Shane Roper thank you for the input.

Red oak is easy to split, don"t try to split it upside-down

how can u tell if you get rounds which end is sky and which is root - thanks

@@patrickmcnamara3879 Ha ha well it's easier if your the one bucking up the tree, I'll admit that. Straight grained wood doesn't matter so much. Some pieces are obvious.

I tried to split my wife skyside up, my back still hurts

I will keep that in mind for future wood chopping, thank you.

Yep

Damn right

Yup. Wedge and 10lbs hammer would have made that job much easier.

Thanks Bobby, I still had a lot to learn about splitting wood when this was filmed. I think this was one of my first. Thanks for the comment.

Thats awesome to hear. I remember you had some concerns when you first posted here... glad you found that it's not too hard on you. Thanks for the update!

We’ve watched most of your videos. Ready for more firewood videos!

I can see why people give up after a few swings if they didn't already know it will eventually split. Lol

@@JackofAllTrades1 Haha absolutely! I find the neighbours see me bouncing off wood, thinking I'm stupid, and then they always miss the part where the split happens 😂 The vibe here is "just get a splitter"... but I like the workout with an axe 💪 (I use a wedge for the bigger bits too)

@@williammorris7895 it was the same for me... im bucking, hauling and splitting it all by hand. It helps keep the weight off lol

@@JackofAllTrades1 Good man! Keep doing what you love :) I have to get like a defensive child because people with machinery keep offering to process out wood. "Keep away! It's MY wood. I'M doing it!" 🤣😂

JesseLJohnson it is definitely a tool for its specific purpose. I couldn’t imagine relying on this alone to split all the wood I use. Thanks for the comment, hope you enjoyed. 😊

Thanks James I appreciate it

I agree, it's great!

Yea, this one wasn't easy.

Lol... yea it was a battle for sure.

Yea, I think this got a lot of views several years ago because everybody was laughing. Interesting story though, this was the video that started my channel.

Thanks Darrell... I appreciate the comment. It's been a while now since I shot this video and I acknowledge that I didn't do everything right... but, this video has been great for my channel... it currently has over 20k views now so something about doing things the wrong way gets attention lol.

Thanks Jumphouse, check out my other chopping videos... I got better lol

Thanks Steven

Thanks Sherman... I think this was my very first wood splitting video.. I've come a ways from this.

I made that mistake too at first. You can get away with splitting in the middle with a 12 inch round but it gets increasingly harder as the size goes up.

It gets better as you have practice with it. I love it, cuts like butter.

L. Rodrigo Andrade thanks for the support, I’ve post a more recent video of this axe if you want to check it out too.

That's what she said

I plan to shoot a video here soon of me splitting it "like a pizza" I've had a few commentors suggest that so I'm going to give it a try. Thanks for the comment.

Hey Doug, yes this was practically new at this point... that log had a super high moisture content though. I suspect that didn't help. Look at my channel for the maul vs axe video... I like the maul too! Thanks for the comment.

@@JackofAllTrades1 I did, all your content is to the point, I enjoy it👍🏻 I to have a few videos on these, fun stuff!

@@IndianaDoug I'll check your channel out, thanks for the support.

Charley Folkes they do sell a ton of different axes...in just about any size you can imagine. The different lengths will be for different height/ size ppl. The X27 series vs the one I am using now are exactly the same length and weight, the only difference is the orange non-slip coating on the handle. I’m not sure why they wouldn’t put that coating on them all... might be a marketing gimmick but mine came with a carry sleeve and was about 5 bucks cheaper. Thanks for contributing.

Is the Stanley heavier? If it's a large round like this one you may need to split off the sides first. I've notices that since the Fiskars is not real heavy, it will sometimes bounce if you hit the m middle of a big one.

Yea, these rounds were still pretty wet... very springy.

Jayson, that actually makes a lot of sense. So in other words, split on either side of the center and then turn the log or re position to cut the other two sides. Don't I eventually have to cut across the grain when I split the middle? I assume at that point it's no problem since the log is broke down now. Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.

@@JackofAllTrades1 that is correct. By the time you get to the center there usually is fractures at that point.

