The Greatest Axes for Splitting Wooden of 2024

How We Examined the Greatest Axes for Splitting Wooden

We examined one of the best axes for splitting wooden in probably the most wise means attainable: by shopping for a wide range of axes and splitting numerous wooden! We began by researching one of the best axes available on the market created by among the most legendary metal forgers on the planet. We finally narrowed our listing right down to 11 fashions that we bought and put to a side-by-side check.

After lastly melting out from Lake Tahoe’s snowiest season on file in 2022-2023, lead tester Nick Bruckbauer had practically two cords of recent, regionally lower pine and fir rounds delivered to his house. After transferring and stacking them and getting ready a piece space, he started working over the subsequent a number of months, alternating among the many 9 totally different axes to separate the stack of rounds into large piles of firewood. The next fall, a next-door neighbor felled a 48-inch diameter pine, and Nick accepted a further couple dozen rounds for additional splitting and testing.

Earlier than attending to work, we totally examined every axe to get a way of its craftsmanship and the standard of its supplies. We inspected every little thing from head measurement and form, to blade sharpness, to deal with size, form, and supplies. We examined the standard and ease of use of the included sheaths, and skim any documentation in regards to the axe maker’s historical past.

There’s just one option to decide the true high quality of an axe, and that’s to swing it and swing it laborious! We ended up splitting over a whole bunch of rounds and logs that ranged in diameter from roughly 14 to 30 inches, in addition to some bigger half rounds that had been over 40 inches in diameter. All instructed, we hand-split practically 4 cords of wooden throughout our testing.

Whereas pine and fir are undoubtedly softer woods, they are often notoriously difficult to separate, with some rounds having lengthy, twisty grains, loads of sap, and many knots that may cease even the hardest axe in its tracks. This native wooden was the right testing floor to search out one of the best axe for splitting wooden. We bumped into some tough items that took further effort to separate, and it helped us establish the highest-performing axes to deal with the hardest conditions.

Nick Bruckbauer is a year-round Lake Tahoe resident, lifelong gear nerd, and proud DIYer who enjoys the satisfaction of finishing “laborious” and significant labor to assist present sources for his household. With regularly rising gasoline costs, common winter energy outages, and an ongoing provide of free, regionally harvested logs, Nick welcomes the hassle of hand-splitting this wooden to assist complement his household’s house heating in a country and pure means.

Purchaser’s Information: Easy methods to Select the Greatest Axe for Splitting Wooden

The perfect axe for splitting wooden will usually rely upon a number of variables, together with your physique measurement and energy, your most popular deal with size and materials, and the dimensions and kind of wooden that you just’re splitting. From there, we’ll present some common design suggestions to search for based mostly on our first-hand testing expertise.

Sorts of Axes

There are a number of axe designs, and never all of them are perfect for splitting wooden. There are shorter handheld designs with skinny, sharp blades that are perfect for trimming and reducing smaller items of wooden, and there are bigger sledgehammer types with broader wedge-shaped blades that are perfect for splitting bigger chunks of wooden.

Hatchets

Hatchets are the smallest sort of axe, and can usually weigh between 1 and a couple of.5 kilos and have handles which are roughly 12 to 18 inches lengthy. They’re a flexible software for tenting or round the home, as they can be utilized each for reducing smaller branches (up to some inches in diameter) and for splitting smaller logs (as much as roughly 8 or 10 inches in diameter).

Hatchets will usually have sharper blades that enable for exact reducing or trimming work, which makes them much less versatile for splitting bigger logs, because the narrower blade will tend to get embedded within the wooden.

The benefit of hatchets is that they’re often fairly light-weight, might be carried with you whereas mountain climbing or tenting, and supply wonderful versatility for a wide range of duties. Whereas they supply loads of utility, we didn’t embrace them on this overview as a result of they’re too small and lightweight for heavy-duty splitting work. If you happen to’re extra excited about a hatchet than a splitting axe, try our Purchaser’s Information of the Greatest Tenting Hatchets.

Slicing Axes

The following step up from a hatchet is a reducing axe. Generally known as a forester axe or a woodworker axe, these instruments will typically look just like a hatchet, simply greater. They are going to usually weigh between 3 and 5.5 kilos and have handles which are roughly 20 to 30 inches lengthy.

Slicing axes have a pointy, slender blade with a protracted innovative, and are designed to chop in opposition to the grain of the wooden for duties comparable to trimming branches or felling timber. Whereas some designs could have some versatility to additionally cut up wooden, they’re often a poor alternative for splitting wooden, because the lengthy, sharp blade will simply grow to be embedded within the wooden.

