I was just curious about what ax weight that some of you prefer for splitting and what you would prefer for chopping. I have some old Collins and True Temper axes and they are in the 3.5 to 3.75 pound range. The True Temper has a wide cutting face to it and it is the one that is 3.75 pounds. I think for splitting it is the one I like the best.
For splitting I like 4-6 pounds. But not in an axe. I like more a dedicated splitting tools like a maul or fiskars style head. Most is what you are used to and getting the most out of your tool. Maybe I just need to try more tools. Lol
I have a Fiskers X-27 splitting maul and it does work good but at one time there were none and people used an axe for the job at hand. I agree the heavier ax heads seem to do a better job but on the other hand I am not a big man and the lighter weight does give me more control.
That is a good point concerning having a variety to choose from. Not all rounds that need split are big hard wood rounds. Some are smaller softer woods and a lighter ax would work very well on those.
I normally use a hydraulic splitter myself but sometimes I just like to get out and get some exercise. I burn a lot of lodge pole and I can split that stuff by hand pretty easy using a 3 to 4 pound ax. My sledge hammer for the splitting wedges is 8 pounds but I do not have to swing it very often. I probably would not burn wood if I had to split everything with a 8 pound maul. That takes some stamina.
Dear Husband uses both a 6# and 8# maul. He grew up with oak, wonder if an axe like Mag Craft uses would be easier for swinging as we are all lodgepole ?.......
One big difference between axes and mauls I've seen is the blade angle. For the mauls that angle is about twice that of the axes. When you figure that mauls are made to spread wood fibers apart, rather than slice them ... Sometimes I'll use an axe or hatchet for splitting kindling, otherwise mauls from 5 lb to 3 kg (6.6 lb). IME a 3 kg maul is much more destructive than 8 lb, so I get more done with it. My reworked 8 lb big-box maul is useful for the few times I need to drive a wedge.
I have a X27 splitting maul that has those angles your talking about and the ax I have will split Lodgepole pine just as good if not better. I have tried both and yes the maul is more of a splitting tool but the ax will go deeper into that lodgepole on one swing which seems to work better on this particular wood. Just my personal preference.
Get him a x27 for Christmas, he'll love it! Mine does short work on lodgepole. I can swing the x27 all day long, the 8 pounder, not so much.