I made a new video based on this advice, check it out.... worked like a charm.

This stuff was really green and wet but I was also striking across the grain.

Hello, you dont have to wait... some wood species actually split better when they are new and green. I never waited until the logs were seasoned to split them. Enjoy!

@@JackofAllTrades1 Thank you for getting back that’s what I was thinking be easier splitting when they r fresh rather then seasoning them then they would be a lot harder 👍

@@michaelgallagher6572You are welcome... intact the log would take a full year to dry out at the very least. Most people don't have the supply to wait that long for wood to dry either.

I'm glad this video is still getting views after all these years. I know what you are talking about with the Missouri Hardwoods... I grew up n SE MO and that's where I first learned to split. Thanks for the comment!

Oak is the worst too if you don't split it right away.

@@JackofAllTrades1 Yeah, my brother in law and his neighbors are dealing with a lot of red oaks that are down or need to be down. He hopes one of them will buy a splitter.

@Pat McBride probably the cheapest way to get it done with minimum effort is an 8lb sledge hammer from lowes ($30) and a 4lb wedge (or two) ...($10). The fiskars axes are nice but they do struggle with the larger stuff just because of how light they are. I have one video on my page of me splitting a red oak round that was 260lbs... check it out. That tree had only been down a week when I split it so was fairly easy.

@@JackofAllTrades1 I wish the wedges here were only $10. I saw $17 on the only ones I've seen so far.

@Pat McBride where are you at? I can't imagine Lowe's prices flucuate too much unless maybe you are in Cali?

Yea, this piece was a real pain... it was real lopsided on one side so I ended up splitting the bottom of the round which made it harder. I occasionally get small trees that I just buck with the chainsaw, no splitting needed... they burn nice and long like that. Thanks for the comment.

youluvana oak is pretty abundant here and is preferred because of how dense it is. In comparison, we have white birch here as well and an identical piece of oak... same size... will weigh twice as much and burn for an hour longer. The wood is heavier but I end up using less wood which in the long run means less work for me.

@@JackofAllTrades1 Ah that explains it. I guess oak is not that abundant where I live. I wonder why there is some oak but not more. Most of the oak I have seen is thousands of years old and under protection but even the younger oaks are mostly left alone. In Estonia. Oh and by the way going to sauna can kill viruses in the EARLY stage.

Thanks for the info. What does it mean flip the ring over?

@@kollias1 The "ring" is the trunk of the tree cut into sections or 'rings' as we call them. Study the concentric growth lines (one per year of growth) on each ring and you'll see where to place the axe, cutting between the lines, not across, to get started.

So.. if it's half the size of these rounds then he should be able to just split down the middle. Is he looking for any natural cracks first and hitting inline with those? Check out my other splitting video that has 200k+ views... it has more details on how to split the big ones...however a smaller one should just be easily split down the middle. Maybe have him hit more towards the lip on either side instead of dead center. Lmk if that works. Good luck.

@@JackofAllTrades1 Thank you so much..we will check out your other videos...it has taken over 100 hits...its Live oak about a foot across...There are much larger pieces, but we figured this smaller ones would be easier!!! Here in Texas its so hot and humid he gasses out after a few hits...comes back inside and goes at it again. but its not splitting.....The wood is about 4 to 6 months from being felled.....I assume the length of the wood doesnt matter as long as you can get a good whack at it? I even took a few whacks at it....WHAT A WORKOUT!!! We made sure to follow the safety you outlined...hearing and eye plus boots! Maybe you can find a truly stubborn piece of wood, and make a video on those stubborn ones! Thanks again handsome!(Don't tell my hubby) heheh.

@@ShinerBock2007 oak that is 6 months old should split easily. The taller the piece is the harder so if he's splitting something 2 feet tall it will be harder than what I was splitting which was 16 inches tall. Make sure there are not any knots where he is splitting.. try to put the knot on the bottom if there is one.

@@JackofAllTrades1 Thank you so much....we will keep trying....experience is the best master!

D A they are everywhere up here in NH. There’s actually a bigger one next to it.

