Home built kindling splitter

In this video, I built a kindling splitter. These are safer than using a hatchet as you’re not swinging it towards your hand while processing wood. These are not my idea, but I wanted to make one with some items I had in my shop. Thanks for watching.
My contact information,
Safarijoe’s Adventures PO Box 205, Loveland, CO 80539
[e-mail]
Music,
The Beacon - Zachariah Hickman
Casey don’t you fret - Dan Lebowitz
Leaning on the everlasting arms - Zachariah Hickman
Lazy Rock - Dan Lebowitz
Michigan Green - Dan Lebowitz
Cross the road - Silent Partner

[@allkindsofoutdooractivities]

That’s a really great build! Great job

[@safarijoesadventures]

Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it.

[@MrBlazzor]

Very clever thanks

[@safarijoesadventures]

You’re welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@hoodiedee4828]

thank you for your time, From Bridgeport Connecticut, Have a blessed day and don't forget to Enjoy Life

[@safarijoesadventures]

You’re welcome.

[@FordDude66]

Nice! I'm going to make one. I've almost taken off a finger or two when spitting kindling wood. Todd from da U.P.

[@safarijoesadventures]

How are you doing Todd? I hope you had a great Thanksgiving with friends and family. Yeah, these are simple to make you can even use a metal wood wedge instead of an ax or hatchet blade. I use this one because it had a wider bit than my other hatchets. Good luck on your build.

[@coreytaggart128]

Seeing how that worked seems like either a fatter splitting maul head or a longer/deeper blade would work better as you often had to twist it to finish the split.

[@safarijoesadventures]

I use that particular hatchet, because it was more wedged shaped than the other ones I had. I wanted to use some materials I already had in my shop. I had thought about welding a short piece of pipe to the bottom of it to make it a little bit taller for the longer pieces of wood but then I would not be able to do shorter pieces without getting my hand too close to the blade. The shorter pieces do split perfectly but the 16 inch firewood size some of them you do have to pull apart.

[@Colichemarde]

Excellent idea! I still split wood the "dangerous" way, but am very careful; always ensuring my fingers are away from the blade. Your idea is far better. Another idea I've seen work well is using homemade tongs to hold the piece of wood in place. I agree with your comment about building things yourself. I much prefer to build things myself. There's a greater feeling of accomplishment and ownership. On a more humorous note, my wife was laughing at your gloves. She commented "They look much too new!" Apparently, she thinks clean gloves are a sign of shame in the world of manual labor! :)

[@safarijoesadventures]

I have a cleaner pair of leather gloves that I use when I’m handling the pots and pans around the fire. Tell her to go back and look at the ones I’m using when I’m grinding. My knuckles are hanging out of them lol. Tell her thanks for watching and I’ll try to wear my nasty gloves. Next time I’m pouring my drink.

[@Colichemarde]

@@safarijoesadventures I just felt compelled to throw a little bit of my wife's criticisms your way. Now you know how I feel! :) Great videos as always!

[@paulhare662]

For added safety and convenience, cut a slot in the bottom of a bucket and set it over your spitter. Splits will stay in the bucket and campfire partiers can't trip & fall on the blade.

[@safarijoesadventures]

Yes, I’ve seen that done. That is a good way to do it and you’re not chasing kindling all around.

[@jasonbroom7147]

Very good video...sub'd!

[@safarijoesadventures]

Nice to meet you, Jason. Thanks for your support.

[@spragger42]

I have that hatchet! It was on wal mart shelves about 15 years ago. Pretty much useless as a hatchet as the angle of the cutting edge is too fat but I have been using it to split kindling. kind of a wedge with a handle. Perfect choice.

[@safarijoesadventures]

I have seen those at Walmart many years ago. Also, I bought this one at a yard sale for two bucks about seven or eight years ago. The blade is way too wide to use for a carving hatchet, but it worked perfect for kindling with the wide taper. That’s why I used it. I have Vaughn hammer hatchet with a thin blade I use when I need a sharp hatchet.

[@budwilliams6590]

2 easier ways. 1. put an axe in a drill press vise and put it on top of your chopping block. this is what I do. 2. bury a double bit axe in a round. No welder needed and the axe is still usable as an axe.

[@safarijoesadventures]

That is true. That’s why God gives us the gray matter between our ears so we could use it to think. Those are both great ideas. Thank you for sharing.

