Whether you’re preparing for the winter or you’re just going on a camping trip, it’s a good idea to know which firewood to burns best.

There are many types of firewood out there, however, only the best will keep you warm when you need it the most. Choosing the best firewood will also depend on your location since different geographic areas are home to different types of trees, which are of course the source for timber.

Usually, when searching for the best firewood you really mean the best suitable firewood for your particular needs. Therefore, have a look at this list of the various types firewood for both indoors and outdoors.

Firewood Types

The beauty of firewood is that there are many different types, and you don’t necessarily need to stick to only one of them. That also helps to preserve the same type of firewood from overuse, which is a bonus for the environmentally friendly minded.

The most common firewood species are:

• • Oak
  • Hickory
  • Black Locust
  • Ash
  • Maple

Oak

The most common oak firewood are the white and red oak trees. Oak is very strong, yet it has a density that allows it to produce a very high heat.

Hickory

Hickory is very similar to oak. It also includes pecan trees which have almost the same density as oak. Therefore, they’re a very popular choice for burning.

Black Locust

Black locust is a great firewood that not many people know about due to limited availability. It’s often used for fence posts because of its strength and density. And, since it’s durable and strong, it burns hot and long.

Ash

Ash, specifically white ash, is a very popular choice for firewood. It’s light and less dense than some other popular choices, so it’s extremely easy to split with an axe or maul.

Maple

Sugar maple is considered to be one of the best firewood options because of how easy it is to light and how well it burns. It usually only takes a very small flame from kindling to get a good fire going, and it makes very little smoke.

Firewood for Indoors

Getting and keeping a fire going in a fireplace is a bit different than an outdoor fire. The best wood choices are those that burn at a high temperature and do so for a long time.

That means your best options would be hardwoods because they have a higher density.

However, you can still use softwood for indoor fires if necessary. Just keep in mind that they burn quickly meaning you will need more wood than if you chose a hardwood.

Cherry

Cherry makes for a great firewood if you can get your hands on it. It’s a very dense wood.

One major drawback though is that it needs to be seasoned for at least 6 months before using. Once it’s seasoned and ready for use, it won’t only burn slow, but it will also have a nice aroma.

Hawthorn

Hawthorn meets both most important criteria when it comes to indoor firewood. It burns nice and slowly and get very hot. If you are harvesting yourself though be aware of the thorns, as they will make your life miserable if you’re not careful.

Maple

Maple is one of the best indoor firewood options. Due to its density it burns longer than many other firewood options, and most of the time hotter as well.

Oak

Oak is very common, but like cherry it need to be seasoned at least 6 months before use.

Black Locust

Black locust is a perfect firewood that burns really well and puts out a lot of warmth.

Firewood for Outdoors

When you’re looking for the best firewood for outdoor use, you can opt for either seasoned or unseasoned firewood. If you’re camping or thru-hiking, then your only realistic option would be unseasoned wood.
Unlike the what you might want to use in a fireplace, choosing a wood that lights easily and burns quickly is a solid idea. That’s why softwoods tend to be great for camp fires.

Birch

Birch is a softwood that is great as an outdoor firewood because of how easily it ignites even and an immature green wood. However, keep in mind that it burns very quickly and easily so you’ll need a decent quantity to get you through a cold night.

Pine

Pine is suitable for a camp fire, but like other softwoods, it burns quickly. Pine is a great option for getting a camp fire going and then switching to a hardwood to maintain the fire.

And, if you decide to cook any food over it, you will love the scent.

Walnut

As a hardwood, walnut is great for both outdoors and indoors. Due to its density, it will burn all night long. But, it’s known for have a very minor smoke output too.

In Summary

If you haven’t yet figured out, the major difference between what is suitable for a fireplace and what works well in a camp fire is the density of the wood. Hardwoods make excellent indoor firewood due to their ability to burn slowly at high temperatures. Softwoods word great outdoors because they light easily and usually don’t need to be as dried out as a hardwood.

