How To Split Wood For Weaklings - Splitting Large & Tough Rounds By Hand With A Splitting Wedge

In this video I demonstrate how a weakling can use a splitting wedge and mallet to slowly and methodically split large, tough wood rounds by hand. It is no where near as fast as a wood splitter, but if you have the time and patience you can get it done.

[@lynnkhosla6277]

For a 66 yr old woman with a yard full of huge maple rounds, this was informative. I may (or may not) split these rounds myself, but understanding the process helps me understand How Wood Works - which seems to be my new passion since moving to Maine and living with wood stoves. Thanks a million!

[@marymoore6799]

Exactly where I am right now. It sounds like I need a sleeve and some wedges.

[@trippdouglas5596]

I have split wood by hand for 40 years, get a bigger sledgehammer and use multiple wedges. It's actually great strength training.

[@elizabethclaiborne6461]

He didn’t make this for you. He made it for me, 65 with a tree in the driveway after an ugly storm. My rotator cuffs aren’t going to handle a sledge ever again. In a time of super storms maybe you should think before you burble.

[@confidential2497]

The first thing he said in the video, he says it's for people who have minimal tools and not a lot of strength. Go try and show off elsewhere.

[@JayR-v5p]

@@confidential2497 You wouldn't say that to this mans face... you are the show off.

[@JayR-v5p]

@@elizabethclaiborne6461 Let me guess, you are divorced?

[@danieldonahue3293]

Great info...I split same way...it keeps me in shape for a 63 yr old...thanks

[@Jay_Ira]

Commenting since this video is for weaklings like myself. Thanks for the video. I'll be sure to apply it appropriately and pass it on to my weakling nephew. Take care and God bless bud.

[@karlmarx4462]

Wow, this guy's sense of humour is just excellent!!!

[@metyk3360]

Struggled with splitting logs before. Now, it’s much easier. Thanks for the advise. 👍

[@MonteBegaye-v1r]

I just got done with splitting pine and juniper logs with sledge and two steel wedges. At 54 years old. Keep on trucking.

[@dosaimre]

Placing the wedge radial you try to "crosscut" fibers which is far more difficult. Fibers grow in circular pattern, so I cut "slabs" off around the perimeter wich is more like ripping fibers and easier to split.

[@TrueWren]

Ok thought this, turn the wedge 90 degrees and it should help right. I'm gonna have a go at a big round this way and hoping I'm right and it's easier than what he has shown

[@justsmitty1709]

Got a stihl battery powered saw and cut a few quick plunges where I think the splits will be. Also carry 4 wedges a sharp hatchet and a digging iron with a semi sharp edge. You swing just like I do at the beginning but you do lose your patience...... I can relate. Been working on a huge red oak the last couple days. 38 inches at the base. I'm over 2 cords from this beast and still not done. 67 years old and retired so I have alot of time to play around.

[@RobTheFrugalist]

Hi just been investigating how to do this for my own channel (UK based) loved the 2001 Space Odyssey theme, I think I prefer yours to the original. Got myself a fiskars x27 recently but will try the wedge method in my next vid as I have some ash rounds to split. Love your ethos, blessings.

[@steveboyd3455]

Rubber Duc 3:16 "For he so loved the world that he shared his log splitting knowledge" Thanks!

[@davidsmith1913]

I split some red oak prb varied between 30to36 inch dia and i am 49yrs old and have been swinging an 8 lbs maul that whole time it was a good workout especially if you have any knots whats made a big difference for me was switching to a 6.6 lbs muller it has impressed me

[@mikeh8228]

That is good, but when you get in your late 50s, your back and perhaps your knees will not like it. I tore both the inner and outer miniscus of my left knee swinging an 8 pound maul. Cannot do that anymore...just remember your age and decide accordingly....from a 74 year old guy.

[@natewiese1402]

Idk I’ve split some nasty knotty maple rounds with a maul but wedges make it soo much easier to split into half’s where you can than get it done with the maul.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Good video. Those big rounds sure produce a lot of splits quickly. You can also quarter them with your saw regardless of ones strength level.

[@mmcnew1]

I’ve never had much luck with that style of wedge starting a split on wood that is dense or green/wet. They always bounce out like yours. I use an very old Oregon wedge to get the split started. It has a much broader and curved face to it. If for some reason I get the Oregon down in the wood a long way and the round has not split apart, then I bring a wedge like this in play, starting it further in toward the center of the split that the Oregon has made. Then of course I bring out the splitter after the round is not of back breaking size. I mean the splitter is a hand tool, right? I have to wheel it out there by hand, start it by hand and feed the wood to it by hand… lol

[@troycummings5083]

Nice. And thanks for the John 3:16!

[@wigletron2846]

I like using 2 diamond wedges to break the giant pieces down. They bite into the wood much easier and when you use 2 it gets a nice crack started. The wedge like in this video is good when you need to make more precise splits.

