet. I always cringe when I watch youtube videos of people making kindling with an axe/maul.
Someone has new ones listed on eBay: HA Kindling Cracker, Cast Iron, Use 3-4lb Mallet, 7-1/2" x 12-1/4" | eBay
That's the original one. Not bad at 34 bucks plus 14 shipping. Six days left on auction, see how high it goes.
Seller has others listed - all are over $60 and they might go higher. Shipping is $14.23 for me, putting it at $74.23. I just ordered for $79.99 shipped from Northern Tool with that coupon code you posted (Thanks!), so not seeing the value on the beat-up eBay ones.
Not a Kindling Cracker but this looks interesting to me. I think it'd be ideal to have mounted in my soon to be built sugar shack! Softwood Kindling Splitter - Lee Valley Tools