Jack of All Trades NH on that homestead show that guy would call that a $1000 rock

Funny you mention that, I forgot all about it. Yes, I had to turn the shirt inside out because of the logo on the front. :-)

I'd be interested in seeing a comparison video, you have one?

I don't make videos, just have been splitting firewood since I was a young boy.

@@paulkysar6207 holding near the head and sliding just feels more natural and controlled to me. I've not used the method you mention but it seems to me the axe would have a lot of leverage against your hands and be harder to control. I guess if it works for you then it works for you, right? :)

@@JackofAllTrades1 I would agree it feels very unnatural at first but once you get used to it there's no going back

Matt Fogarty I’m not sure I understand, I generally do start on the edges and don’t hit the middle until it’s starting to split. Do you mean for me to only work the edges and take out pieces instead of splitting in half each time?

on a big piece of wood don't hit it right down the middle aim to split like 4-5 inches in from the outside of the log by doing this you are trying to split less wood therefore it's easier to split it

Matt Fogarty I see what you are saying. I’m getting this seasons wood here soon and will give that a shot, thank you.

no problem Ryan i used to split wood on the farm a lot and we had a weak log splitter and that helped us split it a lot even on a log splitter but it'll definitely be easier with an maul going around the outside as opposed to right down the middle because youre splitting less wood

@@JackofAllTrades1 exactly

Lol... I swear. I pulled a scale out and weighted it... my wife was ticked because I scratched up the scale... all in the upper 140s. Check out my wood splitting video with the most views.. that one was over 200lbs.

Jeffery Ring check it out. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aJqpg9h8u5q9pWw.html

half the hits at twice the weight, or twice the hits at half the weight. it's all about the time and energy you have.

@@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power Good point!

@@JackofAllTrades1 i have both the 8 pound and the x27 and not really any difference, most guys i watch use the same speed swing if they use a 8 pound or the x27 so than the weight does win out. if i could swing the 8 as fast as the x27 than it would split chunks better. i will be posting a video in the next week or so splitting a third of a cord for splitter wars.

I ended up getting one later in that season, a Rapid Strike. Since I actually heat my home with wood it gets to be too much work to hand split 3-4 cords a season on top of my already hectic life.... it's all about saving time. Thanks for commenting.

Green wood is freshly cut. Like a tree that was just cut down. It is still wet and green inside.

Omgitsjoetime T right, I figured I could get the most leverage and speed with this size as it was the longest one at my local store.... and so far, no real complaints. Thanks for the comment.

Jack of All Trades NH I’m assuming you’re located in NH I’m in MA lol I was just splitting some big oak yesterday

Omgitsjoetime T hello neighbor...yep, it’s that time of the year... though it seems like I am doing some sort of winter prep year-round. MA always has better deals on firewood it seems, I’m jealous. :)

Wayne I agree. I left some rounds until the end of fall and had a much harder time splitting them.

Wrong.....

@@d.g6693 whats wrong? the greener and colder the better it splits, if you want to test it find a oak thats black on the end cut it off try splitting the dry end and than try splitting one that is not dry. i have split 14 full cord in the last week with a fiskars ax in 10 below zero weather and its like splitting glass.

@ Wayne Johnson As you already know, wood checks/cracks as it goes through the drying out process. This is because the moisture within is drawn out naturally, thus it becomes less dense & much easier to split. If you notice in this video, the gentleman is using a fiskars splitter and it is bouncing off the wood like it's rubber. If it were completely dried out, this would not be the case near as much as the wood would be more brittle.

@@d.g6693 oak stays green for a long time, also if you know anything about oak it has been cut for a while i can see that by the color of the ends. looks pretty warm out also which is a factor as i said before. i do 100 full cord a winter and i have split oak that has dried and oak that is green and i know which splits easier for me. there maybe are some wood that it works with to let it dry but not the oak i cut. first thing i noticed is that he is splitting the wrong end of that chunk to start with. i have a video on here splitting a 1/3 of a cord of green wood which i did in 40 degree weather. watch it and you will see the difference in wood i have that is green cut about a week, the color is what fresh cut wood looks like. its amazing how many people are going to tell me what works best,i have tried most of the things i have seen such as the block which to me is a joke, i have had people tell me theres no way you can do that much wood by yourself or one guy on here told me i cant split big white oak with a fiskars ax, my response is bring your best cash bet and be ready to go home without your money.