Filed Under: Blog

Sometimes when you purchase a new axe or other bladed tool you will need to freshen up the edge. Even if it comes razor sharp right off the shelf, it will eventually dull and lose its edge.

There are a few different ways to sharpen your bladed tool, but one of the most popular is to use a sharpening stone. It’s a fairly simple process, but if you have never done it before, you might not know where to start.

Don’t worry! We have you covered.

Choosing the Right Type of Stone

The most important part of using a stone to sharpen your axe or knife is knowing what type of stone you have. Or, if you have yet to purchase one, knowing what type to buy.

Believe it or not, there are quite a few options to choose from.

Natural Stones

Sometimes referred to as Japanese water stones, natural stones are a type of sharpening stone that was used widely in the past. But, they are slowly becoming scarce due to Japan not mining them anymore.

Natural stones are basically a type of whetstone. You won’t want to try and sharpen your blade on them dry, so at the very least, use some water.

As they name suggests, they are natural. And, being so they don’t often have a consistent grit.

While that might seem like a bad thing, the natural variations in the grit actually create an uneven blade on a very small scale. Your edge will still be very sharp, but it will wear down at different rates, thus keeping your cutting edge sharper longer.

While they are some of the best and most sought after stones due to their effectiveness, they are also a bit softer than some of the more common whetstone varieties. That means they usually require a little more maintenance and might not last as long.

Whetstones

Whetstones or oilstones are the most common type of sharpening stone. They tend to be the most affordable option due to their availability.

Whetstones can be natural like Japanese water stones, or they can be artificially manufactured. Thus, there is no one type of whetstone.

The natural stones are mostly made of quartz. A certain kind of quartz that’s most common used is called novaculite.

Novaculite has different grains, from very coarse to a more porous grain. The coarse novaculite is often referred to as Arkansas stone due to its origin, thus why you will see some whetstones called Arkansas stones.

The artificial stones are made of various materials like:

• • Aluminum-Oxide
  • Silicon-Carbide
  • Aluminum-Oxide

If you have or end up purchasing a whetstone, make sure to use a lubricant like water or a type of sharpening stone oil to prolong the stone’s lifespan.

Diamond Stones & Plates

Diamond stones, sometimes called diamond plates or diamond hones, are not actually giant chunks of diamond. They are usually steel that has been coated with a diamond grit.

Since the diamond in the coating is so much harder than the steel edge of your tool, it will grind away the steel rather easily. Compare it to using sandpaper on a softwood.

Diamond sharpening stones tend to cost more than the other previously mentioned options due to the high cost of the diamond grit compared to that of other materials like aluminum-oxide and ceramics.

Another difference with this type of sharpening tool is that you don’t need to use a lubricant.

They also have incredible lifespans, so if you plan to sharpen a lot of tools often, this might be the choice for you.

Choosing the Right Grit

While the type of stone you use matters, so does the grit of the stone. Much like sandpaper, you can choose from coarse grit options to fine grit options.

And, like sandpaper, the grit is measured by a number. The lower the number the more coarse the grit.

For example, a stone with a 400 grit would be considered coarse, while a stone with a 1200 grit is much finer.

The most useful grit is going to be something on the coarse side. A 400 or 600 grit stone is going to be very abrasive. That means it will quickly raise a burr on the edge you’re working on.

For an axe you use to split logs or fell trees, you don’t really need to consider ever going with a higher grit as you’re not doing precision work. If you are sharpening a knife, then opting for a 1000+ grit stone in addition to a coarse stone will help you get a really sharp blade.

Sharpening Your Blade

Now that you have the right type of stone with the right grit, it’s time to focus on how to actually use it. Overall, it’s a fairly simple process.

Wet or Dry?
One of the most commonly asked questions is whether you should use your stone wet or dry.

In most circumstances, lubricating your stone is going to be a the right choice. When you use a honing oil, you’ll get these benefits:

• • longer lifespan of the stone
  • less friction thus quicker work
  • a more even edge

The only real exception here is if you are using a diamond stone in which case you can skip the lubrication.