Due to this, we didn’t embrace any reducing axes on this overview. Slicing axes may even usually have curved, ergonomic deal with shapes for leverage and management throughout repeated reducing duties.

Splitting Axes

Splitting axes, typically interchangeably known as splitting mauls (extra on that beneath), are particularly designed for splitting wooden — or pushing it aside alongside the grain — somewhat than reducing in opposition to the grain. As such, splitting axes and mauls will usually be heavier, weighing anyplace from 3.5 to eight kilos, and have an extended deal with that’s 28 to 36 inches lengthy. They may even have broader, wedge-shaped heads that don’t should be as sharp as reducing axes.

The best splitting axe could have a blade that is ready to penetrate into the wooden and push it aside with out getting fully embedded and an general weight and size which are snug for the person. The simplest splitting axes will usually be a bit heavier, offering the heft to assist the axe energy by way of powerful items of wooden.

Nonetheless, heavier isn’t at all times higher, as a lighter axe is simpler to manage, simpler to swing at a quicker pace, and can usually trigger much less fatigue all through a splitting session.

Splitting Axes vs. Splitting Mauls

The phrases splitting axe and splitting maul typically get used interchangeably, so that you could be questioning what the distinction is, if there even is a distinction. Many individuals typically check with any massive, heavy splitting axe as a maul, however that’s not essentially the case.

The important thing differentiator is that the pinnacle of a splitting maul may also be used as a sledgehammer for pounding stakes or placing poles. The top of a splitting maul could have the splitting blade edge on one finish, and a hammer-shaped face on the opposite finish. Until a software is particularly designated as a maul, it shouldn’t be used for any objective apart from splitting wooden.

Although it’s not at all times the case, splitting mauls additionally are typically greater and heavier than splitting axes. Splitting axes usually are 20 to 30 inches lengthy and weigh anyplace from 3.5 to six kilos, whereas splitting mauls are usually 30 to 36 inches lengthy and weigh 6 to eight+ kilos. Each could have wider, wedge-shaped blades designed to push wooden aside alongside the grain, somewhat than reducing wooden in opposition to the grain.

In our check lineup, three merchandise are categorised as mauls, the Gransfors Bruk Splitting Maul, the Council Instrument 6-lb Sledge-Eye Maul, and the Estwing Fireplace Good friend Splitting Instrument.

Head Weight and Total Weight

Whereas an axe’s head weight and general weight could have a huge impact on its efficiency, this metric additionally comes down fairly a bit to non-public desire. A heavier axe could be higher fitted to bigger customers with greater and stronger palms, whereas a lighter axe could also be higher fitted to smaller customers or these with smaller palms. Each heavier and lighter axes can get the job finished with the correct approach and energy.

Right here’s the place it will get extra attention-grabbing. For any physics fanatics on the market, keep in mind that power = mass x acceleration. Which means when a heavier axe supplies a specific amount of power at a sure swing pace, a lighter axe will have the ability to match that very same quantity of power — it is going to simply require a quicker swing pace.

In fact, it is a pretty broad generalization, however that is the place private desire turns into necessary. It’s necessary to search out an axe measurement and weight that matches your physique sort and your swing pace preferences.

A heavier axe will usually be tougher to swing and can seemingly trigger elevated fatigue over repeated swinging, however may even present extra splitting power at a decrease general swing pace. A lighter axe might be simpler to swing and can seemingly trigger much less fatigue over repeated swinging, however will usually present much less splitting power than a heavier axe (assuming the identical swing pace). A lighter axe might be simpler to swing quicker, and also will be simpler to manage for extra exact swings.

Our lead tester, Nick Bruckbauer, is 5’11” tall, weighs 175 kilos, and has average-sized palms (males’s Medium glove measurement). He strongly prefers the dimensions and weight of the Gransfors Bruk Splitting Maul. With a 5.5-pound head weight and seven.2-pound general weight, this software feels excellent for many splitting duties.

It has sufficient mass to energy its means by way of thicker or harder rounds however is simply mild sufficient (in comparison with 7.5 to 8-pound fashions) that it’s manageable to take care of management and an inexpensive swing pace. It additionally feels properly balanced in order that quick, laborious swings really feel environment friendly and don’t trigger undue fatigue.

Head Measurement and Form

The top measurement and form are two of the first design options that separate a splitting axe from a reducing axe (and a splitting axe from a splitting maul). Whereas most splitting axes have a broader wedge-shaped head than most reducing axes, there’s nonetheless a wide range of sizes and shapes even amongst our check lineup of splitting axes.

On the narrower finish, the Husqvarna Splitting Axe S2800 has an extended blade edge and a narrower blade width than most different splitting axes. This made it our go-to alternative for splitting smaller rounds, or bigger rounds as soon as they’ve been cut up in halves or quarters.

