Sometimes, when cutting wood, the logs may be too large in diameter to season well or to fit into the fireplace or stove. Splitting wood can reduce the volume of the logs, making them easier to use and promoting seasoning. A person with weak arms but with the right technique is able to split wood more quickly and efficiently than a big fat man who waves his ax in an uncontrolled way. Learn the right movements to get this job done successfully by splitting the logs with a wedge or mallet.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Use a mallet or wedges to break up hardwood
A mallet is nothing more than a thicker ax with a much sharper blade, which is used to cut the wood following its fibers. The head of this instrument is composed on one side of the blade while on the other side there is a flat hammer surface. It is a much heavier tool than a simple ax, it usually weighs several kilos more, but it is the weight that makes the job easier.
- The wedges are made of metal and must be inserted into the block with a mallet. They offer the advantage of being able to be embedded according to the direction of the wood fibers precisely in the point where you want to break the log.
- The ax is used to cut logs into small pieces but not to split them in two. If you have to cut hardwood it is best to rely on a mallet or wedges.
Step 2. Cut the wood to the right length
Normal wood-burning stoves and small fireplaces need logs between 40 and 50 cm long; the shorter the piece of wood, the easier it will be to break. You should pre-cut the wood into cylinders of the right length for the use you want to make of them, so that they are easy to handle and store.
Try to cut the two surfaces (upper and lower) of each cylinder so that they are as flat as possible; this allows you to firmly rest the cylinder on the cutting base when you have to split it
Step 3. Prepare a cutting block
Usually an old tree stump is used with the roots still firmly in the ground. Here you can place each cylinder of wood and split it, the movement with the mallet will be more fluid and you will stress your back less. A good work surface should be about 6 inches off the ground.
- The work surface should be neither too high nor too low to avoid dangerous bounces should you hit the smear stump.
- Always use a wooden surface for this job, never split wood on the ground or concrete. The ground may be fine, but you will tire a lot more because you have to lift the heavy mallet more. Try to save energy and use a log as a support, especially if you have a lot of wood to cut.
Step 4. Find a suitable place
Make sure there is plenty of free space around you, that there are no trees with falling fronds or other objects hindering your movement.
It is best to cut the wood on cold days, if the logs have been properly seasoned. Hard wood breaks sharply if the right technique is used and the temperature is low, which makes the job easier
Step 5. Wear all appropriate protective gear
To chop wood on the outside you need to dress properly. Good quality work gloves are essential to protect your hands from splinters and to make the grip less painful, safety goggles and sturdy boots, preferably with the toe reinforced with steel. Never chop wood yourself, always make sure someone is around in case you get hurt.
Method 2 of 3: With a Mallet
Step 1. Place the first piece of wood on the backing block
Make sure it is stable and in the center of the base.
Hitting an unstable stump with a mallet is extremely dangerous. An imprecise, smear shot could hit the leg or a crazed splinter could become a dangerous bullet. Place each piece of wood securely
Step 2. Check the wood before splitting it
Check if there are any subtle cracks, you need to aim for them so that the mallet blade already takes advantage of these weak points.
- Different woods split differently, so plan accordingly. Oak breaks best in the center, even when the pieces are large in diameter. Maple, on the other hand, splits better at the edges and along the line of the fibers.
- Check if there are any large knots or spots where the branches were detached during the felling of the tree to try to avoid them. These are areas where the wood is not regular, the fibers are deformed and it is often impossible to cut them, you could spend all day trying to break them.
Step 3. Aim
Choose where you want to split the wood, place the mallet blade on it and spread your feet wide for a secure posture. You have to make a slight notch in the wood to get a good view of the "target" in case the wood fibers are not too evident.
Step 4. Lift the mallet and then bring it down
You don't have to make a full movement, you don't have to bring the blade behind your head to split the log. Securely grasp the mallet handle with your dominant hand, just below the blade. Bend your knees slightly and raise the blade above your head but in a perpendicular motion to the ground until your arms are straight.
- Slide your dominant hand at the base of the handle until it connects with the other hand and keep a firm grip. Lower your hands with a flick of the wrists and let gravity do most of the work.
- Splitting wood is not a work of strength, but rather of technique. Swinging the mallet in one sweeping motion is dangerous and tiring.