Find the Right Angle

Probably the most difficult part of sharpening your tool is finding the angle of the edge of your axe or cutting tool. In general, you want to aim for keeping the angle as similar as possible to what the edge is currently.

What makes this a little more difficult on an axe than on a knife is that the angle on an axe bit actually changes gradually as you move along the edge.

On most axes the angle of the part of the bit closest to the edge is about 30 degrees while it changes to around 15-20 degrees as you move closer to the center. This of course depends on the type of axe you have and the manufacturer shaped it originally.

Forwards of Backwards?

Another common question is how exactly do you slide the blade across the stone. But before you get started with that, you need to know how to hold your axe or knife.

The proper way to hold it while using a sharpening stone is to use your dominant hand to hold the handle. Then you want to turn the axe or blade flat so that it’s parallel to the ground.

Fan out the fingers on your other hand, and place them just behind the edge of the bit. You can see an example in the image below.

This will allow you to safely control the blade while sharpening it.

And, as you can also see in the image, you can move the blade both forward and backward. Though with axes, there’s actually a better way.

As mentioned earlier, the angle of an axe bit changes as you move along the cutting edge. A great way to make sure you sharpen the entire bit is to move in small circles and not long strokes.

The video below is a great visual example to follow.

It takes a little getting used to, but after a few tries, you’ll be sharpening like a pro.

In Summary

Whether you are sharpening a knife, an axe, or even a straight razor, using a sharpening stone is very solid choice. You can quickly take a dull blade to a very sharp blade.

Another bonus is that when compared to some other methods like using a grinder, it’s safer and usually much cheaper.

As long as you have a general idea of what you are doing, and you start slow, you should be fine. And always remember, whenever you’re working with any kind of tool, think safety first.

Filed Under: Blog

While there are several different types of axes you might use for working outdoors, woodworking, and while camping & hiking, not all axes are utility tools. Some axe had more nefarious purposes, or at least were used that way. And, some axes just looked cool.

Let’s take a look at some of the more famous axes of history, and remember, it’s not always the axe, but the person using the axe, that really stands out.

Non-Fictional

While maybe not as cool as what someone can come up with in their mind and create a story around, the fact that there are all true makes them cool in their own right.

Carry Nation

Carry Nation was allegedly a very fond of Jesus, and not very fond of alcohol. She was known for storming into pubs with a few supporters in tow. She would then splinter the bar to pieces with a hatchet while praying and quoting scripture.

If the mixture of the hatchet and scripture working in unison is Samuel L. Jackson enough for you to make this cool (and make Carry intimidating), the fact that she was very tall for her time, 6-feet tall to be exact, should give you a clearer image of the kind of shock a pub-goer might have felt upon her entrance and proceeding show.

Source: https://www.britannica.com/list/5-famous-battle-axes

Lizzy Borden

The somewhat vulgar children’s rhyme based on Lizzy’s alleged misdeeds is rather descriptive –

Lizzy Borden took an axe and gave her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41.

If you have not heard of Lizzy until now, the short poem should sum up what she is best known for. Ironically, though the poem live on infamy, Lizzy was never convicted of the murder of her father and step-mother due to her appearance. And let’s be fair, we weren’t there so who knows who committed the terrible crime.

Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lizzie-borden-took-an-axe

Jake Bird

Jake Bird is more known for what he said after being convicted of his heinous crimes (performed with an axe) than for the crimes themselves.

Bird was a drifter and while looking for work, one night he for still some unknown reason, he decided to let himself into the home of Bertha Kludt. He proceeded to gruesomely murder her and her daughter Beverly June with an axe.

He tried to claim he was surprised during a burglary attempt, but that wasn’t enough to get him off the double murder charges.

What makes Bird so infamous however is that when being sentenced he alleged cursed or hexed the legal professionals that were involved saying, “I’m putting the hex of Jake Bird on all of you who had anything to do with my being punished. Mark my words. You will die before I do.”