The lengthy blade edge gave us the arrogance to strike the wooden exactly the place we wished, and the slender blade allowed it to energy by way of smaller items of wooden fairly simply. It did battle somewhat with bigger rounds, because the narrower blade had an inclination to get embedded within the wooden.

On the broader finish, the Gedore Ochsenkopf Spalt-Repair Axe has a heavy, massive, wedge-shaped head. What this design lacks in finesse, it makes up for in brute power. The Ochsenkopf is our favourite axe for ending off tough logs or rounds. Its huge head powered by way of thick, knotty chunks that different axes struggled with.

The Gransfors Bruk Splitting Maul has the perfect head measurement and form for splitting wooden. It has a big, huge head that rapidly narrows to a concave form and a reasonably slender blade edge. This design permits the slender blade to penetrate tough items of wooden, however then the concave form helps stop it from turning into embedded. Lastly, the big, heavy head helps energy by way of and end pushing the wooden aside.

The Fiskars X27 Tremendous Splitting Axe additionally has a pleasant head form that’s not too thick and never too skinny, making it an environment friendly splitter that doesn’t get embedded within the wooden too simply. We’re a giant fan of the Fiskars, although its lighter general weight made it rather less efficient splitting bigger rounds, in comparison with some heavier designs.

Lastly, the Helko Werk Traditional Nordic Splitting Axe and the Hultafors Hult Splitting Axe have distinctive Scandinavian wedge-shaped head designs. This distinctive form has a protracted, rectangular formed head that steadily narrows to a three-dimensional wedge-shaped blade.

This design could be very environment friendly for splitting wooden however is rather less versatile than different designs as a result of shorter blade edge size that makes exact strikes somewhat more difficult.

Deal with Size

The deal with size will usually come right down to your peak and your private preferences.

An extended deal with will assist you to stand additional away from the wooden (which might add a small component of security) and will assist you to comfortably cut up wooden that’s on the bottom somewhat than elevated on a chopping block. An extended deal with additionally supplies extra leverage that may enhance your swing pace, however also can make the axe somewhat tougher to manage for exact strikes.

A shorter deal with will power you to face nearer to the wooden, and can seemingly require elevating the wooden on a chopping block to maintain you in a cushty physique place. A shorter deal with gained’t generate as a lot swing pace as an extended deal with, however will usually be simpler to manage for extra exact work.

Our 5’11” lead tester discovered the 31.5-inch size of the Gransfors Bruk Splitting Maul to be best. Shorter lengths between 28 and 30 inches additionally felt extra snug than the longer 36-inch lengths, however once more, this may be dictated by private preferences.

Throughout our 2024 testing interval, we launched two shorter “one-handed” fashions to our check lineup, the Hults Bruk Agdor 20 and the Fiskars Norden N12. These axes are 20 inches and 19 inches in size, respectively, making them best for each one- and two-handed splitting. We loved grabbing one in every of these to complete off some smaller logs into kindling, after hucking round greater and heavier axes all day.

Deal with Materials

Splitting axe handles are constituted of composite supplies or from wooden supplies, usually American hickory.

American hickory wooden is the normal axe deal with materials as a result of it’s a heavy and dense wooden and has a straight grain sample. Each of those options assist make hickory sturdy and shock-resistant, each important options for a high-impact software.

The benefits to wooden handles are that they are often changed in the event that they crack or cut up, and the deal with might be trimmed or sanded to be reshaped by the person. The disadvantages to wooden handles are that they’re typically heavier than composite supplies, and so they can cut up or crack if used improperly.

Composite supplies are usually lighter than wooden and nonetheless have good affect resistance. Composite handles can’t be changed in the event that they break, however they’re usually very sturdy, so this isn’t an enormous concern.

The selection between wooden or composite supplies actually comes down to non-public desire, as deal with supplies gained’t have a lot, if any, affect on the general splitting efficiency. Wooden handles feel and look extra conventional, whereas composite handles feel and look extra trendy.

We’re undoubtedly huge followers of the basic look of a conventional splitting axe with a wooden deal with and a hand-forged metal head, however we additionally actually favored the texture and efficiency of the Fiskars X27 Tremendous Splitting Axe and the Husqvarna Splitting Axe S2800, each extra trendy designs with composite handles.

Advisable Security Tools

Swinging round a heavy, sharp metal software can clearly be harmful, so we additionally wish to embrace some really useful security tools and a few security concerns.

The primary, and most important piece of security tools is eye safety. This needs to be non-negotiable. Splitting wooden will inevitably ship shards of wooden flying in each path, and also you’re placing your face fairly near the affect zone and line of fireside. We used a easy pair of DeWalt security glasses that did the trick.

