Anyone done either? Got the bug but haven't seen one in person and am wondering how bad it would be if I gain 2 lbs and a sawed off 18" handle, and cut off a wood handled 6 lb maul I was given instead of buying a Estwing Fireside Friend. Or. Is that Fireside Friend that good, balanced, and solid steel tip to toe better for a kindling maker?
I think you’ll be much better off with the Estwing hammer. It should be well balanced. I think a 6 pound head on an 18” handle will be rather unwieldy to use and your accuracy would be pretty poor. I’ve swung a lot of different single handed hammers doing stone work and 4 pound ones can get rather tiring to swing. And maybe even a lighter head. Especially for kindling which I assume you are fine splitting out of small rounds or wood that has been split already.
I was very unimpressed with the Estwing kindling maul for splitting. I got one for my wife, she didn't take to it. I used it some and was not at all impressed. Ended up mostly using it as a hammer to beat on stuff. Now I don't know where it disappeared to. I just keep a 5 lb rafting ax with a 24" handle by the stove chopping block now. I seldom use it . But I like having a 5 lb rafting ax handy.