[@remoteandrestless]

I've toyed with that idea for a long time. I was thinking some type of an x blade on a framework and a tire to keep the log in place would work great for splitting wood. Thanks for the proof of concept. Have you looked at the lever style kindling splitters? They also seem like an interesting concept

[@safarijoesadventures]

Yes, I have seen them. And now that I am getting a little better at welding I thought I would try and make one of those also. They kind of look like the old paper cutters we had in school years ago with the table part of it missing.

[@remoteandrestless]

@safarijoesadventures if you make one, I'll definitely be interested in how well it works. I think this one will probably meet your needs for a really long time

[@safarijoesadventures]

@@remoteandrestless the nice thing about that particular style is it eliminates wedging your hand between a sharp hatchet and possibly the stump mounted hatchet head. You can just set the kindling on the desired Barb and push the handle down to split it without the other hand being anywhere in the way. I think I’ll sit down at the drawing board and work out some dimensions and try and give it a go.

[@akbychoice]

It’s not just the skill set of using an axe, it’s mental, strength and your body’s condition. On Alone they lacked proper sleep, warmth, nutrition and thought processes.

[@safarijoesadventures]

I agree, and get that. She seem to be doing well for the seven days she was there. anytime you’re in the survival situation. You need to take extra care to keep from injuring yourself more than anything else. And swinging a sharp object at your hand, holding something small is not a good idea in any situation.

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Good stuff! I bet you got a tons of projects for the U.P. this summer. I think our snow is gone for good now, but you never know.

[@safarijoesadventures]

I am waiting for the frost laws to lift in Chippewa county. I have to get an excavator in there to move something for me then I will be up there working. And yes, there are tons of projects to keep me busy, which I enjoy, but I will be throwing a little bit of vacation in there too. After all, I do want a few walleyes on the plate.

[@johnbutler5208]

How much you wanna bet i make one of those.

[@safarijoesadventures]

You should, it’s really not that hard to do. And if you’re like me, you really enjoy doing things like that.

[@gritrgear]

Good idea! 👍Please let me know how we can contact you discussing potential collaboration

[@safarijoesadventures]

In the description of the video I always leave my contact information. I have a PO Box and an email address in there.

[@budwilliams6590]

Les is a whiner and Bear is just dangerous. I didn't care much for either of them. I would have liked Les if he'd just done his thing, but he always had to be whining about stuff.

[@safarijoesadventures]

Well, that’s the difference between reality and reality TV. Somehow they’re just not the same.

[@victoriaguckian8578]

Almost seems like we are sitting around the kitchen table. So fun watching your videos!

[@safarijoesadventures]

Well, I am glad you are enjoying them. I hope they’re entertaining. If not, at least informative.

[@loudmouthnewyorker2803]

$5 Yard sale item sure came in handy. Failure is the world's best teacher should be told this this generations youth.

[@safarijoesadventures]

Or we could coddle them and give them a participation trophy. 😎

[@Pa.PatriotProspecting]

​@@safarijoesadventuresdon't forget about safe spaces to cry in

[@bohdanked]

Gosh, my father would take my axe away if he saw me splitting wood like that. There is a much safer and faster way to split kindling with a hatchet. He taught me this when I was around 11-12. It's simple but much easier to show than to describe. Let's say you have a 16 inch long piece of 2 by 4. Take one end of the 2 by 4 and place down the other end horizontally on the splitting log, so the 4'' side lays on the log. So now one end of 2x4 is laying on the splitting log, and you are supporting the other end with your nondominant hand. Now take your hatched in your dominant hand and start splitting the end of the wood which sits on the log. If it doesn't completely split when you cut it, you just flick the hatched sideways so it spreads out the wood and it should split. With a bit of practice especially when the wood grain is straight in 5 seconds you can have this thing split into 5 pieces.

[@safarijoesadventures]

I know that way also. It keeps the blade at the other end of the wood and both your hands are in a similar position holding the hatchet in one hand, and the wood in the other laying flat on the splitting block. But neither of them is in the way of the blade. Thanks for sharing.

[@seymourwrasse3321]

Edison said he never failed, he just discovered 10,000 ways not to make a lightbulb

[@safarijoesadventures]

True, when you’re trying something new, you can always find a lot of ways not to do it.

[@bulldawg6259]

I make small froes out of railroad spikes They work great with heavy rubber mallet

[@safarijoesadventures]

I would like to see something like that. Does it work like a splitting wedge?

[@bulldawg6259]

Yes Chandler Dickinson videos from five years ago he has them. My teenage sons were very safe. I quad camp and could be twenty miles out ,no place for an accident@@safarijoesadventures

[@tombrandt8137]

Excellent and safe to boot

[@safarijoesadventures]

Thank you Tom I am glad you enjoyed it.