And sure enough, Bird outlived his attorney, the officer that took his confession, the judge, the court’s clerk, another officer that was involved, and a prison guard all passed away before Bird himself.

Source: http://www.southsoundtalk.com/2016/03/31/jake-bird-tacoma/

Fictional

If you think there were some crazy stories from the non-fictional events above, there are plenty of fictional characters that are hard to forget. Oh, and they have a penchant for axes too.

Jack Torrence

Jack Torrence was the trouble author in the famed novel the Shining by Stephen King. In the original film adaptation, Torrence was played by Jack Nicholson.

In the film, one of the most memorable scenes is when Jack tries to hack down a bathroom door with the intention of hacking apart his wife and son who were hiding inside the bathroom.

And, what did he use? An axe of course.

While not the most glamorous or vicious use of an axe, it is one of the most memorable.

Johanna Mason

Johanna Mason is a fictional character with a fondness for an axe in a book and movie series where the protagonist has a fondness for a different weapon, the box and arrow. That series is of course The Hunger Games.

Though quite the skilled axe-wielder, her real skill was her cunning and ferocity. In the novels she survived by feigning weakness and only letting her true murderous self show after many of the others had already died in their hunt to be the lone survivor.

In the movies she is portrayed by Jena Malone, who does a very solid job.

Source: http://thehungergames.wikia.com/wiki/Johanna_Mason

Jason Vorhees

A list of axe-wielder, fictional or not, would not be complete without including Jason from the Friday the 13th film series. Though he is almost always seen with his white plastic hockey goalie mask, it’s not unusual to picture an axe first when you hear his name.

Axes weren’t his only murderous weapon of choice though. He was OK with using just about anything he could get his hands on, from machetes to ice picks to his bare hands.

But, Jason’s most dangerous weapon of all was his ability to magically travel faster while plodding along than his victims who were running for their lives.

Source: https://www.sideshowtoy.com/blog/the-many-murder-weapons-of-jason-voorhees/

In Summary

Though this is a short list, it covers some of the heavy hitters. From real-life hatchet friendly women, to fictional serial killers, the one thing everyone on this list has in common is their willingness to forgo more popular tools and weapons in lieu of the axe.

Filed Under: Blog

There is no other manual tool that’s as primal as the axe. From the moment you get your hands wrapped around the handle, you feel a certain power. Then, when you drive it through a log or swing it into a tree trunk and you feel the impact vibrate from the head through the handle and into hands and up your arms, you feel a surge of adrenaline.

Handling an axe awakens part of our being that you don’t normally access when working with others tools. And, it’s definitely something different that you experience in your professional life if like many people you find yourself working in a store or in an office.

But, did you know that if you are really good with an axe, you can actually make a living with that skill?

4 Jobs that Require Axe Skills

If you’re great with an axe and tired of your white collar job or want to do something more fulfilling than drive a truck or deliver packages, you might want to consider one of these fine professions.

Lumberjack

Probably the very first profession one thinks of that requires serious axe skills is the lumberjack. A lumberjack is a person whose primary job is to cut down trees for the sake of gathering lumber. They are commonly referred to as loggers.

The lumberjack profession is actually classified as one of the most dangerous jobs in America. This is due to the fact that many things can go wrong while trying to fell large trees with sharp objects. For instance, no matter how skilled or experienced a lumberjack may be, trees don’t always fall where you want. They sometimes take down collateral lumber in the process of falling that can in turn injure the worker.

Additionally, because a lumberjack’s work often takes place in remote locations, they are usually not very close to hospitals. Accidents that might normally be treatable when attended to quickly can very easily become life threatening due to the time it can take to get proper medical treatment.

Working as a lumberjack or logger today usually involves use of many more tools than just an axe. Tools such as chainsaws, pikes, log splitters, and pole saws are commonplace.

Firefighter

Firefighters are often thought of as the real life super hero’s of the modern era. They risk their lives in dangerous situations to help common citizens.