Thanks… yes that last log was hard as a rock lol

I agree... took me a while to figure that out as well.

Johnathan Michaels yea, I was doing it all wrong.. it was for sure a learning experience. I pinned a video to the top of this comment section for a newer video of me trying a different technique, check it out.

Ian Butler thanks for the comment, check out my updated video from 2019 where I did just that.. it should be pinned to the top of the comments. 🍻

I agree 🤣

Alan, the electric company cut these trees down... I think they are a bit lax with their methods because they have a skidder hold the tree while they make the final cut.

Mauls are a good choice. I did a couple videos of the Fiskars maul on this channel.

Lol... yep and the oak actually splits easier when green. I tried some seasoned rounds about a month ago and they almost killed me.

Lol, thanks for the comment...if you saw the kinetic wood splitter video I did, those rounds were 146 lbs and I weighed them for the video comparison..these were not much different in size, more of a guesstimation than anything but they were very green. As for the species, the guy cutting down the tree for the utility said red oak and I didn’t question it... he had already limbed it and chipped most of it so I didn’t have much to go off of. It looked red to me but not as red as the oak I split this year.. which was also said to be red oak. Anyway, thanks for chiming in.

I've never had much luck splitting with regular axes... they usually just stick and you spend a lot of energy trying to pull it out.

Sean McMaster I pinned another video in this comment section that shows the Fiskars Maul.

@@JackofAllTrades1 i just watched a couple other splitting videos where the people are comparing a 12-20 pound splitting maul to a fiskars axe. that 12-20 lb maul will ware ya out in 5 minutes

Sean McMaster no doubt, that’s a lot of weight to swing continuously.

I agree, the wood was very green. This bounce may have been increased by the fact that I'm splitting the butt end of the tree.... the very first round. You might want to compare my other video kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rKqYdNR6zbvcf6c.html it's bouncy there too but not near as bad and this was not the butt end of the tree. Overall I think this is a great splitting axe and the examples I've shown are really some of my worst case scenarios. Thanks for watching.

You split the logs in the wheelbarrow?

I've never tried one.... I might do that this next cutting season though to see how it is.

if you need a wedge i cut it with the saw.

Karl Jacobson check out my newest splitting video from this year, it should be pinned to the top of the comments section here. I changed my way of splitting these larger ones and it mirrors what you suggest.

I personally believe working like that makes you softer tho I am in my early 20s I’ll never not hit it in the center

I’m also 250lbs so there is that

Lol

Thanks for the input Chris, check out the video I pinned to the top of the comments section and let me know what you think. Sounds pretty close. Take care

Hey David, I understand the concern.... check out the video's I posted this year that are pinned to the top of the comments section.... I feel I cleaned the technique up a little. Thanks for the comment.

Daniel Cleary I had to unfortunately learn that the hard way. Check out my recent red oak video from December, I do exactly what you mention.... this video here is several years old. Thanks for the comment.

i split all my green wood with a x27 and have no problems the block height takes away the best part of your swing.

Wayne Johnson I want to split some on the ground soon and film it but all the logs I have right now are real knotty pine.... which doesn’t sound fun. 😂

J B this video was when I was just learning... check out one of my newer ones linked in the comments section. I’ve improved. :)

I wasn't sure how that wedge cut out of it would manage if it was face down... seems more than a couple have called me on this over the years but I've learned better ways. Check out some of my newer wood splitting videos. Cheers.

Mario Burgos it’s one heck of a workout for sure! Stay tuned, I have a video from my first split this year that I am still editing. It’s almost too embarrassing to post because I’m so out of shape. :)

Oh yea. I actually think it was a few pounds over even. I weighed it for comparison like I do all the logs I split for videos. Keep in mind this log is very green with a moisture content over 30.

Eh, I was just reusing rounds... didn't think much of it. I split that chopping block right after too.