Harbor Freight Pittsburgh 6 lb. Fiberglass Splitting Maul Review

[@getfastfish5020]

I 'm glad to know I'm not the only one who can't cut anything with this thing out of the box

[@JO3haNsum]

Same here

[@DM-zw3dj]

I ground mine down and made it so it wasn’t blunt. Even after I hate it and just use a stihl or fiskers

[@mr.rodriguez3908]

That is some tough wood. I would definitely want a log splitter for that if it was on a regular basis.

[@TheHandsOnChannel]

Yeah, I'm working on a diy splitter for this hard stuff. Thanks for commenting.

[@mr.rodriguez3908]

@@TheHandsOnChannel I was thinking the same thing. I have seen some foreign manual wood splitters that seem to wook really well with limited physical effort.

[@TheHandsOnChannel]

@@mr.rodriguez3908 Yes we are probably thinking of the same design splitter. I think it is from the Ukraine.

[@dangrimes5078]

If it can be filed it's not hard. If you get it too hot grinding it you can aneal it and make it soft, or maybe you ground below the case Harding into the soft steel below. In any case you can re-harden it with an torch. If it is carbon steel it can be hardened.

[@dangrimes5078]

I forgot to mention, you can check if you were successful in hardening it by trying to file it. If the file just slides over the top but doesn't cut into it that means it is as hard as the file.

[@vegatyme1]

Someone at Horrible Freight must have seen this video. I just bought this same maul the other day, and it came pretty sharp. I was skeptical, though, having seen your video, so I went out there and took a whack at some real hard seasoned oak I had in the pile, and it went through it like butter! I imagine I'll have to take a file to it after a few uses, but well worth the $20!

[@TheHandsOnChannel]

Good to hear that they're listening. Once I sharpened the pitch of the cutting edge it worked great and seems to hold it's edge fairly well.

[@michaelsair1593]

I bought the same maul last week to split up some red oak rounds 16" across that maul went through those rounds like a hot knife through butter can't believe all the negative feedback.

[@Bournefort]

If you live in the Midwest, I'd highly recommend the 8 lb. maul from Menards. I've probably split 500 logs with no issues.

[@taewankim6283]

I recommend trying the 8 lb Splitting Maul from HFT. If that doesn't work I would try 6 or 8 lb Splitting Axe from Council Tools.

[@MI_Prepper]

Dude, that was a totally dull butter cutter before you fixed it. Good job! I like your suggestion of this being your first maul. It will be for me, gonna get one. Thanks!

[@shermanhofacker4428]

The metal is cast steel; no worries about ruining heat treatment by grinding. I grind a smooth convex curve on the cheeks but don't worry about getting the edge really sharp. Nothing wrong with plastic covered fiberglass handles except you probably need to wear gloves, even my calloused hands felt better with a layer of leather. I don't consider black jack to be very difficult to split and I normally split with a double bit four pound ax.

[@GunslingrX]

Bring your right foot a little more behind the left, meaning a little more body twist, and you'll gain a lot in down pressure

[@Hound427]

Just bought the 8 pounder, gonna have to do the same modifications.

[@thomasguerrero7289]

I have a true temper maul like that , can’t remember using it but you Definitely need a 28 ton champion log splitter , love mine starts on the first pull every time . Don’t hurt your self .

[@JOEZEP54]

Came on line to check my channel & your video was recommend. I just did a video on this maul after seven years of use. Plus another video on a Fiskars maul that I just had delivered. I found that using a big round with a tire on top to keep the logs from falling all over save a lot of wear on the back. Give it a try & let me know what you think. Full view & 👍 # 48. Stay safe, Joe Z

[@willb169]

The whole reason I watched this video was to see you sharpen it. I've got the same maul and it bounces like a trampoline hahaha

[@Nohkral]

Buckin billy ray says to keep wood on ground for more powerful hits. What's your take on this?

[@TheHandsOnChannel]

I've tried it and if the ground is very hard it works. I think the disadvantage for me is it hurts my back and shoulder more being lower. Great question and I've watched some of Buckin Billies vids as well.

[@zouhairsuleiman209]

How did you sharpen your maul, I’ve got the same one, I bought it at the flea market for $10 but it’s too thick at the front

[@TheHandsOnChannel]

I roughly shaped it with an angle grinder then finished with a belt sander.

[@zouhairsuleiman209]

The Hands On Channel thanks for the information

[@GunslingrX]

Grinder. You need open up that edge

[@gregmerckx8557]

I like getting different mauls and splitting axes to see how they perform. I got this one but the 8lbs one. Complete junk. By far the worst maul I’ve used. I tried it direct from the store and sharpened it. Still was a poor performer. I use it now to drive wedges but never for splitting. There is one thing this mail is great for - when a friend comes over, I grab my maul and give my buddy the harbor freight one. They always think I’m Superman because they can’t do a darn thing with the HF junk.

[@AlexanderMoore5133]

Wouldn't grinding that much heat it up to where the metal is permanently weaker (read just gonna dull immediately)

[@TheHandsOnChannel]

No it hasn't been a problem. I was careful not to heat it up too much. Then I finished it off w/ a file. Thanks for commenting.

[@AlexanderMoore5133]

@@TheHandsOnChannel then I will need to try your method. I've gotten nowhere with this guy on my swamp birch. Merry Christmas.

[@TheHandsOnChannel]

@@AlexanderMoore5133 Yes the factory angle is terrible. Give it a good sharp profile and it will be much better. Merry Christmas!

[@dylanowens3173]

I thought getting the harbor freight maul, but for just little more got the husky version at home Depot with a life time warranty if it breaks. Those fiberglass filled handles WILL break eventually and given HF quality control is low it's just throwing money away on this maul axe

[@TheHandsOnChannel]

Yeah if I were going to use this as intended I would have bought a better brand. But I think HF offers lifetime warranty on this tool. I cut the handle off and just used the maul.

[@tylerwestman5258]

Mauls are good but I gave mine away because didn’t use it I use a 3.5lb axe you just have to know how to use a axe and how to read the wood

[@remopiccioni9456]

Pittsburgh brand name made in China.

[@vbvini]

I got the 6lb one the 8 felt funny

[@mauroesquibel2767]

I would have quit when the log fell go to home depot and buy a splitter

[@ronaldziegler1537]

Ok

[@hawghawg381]

My 8lb maul would have busted it in 4 hits

[@timmytombstone2028]

If i were u i would wear a good pair of steel toe boots.

[@escapetherace1943]

I wear crocs when I split wood I just be smart

[@chriscane6211]

It’s a pos.

[@TheHandsOnChannel]

Compared to an old American maul you are absolutely correct. I bought it for a welding project that I had going.

[@escapetherace1943]

how is it a POS 10 minutes with a flat file and it's just a wedge of working metal man