From running into fires where people are normally trying to run out of to helping people out of their vehicles after accidents, firefighters’ work often has the lives of others on the line. That means they need to know what they are doing and know how to use their equipment properly and efficiently.

One of the tools that is very handy for a firefighter is an axe. There are two main types of firefighting axes: those with a flat hammer-like poll, and those with a pick at the poll. They also generally come 6 pounds and 8 pounds weights.

Part of a firefighters training actually involves learning how to use an axe quickly and efficiently. When lives are at stake, there’s no room for poor tradecraft.

Axe Master/Axe Throwing Coach

Are you skilled at and enjoy throwing hatchets an axes? If so, you might be able to find work making a decent living doing what you enjoy.

Like you, many others find throwing hatchets thrilling. But, they may not have your skill and expertise and be willing to pay you for yours.

The job of an axe master is one of teaching others the art of axe throwing. Perhaps they want to learn for sport as they are many axe throwing leagues and competitions, or maybe it’s just a hobby.

Either way, throwing axes for a living can be fun. As an axe master, you can actually get paid to teach others how to throw axes and hatchets.

Usually, axe masters are paid based on hourly rates, with the most common rates ranging between $10 and $15 per hour. You might not get rich, but you can make some good money while having a lot of fun.

Landscaping & Tree Removal

Unlike the professional of being an axe master, landscaping is much more commonplace. A landscaper works outside of homes or commercial properties designing and maintaining lawns and gardens.

Certain landscaping companies function as tree removal specialists as well, which is in a way a completely different type of job. Working with large trees that are often in poor health can be a lot more dangerous than maintaining a lawn.

Depending on the type of landscaping service, an axe could be an important tool in the worker’s arsenal. If they company does any kind of tree or stump removal, ace skills will be a must have.

A big reason for that is because that power tools can fail or run out of fuel in the middle of a job. Plus, they are incredibly noisy which can cause problems in some residential areas. An old-fashioned axe however requires little to no maintenance and doesn’t run the risk of offending neighbors with the constant buzz of a chainsaw.

Conclusion

These are just some of the jobs where your axe skills will be appreciated. There are many types of axes that are made today, each with their own special function, like survival axes for while hunting or on an extended hike and splitting mauls for breaking down logs into smaller chunks.

No matter what axe you are most skilled with, there is a job for you out there if you just put in a little time and effort researching them.

Filed Under: Blog

With the hustle and bustle of modern day living, it can be great to escape the bright lights and sounds for a little while. People get caught up in modern technology and don’t stop to appreciate the world around them. Camping is a great way to separate yourself from your troubles. For a weekend, you can escape binging on Netflix and being bored, and even reap some long-term benefits.

Spending time in nature has a therapeutic effect. Fresh air is good for the body and soul, and spending time away from the rest of the world can do wonders for depression and anxiety. You can also explore nature, burning away Friday’s pizza and discovering some beautiful sights. With the absence of light, you’ll see the stars like you’ve never seen before. Nature can truly seem like a whole new world.

camping outdoors
If you want to experience nature in a new way, but haven’t ever camped before, you’re in the right place. It can be intimidating to go into the forest and survive without modern conveniences. However, if equipped with enough knowledge, you can camp like a pro the first time around.

Here are some of the most important do’s and don’ts of camping. Be sure to keep them in mind to stay safe, comfortable, and to protect the environment for others.

Do…

Plan Your Trip

As exciting as a surprise camping trip may be, you’re going to want to plan out your trip. You should scout out locations and their weather conditions to know what to pack. You should also find out about any camping grounds that are available, or if you will have to make your own.

Dress for the Environment

Even though you may have some luxuries, camping can still be “roughing it.” As long as you are staying outside, the weather will be a major factor of your comfort. Be sure to dress lightly to avoid overheating, or bundle up for when the sun goes down.

Bring More than Enough Food & Water

Remember the 3-3-3 rule: 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. While the trees have you covered with the oxygen, you’re still going to need food and water. If you aren’t a survivalist, chances are you won’t be finding these yourself. Always be sure to bring enough food and water to keep you healthy and safe.

