Thought I'd pop the cherry on this one. What do you guys use for hand splitting wedges? I got a couple 5lbers and a 3lb. I saw the X shaped ones were on sale at Ace this week, 9.99 I think.
I have one of those wedges that have a twist to them. It's stuck in an elm round. Wanna know why I don't like Elm? Wait, that's the start of another thread.
I was thinking of burning it out of there. The wedge will come out with some effort I was tired and frustrated so I left the wedge to rot.
I use 2 wood grenades they are absolutely amazing ! You can split dang near anything if you place them correctly and they don't pop out. The sheer size of them is pure distraction to large rounds.
Pete, not much worse than watching an Elm round swallow your wedge. You wish you could blast it out! I remember those grenades. Used to be made from some lighter weight alloy, as I recall.
Mine are solid steel and if you use two they work very well on elm although there is the occasional piece that makes you want to throw it in the firepit to get your maul back
It just takes that one piece to get you to swear off Elm. The guy who owns a service garage at the bottom of our hill told us he has a tree down in his yard since Sandy. Asked if we wanted it because he said everybody wants it but they never come to get it. Guess what kind of wood it is? His son burns wood and hasn't taken it! I never knew about Elm until all you guys went on and on about it. Then I got my first piece that was near impossible to split. Then the missing wedge. Well, that did it for me.
I would love to try this Fiskars wedge, but it is only available in Europe, but for $50 plus the shipping, I am reluctant. I like the poly end cap. Would put an end to the clanging, and make my neighbors happy.
Wedges are too frustrating. I have several, but just prefer hand splitting, log splitter, or noodling....
Save your pennies for either one of those Wetterlings,Mueller or Helko 4.4 & 5lb twisted wedges....they are definitely worth the cost.I've been splitting wood manually for 33 years now & have see it all.Some things are gimmicks or all hype.But these are the real deal.I finally bought 1 of each in late March,they're among the best purchases I did in years.
I just priced them, they range from 50 to 75 dollars per wedge, without shipping. What makes them such a good tool?