[@kencrane9726]

I felt your pain. I was splitting ash rounds yesterday as well using a wedge and mallet. It didn’t take long for the Husqvarna to come out. A whole bunch of elm yet to do, yuck!

[@hirampetty9293]

Im a retired tree surgeon , and have split many rounds of wood in my day. After using the chainsaw, drop a little sand into the groove before putting the wedge in. Even live oak will give it up

[@jamesmdean1987]

That's an Estwing Sure Split wedge. The way that particular wedge bounced right out of the wood and didn't bite is the sole reason I returned that stupid thing. Only splitting wedge I've ever had that would bounce out that way in almost everything I tried to split with it. I really wanted to like it and use it as a companion to my Fiskars X27, but our old school wedge from the 70's is still kicking and doing fine. Fantastic video, and I can see you lost your patience with it, too.

[@peter4363]

Get a file and shave it so its sharp?

[@vincentdeleonjr1039]

thank you for your patience

[@thangpham7129]

Subbed for the humor!

[@elizabethclaiborne6461]

Thank you! 66 yr old lady with an oak lying in my driveway. The chainsaw work was fun, (10” Black and Decker 20V cordless - I can handle it safely) but if I can split it folks will be delighted to take it away. Firewood is a commodity. Tree parts are trash. 🤔

[@papawd3991]

Thanks, great video, great perspective on everything. God bless this channel in a great & mighty way!

[@nhwnhw02]

I made some wedges out of a white oak limb. For the chain saw assist method they worked better than my metal splitting wedge. Eventually discovered that a 8 pound Fiskars splitting maul was best. Don't swing the Fiskars maul hard. Let the weight of the maul do the work. Hunt for an existing crack if possible. Keep hitting the round in a line going across the round. It always comes as a surprise when it starts splitting. The wooden wedges really work great on that first crack.

[@ronskancke1489]

Ive been splitting ash for30 years and have done plenty of it by hand and for darn sure i would put that wedge parallel with the growth rings and would follow that first split all the way around. I do occasionally use my saw to make a kerf and spit larger pieces. That depends entirely on what i see looking at me on the end of the log.

[@dancutter8197]

Good teaching, Great video. And now I can be a woodcutter like you! Because I am a dancutter.😊

[@dancutter8197]

😂

[@Buddha-of8fk]

I've used my Husqvarna axe a bit. As long as it small enough to put in the wood stove all is good.

[@mikeh8228]

Great humor, and I loved the vocal from 2001 Space Odessey! Once quartered, I put those pieces on my 5 ton HF electric and knock em out! HA HA

[@MaggieJJDT]

😂😂😂 “this is a tool and it’s in my hands “ love it

[@bb1040]

I have used my chainsaw to cut a cross deep enough to hold the wedge just like you did., and in a few of them , used the chainsaw to cut them in quarters then take them home and put them on the splitter. LOL

[@SirNickOfCymbals]

Love the video. Very humorous. Call me crazy, why would you continue to chop it with an hammer and wedge when you have a chainsaw?

[@jimstraightshooter163]

I do same thing but use 3 wedges. Doing 29 inch ash now.

[@catherinewhalen974]

This was really funny, but also good info. Like the John 3:16, too

[@ryannilsson7955]

Great video! Love the references to Christ. Would you say that the main use of the Estwing Sure Split Wedge is for large rounds? Is it worth it if you're not generally dealing with a lot of large rounds? I have an 8 pound maul but am looking for something easier for the stubborn logs.

[@RubberDuc]

Hi, I would say having one is a good idea (not sure it is the best choice out there though) just because if you are wanting to do it easier (albeit slower) it is a good option to have I would think, thanks for the comment.

[@ronskancke1489]

And in South Dakota if you wait for 10 degrees or less they really pop. Much easier.

[@roncar1761]

Until I have to cut down a few trees for safety. I am splitting free wood by hand. At 65.5yr I work smart with a maul, ax, sledgehammer, four wedges, and a chair! I stand when needed and sit when possible. Watching a video on how a large rock was split in half with multiple wedges/spikes "BC" and "AD" and I learn alot. Anything is possible when your approach it with the proper tools. 😁

[@ronmsharonm2708]

Thank you. Maybe you could incorporate your method with Jeff Greys method?? Hand split firewood the easy way

[@donwhitt9899]

I use a 20 pound maul wedge shaped splitter. Raise it above my head, let it drop, one whack does it.

[@lauraservey495]

My patience would have given way trying to get a second piece off. Koodos for effort.

[@Wootangtw]

Thanks buddy…

[@Thierry-ck3fp]

Will cool you share links of your cool tools you are using 😜

[@JimVincitore]

Great video! Very cool!