Gear Up for Safety & Comfort

Just because you’re staying outside doesn’t mean you have to be uncomfortable. You can bring supplies like a sleeping mat to ensure you get a decent amount of sleep. Toiletries are also never a bad idea. Don’t forget to bring safety supplies, such as a knife, fire starter, and a form of emergency contact in case something goes wrong.

Bring a Friend or 3

The tranquility of nature can be great, but if you camp alone you may get bored. Camping is more fun with friends. You’ll also be safer in case something goes wrong, and you have someone to tell campfire stories to!

Tell Someone Your Plan

Never plan a trip – especially outdoors – without telling someone. If something goes wrong, time will be the primary factor in whether or not you survive, so the sooner you can get help the better.

Don’t…

Leave Your Garbage Around

This is the cardinal sin of camping. Many campgrounds are shared by other campers, and leaving your trash around does nothing but harm the environment and inconvenience others. Clean up after yourself.

Keep Your Food at Your Campsite

Bears can be a very real problem for campers, especially when they smell food. Be sure to cook away from your camp, and store food somewhere safe. Otherwise, you may get a surprise visit from a 600-pound monster.

Leave Your Fire Unattended

When you’re camping, chances are that you’re surrounded by foliage. In dry months especially, this makes your environment highly flammable. Leaving fire unattended poses a risk of a wildfire.

Show Up at Night

Newer campers who are setting up a camp will likely struggle with pitching their tent and other setup. Add in darkness with no city lights around you, and you’ve got a bit of a struggle on your hands. Get to the camp site early so you have enough time to prepare for the night.

Noise or Light Pollute

More often than not, you will be sharing the forest with someone else. It’s great to have a good time, but keep in mind others are likely enjoying nature as well. Keep noise to a minimum, and limit the amount of light you put out at night. It makes it harder to see the stars.

Damage the Environment

This goes without saying, but nature is fragile. The rocks, trees, and other features have likely been there for longer than you’ve been alive. Defacing them for your own amusement is just plain wrong, and trampling over plants and flowers takes away from the beauty you’re supposed to be appreciating.

Conclusion

That’s it! Now that you know how to be a model camper, you can start planning your next trip. Whether it’s alone or with your whole family, local or a drive away, camping is something everyone can enjoy.

Remember: Everyone who is going camping wants to enjoy nature as much as you do. A little common courtesy and respect for the forest can go a long way.

Filed Under: Blog

Camping is a great way to get the family away from the hustle and bustle of your regular life. Spending some time outdoors instead of in the office or at a school desk can really relieve a lot of built up stress. And, getting away from all of the screens, like your computer, tablet, smartphone, and even your TV helps you remember there’s much more to the world than social media or the current news cycle.

However, when you are so used to having movies on demand or YouTube to cure your boredom, it’s easy to forget how to entertain yourself without all of today’s tech gadgets. You might not be sure how to pass all of that free time you have while hanging out around your campfire.

Time Tested Campfire Activities for the Whole Family

Here are three old but still very reliable campfire activities good for children and adults alike.

Scope the Stars

When you live in an urban environment and are immersed in the high tech world, it’s all too common to spend most of you day with your head buried in a spreadsheet, email box, or something similar. But, how often do you take the time to look up?

Even if you do look up during the evening, the ambient light from cities can completely wipe out your view of all the amazing sites the night sky has to offer.

Taking time to appreciate the night sky when you’re sitting around a fire enjoying fresh air is a great way to pass some time. You can try and point out any constellations if you know any. Or, you can just try and make your own.

S’mores it Up

When you are through with scanning the sky for stars, planets, and UFOs, it might be time to enjoy a traditional campfire snack. That snack is of course s’mores.

If you have been living under a rock and have no clue what s’mores are, they are maybe the most delicious dessert known to human kind. They are rather simple to make and only consist of three ingredients: graham crackers, marshmallow, and chocolate.

All you need to do is place the chocolate and marshmallow in between two graham crackers like a sandwich. Then, roast it over your campfire until the marshmallow starts to soften and melt.

