Slide action wood splitter - GIF

[Jon]

Slide action wood splitter. Probably gimmicky; it's hard to beat an axe or a maul. This slide hammer action is still interesting.




Previously:

Power Stow belt loading system and moving firewood into a house
Double-handed wood splitting mayhem - GIF
Artisanal firewood spoof - video
Motorcycle firewood cutter - GIF

[Toolmaker51]

Slide action wood splitter. Probably gimmicky; it's hard to beat an axe or a maul. This slide hammer action is still interesting.

Gimmicky, depends how well certain people wield an axe or maul. Both operating side by side, with equal strength, I think the axe would have a job keeping up in same number split. The sliding hammer easily places the wedge as desired.

[ncollar]

Toolmaker
I agree with and if Harbor Freight got them in they could not keep them on the shelf.
But DIY is always better.
Nelson

One great advantage of the slide hammer is the power is right where you want it. I know after about 15 minutes my aim get a little off and my back will not forgive me.

[PJs]

I like the blade/wedge design and on dense wood properly seasoned it would work like a charm but wonder how it would work on stringier wood like Euc. or softer woods like cedar. Ergonomically I think this is pretty cool yet would bet it weighs at least twice what an axe weighs. Also agree with TM51 about the accuracy and with Nelson, after 15-30 minutes accuracy with an axe drops off considerably.

I'd rather rent or borrow a hydraulic splitter and be done with it. Years ago when I was younger buck :-P, a buddy and I got a bunch of oak and Euc free if we picked it up. Ended up with ~2 1/2 cords and split and stacked it all in a day with a splitter, basically about 2 years worth for both of us for only about 2 days work. Return rental splitter...$30!...there that's done.

[Jon]

I guess one good question is: how much force can you apply with this slide splitter as opposed to swinging an axe overhead? Also of note: ease of splitting varies enormously between different wood species, and between dry or wet wood.

Cross-bladed axe:

[PJs]

Agreed about the wood. Now that is a cool splitter and looks like it Works darn good!

[Toolmaker51]

Kinetics (?) of slide hammer is good competition for inertia (?) of axe. Way less physical effort than getting an axe overhead, probably more impact on joints though, axe mainly bears on wrists. Real speed of slide hammer in the wood bundled together, remaining upright. Slide hammer or axe not as effective when stuff falls over.

PJ's right though. Reaching into wallet for $30 bucks substantially easier...but not better at thin parting sizes between kindling and intermediate fuel. Quartered stumps don't light themselves.

[Airstreamer]

I guess one good question is: how much force can you apply with this slide splitter as opposed to swinging an axe overhead? Also of note: ease of splitting varies enormously between different wood species, and between dry or wet wood.

Cross-bladed axe:

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Interesting idea that probably works well with easy-to-split wood, but if the axe sticks in the wood it's going to be a lot harder to remove. As a teen I was taught to twist the axe slightly as it hits the wood which tends to widen the split making it more likely that the pieces will separate, and reduces the chance of the axe sticking. I don't think that technique would work with the cross-bladed axe.

[Philip Davies]

Looks painful, but must be safer!

[Jon]