Step 5. Lift the mallet off the piece of wood if it split perfectly on the first shot
It may be necessary to move and rotate the tool a little to detach the blade from the cutting base. You can also raise and lower the mallet a little to detach it completely.
Alternatively, you can treat the jammed mallet blade as a wedge and hit it on the flat side with a sledgehammer. This is a technique widely used by lumberjacks. If the mallet is well positioned or is really very stuck, don't waste time and energy trying to detach it
Step 6. Repeat the movement until the log is broken
Try to always hit it in the same spot or follow a crack generated by the first attempt.
Step 7. Cut the logs and stack them
Each wooden cylinder is usually broken into smaller sections, usually first in half and then in quarters to pieces with a section of 15-20 cm.
Stack the logs so that the air can circulate between them and allow the wood to mature before being burned in the stove or fireplace. Cover the stack to protect it from rain as it can cause rot, but remember not to block ventilation
Method 3 of 3: With Wedges
Step 1. Get several wedges
These tools are great for knotty logs or hard, large diameter ones. Since it is possible to drive a wedge deep without breaking the block, it is always best to have several on hand to keep pushing the first one through the wood.
If you usually use wedges, it is wise to have a very sharp one to use first so that it penetrates the wood and then another less sharp but larger one that you can use to push the first one
Step 2. Hammer the wedge into the log according to the wood fibers
A short-handled sledgehammer is suitable for this job, but it all also depends on the size of the piece of wood. Grab the wedge as if it were a huge nail and drive it into the wood until it is well inserted.
Step 3. Hit him with a sledgehammer
You have to use firm strokes perpendicular to the ground to make the wedge penetrate into the log until it opens in two. If the first enters the wood completely without breaking it, insert the second wedge trying to wedge it between the edge of the first and the wood to widen the crack and complete the cut.
Make sure you stay at a safe distance to prevent the wedge from suddenly coming out and falling on your feet. When hitting with the club make sure that the blow is perpendicular to the log and wedge
Step 4. Finish the job
There may be fibers connecting the two pieces of the log to each other, you can cut them with an ax or mallet. You can also further shrink the sections if you want easier wood to handle. In this case, do not use the wedges as they could splash violently out of the small logs.
Advice
- Stop before you feel exhausted. It is always the last piece of wood that leads you to hurt yourself.
- If you are chopping wood for the kitchen stove, take the time to cut small pieces. They are easier to burn and what you prepare will be better too!
- Sometimes it's easier to split the big pieces by hitting the front edge of the log instead of the center. This offers more possibilities to split the wood in half.
- If the ax blade gets stuck in the wood, do not lift it over your head and then violently lower it onto the block. The piece of wood could fall off the blade and fall on your head causing you a serious injury and death.
- Missing the blow is dangerous because the ax continues its movement towards you, it could turn your wrist and get out of hand.
- When aiming, try to figure out if you will hit a little beyond your point of interest. In that case, stay a little further back than the center and thanks to the arch you will draw you will be safe.
- There are varieties of wood that are easier to split because they don't have too much density. Others, including black beech, poplar, and California oak, split better when wet or green so it is best to cut them as soon as they are felled.
- If the ax blade gets stuck in the stump, do not twist or force it with a horizontal movement of the handle. You could damage or break the connection between the handle and the blade. Instead, swing the ax down to slide the piece of wood.
- Some types of wood such as styrax, elm and pecan are very hard to cut. Consider making pieces no longer than the fireplace and use them whole.
- Often beginners damage or break the ax handles and the wedge when they hit the wood to be split. A metal wedge, however heavy, will avoid the problem.
- You can use a hammer to drive the wedge into the wood. Do not use it on the ax instead as you may blunt the edge and damage the handle (axes and wedges are two separate items).
- A lighter wedge means more speed, which is more important than mass when cutting wood.
- Always wear gloves, safety glasses and boots when chopping wood.
- Some say that cutting the log in half is very easy.
- If you are not careful you will break the handle and get hurt.
Warnings
- Keep your stance in mind so that if the ax or wedge misses, they don't land on your feet or leg. If you lower your body along with the ax as you strike and miss it, the force will be directed downwards, it will hit the stump and not your shin.
- Avoid having an audience around you, at least not at close range: if the ax were to come off or get out of hand, the result would be disastrous.
- Do not work alone. Find someone or keep a cell phone nearby in case of an emergency.