Subsequent, we additionally extremely advocate a superb pair of labor gloves. Splitting wooden contains hauling and transferring wooden rounds and cut up logs, and repeatedly grabbing and swinging an axe time and again. Work gloves will assist defend you from easy nuisances like blisters, and from extra extreme accidents like cuts or scrapes.

We used and loved the Give’r Light-weight Gloves all through our entire testing interval. These leather-based gloves match properly, should not too thick and never too skinny, and are available at an inexpensive worth.

If you happen to’re doing repeated splitting, we additionally advocate a superb pair of steel-toed work boots. Whereas this isn’t essentially necessary, needless to say you’ll seemingly be transferring heavy wooden rounds and logs that may weigh 60-80 kilos or extra, and pinching your piggies below a type of gained’t really feel so good. Correct foot safety also can defend you from an errant swing of an axe.

This may increasingly sound foolish, however once you’re fatigued, and once you’re splitting some gnarly, knotty wooden, an axe can simply bounce off the wooden into your ft or physique. We now have a small slice in our steel-toed boots to show it.

Lastly, we advocate taking somewhat further time to ensure you put together your work space. This implies having a flat, stage open floor away from homes, automobiles, timber, or different tools, with loads of house to freely swing your axe. You’ll additionally ensure you have loads of house to stage your pre-split wooden and to pile or stack your cut up logs. Your work space can litter up rapidly, and it’s necessary to take care of a transparent work space.

Value & Worth

Price range

We’d contemplate any splitting axe lower than $70 or so to be a funds axe. These instruments will usually be mass-produced, extensively obtainable, and have easy designs. They’d be appropriate for occaisional use, however gained’t have the identical sort of efficiency or longevity as dearer choices.

The standout on this vary is our greatest worth decide, the Fiskars X27 Tremendous Splitting Axe ($70), which is a part of the high-performing and wallet-friendly Fiskars X Sequence of axes. If you happen to’re new to wooden splitting, you’ll be able to’t go improper with this collection of axes. They’ve light-weight and comfy handles and environment friendly blade shapes, making them straightforward to make use of for novices and veterans alike. The one downside is that the handles can’t get replaced if damaged, and the metal isn’t as high-quality as different hand-forged axe heads.

In addition to the Fiskars X27, the opposite axes we examined from this worth vary had been somewhat underwhelming. The Council Instrument 6-lb Sledge-Eye Maul ($59) is a reasonably customary ironmongery shop software. It will get the job finished, however has a lower-quality match and end, and the stability and ergonomics don’t evaluate to higher-end instruments. If you happen to cut up wooden frequently, or need a software that would probably final your lifetime, we’d advocate spending somewhat extra.

Mid-Tier

Starting from about $70 to $150 in worth, a mid-tier axe will usually get you somewhat nicer supplies and a extra distinct design. A number of examples from this vary embrace the Husqvarna Splitting Axe 2800 ($100) and the Gedore Ochsenkopf Spalt-Repair Axe ($130). The Husqvarna has a composite deal with with a skinny blade with a protracted edge, making it best for extra exact strikes. The Ochsenkopf is a beast of an axe with a heavy-duty head, a hickory wooden deal with, and excellent building high quality.

Axes on this vary are high-quality, very succesful instruments that ought to carry out properly and final a very long time. The one benefit to spending extra on a premium mannequin is that premium fashions will usually have hand-forged heads, and extra distinctive shapes that assist optimize consolation and swing ergonomics.

This vary additionally sees a pair of smaller, one-handed axes, the Hults Bruk Agdor 20 ($134) and the Fiskars Norden N12 ($120). Each of those fashions have comparable supplies and building high quality as their extra premium counterparts, however in a smaller model (20 inches and 19 inches, respectively).

Premium

Beginning at about $180 and up, premium splitting axes have the highest-end supplies and building. Most axes on this vary are hand-forged by legacy corporations which were round because the 1600s. Our high general decide, the Gransfors Bruk Splitting Maul ($255) has a premium really feel and ergonomics, and is a fantastic murals that would hold on the wall subsequent to your hearth. We additionally actually just like the Helko Werk Conventional Spaltaxt ($180). Each of those axes simply really feel high-end. Every little thing from the supplies, to the texture in your palms, to the development match and end is top-notch.

A dearer axe doesn’t essentially do a greater job of splitting wooden, however the extra refined really feel and stability will assist you function extra effectively throughout your work. Which means you’ll save vitality and be much less more likely to damage your self or harm your tools. The metal used on premium fashions is usually of higher high quality, which means that the axe head will seemingly outlive you if correctly cared for!

Ceaselessly Requested Questions