The hardest part is to remember packing the ingredients before you leave for your camping trip.

Get Ghosting

Last but certainly not least, after you spent some time admiring the heavens and then took care of your sweet tooth with some s’mores, it’s time for the traditional campfire ghost stories. Again, this is not a novel concept, but it’s tried and true and never fails.

There’s just something about being outdoors along with the flickering light from your fire that sets the perfect ambiance for some ghostly tales. You can of course make them age appropriate, so if you are with your family and there are younger children present, you can Disney them up, but if it’s all adults, feel free to go as deep and dark as you can.

If you aren’t a super creative person, you will probably want to prepare beforehand. But don’t fret, there are tons of great ghost stories for when sitting by a campfire available all over the web.

In Summary

Some of the best campfire activities for when you are spending time camping with your family or friends are the same ones that people have been enjoying for decades. They make use of your natural surroundings as well as the fire itself, and are all things that don’t really work the same anywhere else.

There’s nothing complicated about any of the above activities. Just make sure you do some planning so you have everything you need to make them successful.

Happy trails!

Filed Under: Blog

The splitting axe and splitting maul are the most commonly used cutting implements throughout the world. In this article, we will explain about these two tools. Hence for understanding the nitty-gritty of splitting axes vs splitting maul make a read over this article.

As the name suggests, splitting axes are the axes that are made to split the wood. Such types of axes possess a large and a heavy head which is forged into concave shape having thin edges. This concave surface helps the axe to pass quickly into the wood and is also facilitated by its broader section. The head of the splitting axe is grooved into the handle and a collar is provided at the base of the handle to protect it from breaking. Handle is also called hang, helve or haft. Most axe handles are made of wood. Among them hickory wood is considered as one of the best materials for making handles. Splitting axe is a traditional hand tool mostly used for splitting wood. It has been used by the peoples around the world throughout the world since several hundred years ago. It is designed in such a way that it splits the wood along the grain and hence easily breaks the fibre of the wood easily. This tool is easier to use as it does not require much force and can be operated efficiently even by the people of less strength. The blades of splitting axes are made from iron, steel and copper.

Some people often get confused between splitting axes and splitting mauls. Splitting mauls have large, heavy wedge-like heads with long handles. Splitting maul is basically wedge with handle. Splitting mauls are available in different shapes and weights suited for a myriad of jobs. It is also known as block buster, block splitter, chop and maul, sledge axe.

Although both tools are designed for the purpose of splitting the wood, there are some basic differences among them. Splitting axe has a tapered head with sharper edge but the splitting maul has wedge shaped head with and is more fatter and blunter than the splitting axe. The weight of the head of the splitting axe is 3-6 pounds whereas the weight of the splitting maul is 6-8 pounds. Also, the handle of the splitting maul is longer than the splitting axe that protects you from any injuries while working. The handle of the splitting axe can be made from wood or composite materials whereas the handle of splitting maul can be made from wood, metal, plastic and fibreglass.

There is little difference between splitting axe and splitting maul which can be explained under the following headings.

Design Wise Difference
The biggest difference between these two splitting tools is on the design of their head. Splitting axe has got a tapered head with a sharper edge made up of metal. Due to its sharper edge, the splitting axe is highly suitable for splitting as well as cutting the wood. The head of the splitting maul is wedge shaped and is much wider than the head of the splitting axe. Also, its head is fatter and blunter than a splitting axe that makes it highly effective while splitting wood. The head of the splitting maul will not stick on wood while splitting.

Splitting maul and axe also differ from design and material used for making handles. The handle of the maul is longer than the axe that helps to guide the tool into the ground after splitting is complete and it never comes to your feet. Beside, the splitting axe has got a shorter handle which increases the risk of slipping to your body while splitting. Generally, handles of both of these tools are made up of wood. But the handle of the splitting axe can be made from wood or composite materials whereas the handle of splitting maul can be made from wood, metal, plastic and fibreglass.