[@annaaron3510]

Noodle the beast.

[@CaptCanuck4444]

Use a larger/heavier sledgehammer?

[@RobEWilliamsSC]

Awesome video. What brand is your cant hook? I've not been able to find anything with a hook that long and have a bunch of fire wood rounds I need to move around from a tree we had taken down today.

[@markdworak2170]

You should put the mallet back in your shop and get a proper splitting maul. Two hands on a long handle gives you more force and control, and your face is farther away when a gnarly log spits the wedge back at you. Plus with a maul you can do a lot of splitting without using a wedge

[@scottbee501]

You could be me or I could be you. This is exactly what I do sort of and I’ve been put to the test by a big mean round. I start on the perimeter and work towards the center. I use my maul to make the quarter sections smaller. I’m 70 and this is my workout. About 8 oaks, ash and walnuts later and I have 3 oaks and a sassafras remaining. More firewood and more exercise.

[@davidsmith1913]

I like to flake about 6 in. In from the edge and work around it seems like when that first split done it you got that round beat it's pretty funny when these young generation get cocky and want to try show me up I let them go at it and when that wood is whooping their but step in and put a crack thru it with 1 swing and from it's 1swing 1split. I can do it all day I enjoy the work and am pretty conditioned to it

[@426superbee4]

I like the diamond wedge! Make these Gnarly logs easy to split! Then can finish up with the mauls > Most cases with in 3 hits, will split the log

[@brianczuhai8909]

YES! Concur!

[@force1253]

Try candle wax on wedge bit and the hammer side of a long handled maul. Or a 6 to 9 pound sledge.

[@OKOKOKOKOKOKOK-zn2fy]

A sharper wedge with more taper will not jump out once you set it. Use three wedges and exploit a line of weakness in the wood. Once you get the wedges set, you can have a 4# hammer in each hand. Having two hammers spreads the effort out in your body and balances the weight in your hands. If you only have one hammer, change hands before your hand gets tired; you can go all day. Painters do something similar so their hand doesn't cramp.

[@wollywolly2734]

That Ash round can be split in 1-2 minuets with a maul

[@bikerbeliever8169]

Jesus is always listening to every idle word. Amen.

[@TheYellowChev]

Bro is so wholesome

[@davidbolls4850]

Must have more than one wedge!

[@JS-me5iv]

100 years ago, people would just grab cut stumps like the one in this video and pull them apart with their bare hands...nowadays we just press a button and a machine does it...ahh they were the days

[@renlam2905]

100 years ago people used axes, wedges, hammers, and saws powered by steam, electric or gas just fine. So let's not make up fairy tales...

[@qstrian]

Thanks. I’ll leave ‘em on the wood pile.

[@Peekul1]

I used a chainsaw to get a starter crack and then would use two wedges on the same side. I use a 10 lb full sledge hammer and hit each one in rotation. When it opens up, then I use the third wedge and finish it. That's life though. You wedge along a bad path and then all three wedges are full sunk and not going anywhere 😂 Oh, man! My rounds are so big, I wedge them to rollable size and vertical split them to liftable size, and then put them on the super split for firewood size 😅

[@aaronross4743]

You might not have a broken axe handle but you about had a broken ankle😂😂😂

[@brianczuhai8909]

Others tips are: Get an additional Grenade wedge. It is plus (+) cone shaped but has a point to dig into the wood. I start > 6” in so you don’t just nibble off little bits at the end. Use 2 or 3 wedges. Do this SITTING DOWN. Grab a 2nd round or 5 G pail to sit on. RELAX! Stand and slam it each wedge home with a sledge hammer, if needed.

[@skoparweaver7692]

You can see the sun moving through the video that this log took him over 8 hours to split

[@RubberDuc]

Or maybe it isn't all in one take :)

[@mikemuenze5390]

I'm glad I'm not a weakling.

[@JustcallmeDebbieB]

At least I'm not the only one who got an ash whoopin!!!!

[@DaveJohnsonad5nm]

All that effort and all along the block was yelling turn me over.

[@dylanowens3173]

Don't need use a chainsaw to make groove for wedge to bite into wood. Grind or file the edge of the wedge. If in the field not close to a grinder wheel can use chainsaw file to sharper the edge. or use maul, axe then swing a Grove for wedge to bite into the wood.

[@ronaldshank7589]

You're quoting Scripture, and living for the Lord? Really? In that case-I'm only too HAPPY to subscribe! Great tutorial about how to use an easier method, when it comes to splitting big pieces of Wood like this. Also:When splitting these big ole chunks of Wood, I used to go straight to the center of the Wood. Ugh! Huge mistake! Like you, I've learned to split these big ole babies from the side, near the edge of the Wood, no more than two inches away from the edge of the Wood. Driving a wedge into the center of big pieces of wood like these, are time-consuming, and, when your wedge is buried in the center of the wood, and that was the only wedge that ya have on ya, yeah... that'll DEFINITELY make you want to backslide! Start at the edge of the wood, and you'll get better results.

