I have an 8 pound sledge that has a slight point in the center of the face, which I'm sure is great for breaking concrete, but it's tearing up my wedges. So I filed them down and went out to buy a new sledge. The only one I could find with a smooth face was a 6 pounder. It's been much gentler on the wedges (no gouging) but I feel like I need more heft to drive the wedges better. Everything at the home depot and lowes has that point on the face. Anyone recommend a flat faced sledge for cheap? What is the typical weight sledge everyone is using?
I have an 8,don't use it much though.Old 12lb Plumb gets most of the use.Also have an equally old 20 pound (yes you heard correctly) Stanley that gets brought out maybe 4-5 times a year.I'm no Ah-nuld Schwartzanegger,so its basically just lifted & dropped on the wedge. After its been tapped in place with a 4lb stone mason's hammer,you understand. One good place to look (though it might take a while to find one) is garage/estate sales,flea markets etc.Much better quality older tools are found there than the mostly Chinese junk sold new at the big box stores nowadays.Ebay also,but watch the shipping costs,any sledge with handle attached can cost a lot more with that extra length.Normally fairly easy to buy a new handle separately at local hardware store or lumberyard.
I swing a 12 pounder, it suits me well. I don't bash it into tractor tires for exercise anymore, though.
True that. The real reason I stopped was my roommate/lifting partner moved out and I lost drive. Starting to get my girlish figure back now thanks to the hoarders workout plan.
this is the main reason I'm reluctant to buy a splitter. this hobby has had me exercising nearly everyday for a year. Slow going, only near 6 cords, but I've lost 15 pounds so far. Anyway, highjacking my own thread... Torn between just using the 6 pounder, or getting something heavier...
Saw a movie once where a knight in training complained he wasn't strong enough to lift/swing a sword, and he was told to "then get stronger" I'm multi-tasking here, heating the house and exercising at the same time. I'm a sedentary blob. I don't mind growing stronger. I'll swing whatever makes the most sense to split the wood. Which is basically my question, what is ideal, smaller and faster, or heavier and slower?
I've swung a twenty pounder once for an afternoon. Hell of a workout.... When I was 20. That would be to much in my opinion. 8, 10, 12 would be the sweet spot depending on your size. I hear everyone regarding the exercise plan. Lost about 50 lbs since February. I didn't consider my self fat at all before, but do feel like I'm in great shape now. Mostly use hydraulics, but there's still plenty of physical effort in the whole process. I absolutely feel as good or better than I did when I was 25 ( a little more than a decade ago). Full disclosure: getting divorced was good motivation to shape up too, for obvious reasons. Another excellent advantage of wood heat.
No! In addition to being able to swing it faster, you also have a more accurate swing. It is that same with splitting mauls and sledge hammers. Have you ever noticed on many pictures when the log doesn't split on the first swing, or the second, or third that even though they are trying to hit in the same spot, they can't? Most times that is caused by trying to use to heavy of a maul.
I use a 4lb. Mini sledge to start my wedge then bash away with a 12lb. That's a little heavy for my liking.
I haven't set foot into a gym since I was 16.Nor lifted weights unless you consider carrying sheets of 3/4 plyform,other wood & steel construction material in addition to 30-100lb red/white oak,hickory or mulberry etc. rounds/splits as "weights". I figure working commercial construction full time (including climbing ladders,scaffolding.concrete forms) since I was 21 & doing tree work part time since 17 is good enough. All I know is I'm getting tired & finally starting to slow down.In less than 10 yrs I'll retire & be free of the heavy lifting.