Length wise Difference
The splitting maul has a longer handle than the splitting axe. The longer handle prevents the risk of injuries from it while operating. But in case of a splitting axe, it can slip to your body while working.

Weight Wise Difference
Splitting maul is heavier than the splitting axe. The difference in weight has made them suitable for different purposes. The weight of the splitting axe is 3-6 pounds whereas the weight of the splitting axe is 6-8 pounds. Due to its heavier weight, splitting is found effective for splitting of wood. Axe has a lighter head that can be used quickly by less strong people. Also, heavier the head of the axe or maul, you will get fatigued quickly.

Purpose Wise Difference
Both tools are used for splitting wood but the choice between both of them is based on your personal preference. Amount of work you have in hand and size of wood you are working with will determine which tool to select. If you have to work with a large piece of wood, it is better to select maul than axe. But, if you are dealing with a small piece of wood, a splitting axe will be better. Splitting axes will also be a better option for those who are smaller and are not able to lift the heavy weight.

Basically people use a splitting axe for splitting the wood for camping or fireplaces. Its small and sharp edges are suitable for cutting wood easily. You will not suffer from hand pain while using this tool. Besides, mauls are generally used for splitting heavy and thick wood. The heavy weight of maul makes it easy to go through the wood. Only one strike by maul is enough to tear the wood into pieces. However, it may cause wrist pain. So, it is suitable for heavy duty work.

Price Difference
There is wide variation in price of these two tools. Basically the price of these two tools mainly depends upon the material it contains. A high quality splitting maul may cost $250. However, a low quality maul can be available at $40. Similarly, a high quality axe may cost $100 to $150 depending upon the material used in it whereas a low quality axe can be available at $15 or even cheaper.

Pros of Splitting maul Over Splitting Axe

Following are the benefits of splitting axe over splitting maul:

• Splitting maul rarely sticks into the wood and even if it gets stuck you can use a sledgehammer on the maul poll to
  drive it through.
• It has a sledgehammer on the opposite side of the blade that is handy for slamming.
• It is effective for chopping hard wood like oak, birch, maple and ash.
• It works faster as it does not get jammed during working.

Pros of Splitting Axe Over Splitting Maul

• It is lighter in weight. Even a person with less strength can operate it easily.
• Due to its low weight it does not cause wrist pain while splitting the wood.
• It has got sharp edges which makes it suitable for cutting the wood.
• It is also cheaper than the splitting maul.

Which is Best for Splitting Wood: Axe or Maul?

It is difficult to say which one is best for splitting the wood. We have to understand that both of these two tools are designed for splitting wood. However, choice between these two basically depends upon the type of wood you are dealing with. If you are dealing with heavy and thick wood, mauls are better but if you are dealing with small pieces of wood, splitting axes are better.

So be wise enough while choosing between them. You have to be aware about your workload and size of wood before making the choice.

Final Verdict

Splitting axes and mauls are two most commonly used tools for splitting the wood throughout the world. Some people often get confused between them. However, there is a difference between them in terms of head design, handle, weight and length. Splitting mauls have a fatter and blunter wedge shaped head that is heavier than the head of the splitting axe. The weight of the splitting axe is 3-6 pounds whereas that of splitting maul is 6-8 pounds. Due to its lighter weight, splitting axle does not cause wrist pain while operating whereas due to its heavy weight splitting maul may cause wrist pain. Similarly, splitting mauls have longer handles than splitting axes. In general, handles of both of these tools are made up of wood. But the handle of the splitting axe can be made from wood or composite materials whereas the handle of splitting maul can be made from wood, metal, plastic and fibreglass. Splitting axes are best suited for chopping lighter wood whereas splitting mauls are best suited for chopping thicker wood. Also, there is wide variation on the price of these two tools. Basically, price depends upon the materials used on it. Generally, those made by using high quality materials are expensive and those with low quality materials are cheaper. This is complete info on topic Splitting axe vs splitting maul. We hope this article has solved all your confusion.

Filed Under: Blog