[@papawd3991]

I was about to get off the hook…….😂 Great comment.

[@Thierry-ck3fp]

🎧🤪 🪵 🫶 Thank you so much for sharing 🙏 I wishing you a beautiful day to you and all your viewers. Much Love Thierry ❤️˘◡˘❤️

[@Andy-nv4ee]

What easier split a wood, dry or fresh cut?

[@mikeh8228]

Depends on the type of wood....real stringy, better split it green. Straight grained and not stringy, let it dry then split it.

[@williamli8708]

Love jesus

[@zaxmaxlax]

That mallet is probably lighter than the wedge, try a bigger one next time

[@jasonbroom7147]

But for the want of a 2nd wedge and a proper, 8lb sledge hammer.

[@paulhare662]

I engraved the name "Chuck Norris" on my wedge. Now I merely lay it on the log and the log splits itself.

[@robertsuter2474]

His guy has literally a dozen wood wedges hes made,never mind,if ya need more than two tools to make fire wood hit me up.

[@kurtmanshardt9825]

I just caught the drift in your video. How you exhaled Jesus unless? I misunderstanding something you know Jesus is your savior praise the Lord. I just subscribed to your channel. By the way, what type of logs blurs that I'm pretty sure it's mechanical. It's not hydraulic if you don't mind me. Asking, how much did you pay for my like to get that type of thing? If it's not an arm and a leg.😊

[@pujabelgian]

I can't believe how many instructionals there are about splitting wood! This is what men used to do before KZbin neutered them.

[@michaelkearney5562]

That did not work out the way that the heading suggested that it would.

[@williamsherry5009]

Whats the weight on that sledge?

[@hacksaw149]

It looks like a 3lb. drilling hammer.

[@michaelcollins1899]

5 lb hammer in the lake.....hit it with a man's 8 or 16 lb maul. They will be apart in a few licks of the wedges. Also, it's a lot easier with 2 to 3 wedges per line!!! Hit 1, then next o e, and on down line. Keep em working in even. On those small 24 inch rounds 2 wedges is all u need, when it gets to 3o and larger, use 3 wedges. U will find it works a lot better. Oh and hit it with a maul!!!

[@RubberDuc]

You have to read the title of the video, weaklings can't swing that stuff haha

[@JustcallmeDebbieB]

No wedge, just chisels. All sunk in with no split. Now what???? Also ash!

[@frankhiggins9850]

Use a bigger sledgehammer.Let the sledge do the work not your shoulders

[@stevenbp101]

Stay close to Jesus and God bless you.

[@mikejohnson7380]

Use 10 lbs sledgehammer instead ff that little thing and you will be able split in half with a blow or two ... that's how I do it

[@guymcelwee3489]

Could just roll the log on its side and RIP cut it into firewood.

[@kurtmanshardt9825]

That should have read how you exalt Jesus

[@tomcranks]

Bigger hammer.

[@zachmiller5599]

If you hit the crrack, she will split

[@jaymass1178]

10 lb sledge would speed things up.

[@426superbee4]

Get a long handle sledge hammer. The forces works with you better

[@rogerbrown91]

I thinking little more hammer could help

[@petersymons7817]

Yes he died for us, but the father hears the prayers PS 65:2. 😮

[@kurtmanshardt9825]

Useless I didn't say the computer added that.

[@robetborsalinobuilder299]

Waauuu

[@makincash3337]

I use up to three wedges on big rounds

[@DJNitreBlue]

Why’s it got to be weaklings? It can’t be people with upper extremity disabilities? You know, old retired sailor with wrecked shoulders and back?

[@Trackhoe075]

Next time instead of trying to be funny just use multiple wedges By the way I have the same super splitter with the Honda engine great splitter if you wanna go that way

[@MalsMan2000]

You cheated bro

[@jonniekellogg3407]

Hit it with your purse Alice!!!!

[@RubberDuc]

LOL

[@indrekkpringi]

I am sick and tired of you guys using softwood for your demonstrations. You try using a wedge with the hardwood in my area; you will get NOWHERE. ONLY BY USING A SHARP NARROW AXE with A 7 LB SLEDGE HAMMER WITH A 3FT HANDLE can I even START to get a crack in the logs I split

[@masonparsaye2708]

What’s all these Jesus crap.

[@billargueta5458]

Its the same God on American currency and in the pledge of allegiance.

[@GVH1305]

Masonparsay haha. I was wondering what all the praise the lord stuff was doing in this comment section?? Maybe he kept saying Jesus cuz he was tired??? Lol

[@mikeh8228]

nother atheist heard from