Log Splitting Wedges - Using and Maintaining (Tool Tip #7)

In this video we look at splitting wedges - a simple tool used in processing firewood, but one that needs some technique and maintenance
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[@PatrickWagz]

Good tips. I've chosen to paint my wedges, too. But, I picked bright yellow. Makes them a little easier to find when they're laying about in the sawdust, bark, wood chips, etc.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's a great idea 🙂

[@RussellTurner]

Missed you guys.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you!

[@willcarmack1242]

Love your channel..Old-school technology and techniques....Thank you for keeping the art/craftsmanship alive and well. We are lucky to have a top notch instructional resource such as yourself...Many thanks and always looking forward to your wealth of knowledge... Brother....I recognize it... Respect it and greatly appreciate your time and knowledge... dedication...It inspires and gives me hope ...Godspeed to you and your family.....Much Respect from St Petersburg Florida ....

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks so much Will - really appreciate it

[@pocobuen]

just in time mate, we're heading into winter in Aussie - much obliged

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We've just bought an 11 ton vertical splitter but there is still a place for wedge splitting!

[@adumsey1164]

I would love to see useful hints and tips for collecting, splitting and storing logs. Thank you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I was thinking of doing a short series on tools and techniques of timber handling

[@adumsey1164]

Excellent idea, @@EnglishCountryLife, thank you. Will be very useful as more people move to heating with wood to avoid spiralling oil costs

[@markalpha73]

@@EnglishCountryLife Please do!

[@debruin14]

This was very helpful. Got some rounds about 3 ft across and couldn't get through them with the maul today. Time to get a few wedges!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Definitely - they are old school, but they work!

[@antonyharper6738]

Great, versatile channel!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks so much Antony - if it's simple self reliance, we like it!

[@sitkatreeservices9055]

12 seconds in and im already raising a dram "My Man! Gonna be a good one!" 👌

[@sitkatreeservices9055]

Great video as always. I on occasion toss mine I to a drum of bar oil (chainsaw oil) so the oil gets right into the pours. Same with out wooden felling wedges to let the wood soak up the oil and stay hydrated

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Slainte!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's a good idea!

[@sitkatreeservices9055]

@@EnglishCountryLife meant to ask where the splitting mail was from? Has an interesting profile. Granfors? 🤔

[@seanmckeown6120]

Excellent video i so enjoy these "how to" guides Hugh

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Sean, that's very kind!

[@simonkenton5927]

Sweet great tips

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Simon!

[@Nathan-H]

Thanks. I've learnt something I'd like to see what you do to dry out your wood and keep it dry

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I plan a series on timber tools and firewood preparation

[@bgtrev]

Good tips and pointers regarding wedges, informative and enjoyable video, thanks again.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Cheers Trev!

[@danielwilson5102]

I have found through personal experience that you have a better chance of splitting the maul if you strike the edge of the log, failing that I use a series of blows to form a line all the way across the log which works 9 times out of 10 for me. For really knotty pieces of wood I tend to use a chainsaw to turn it into burnable sized pieces. It is less physical effort than beating the wedges for any amount of time.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Knocking the edges off is definitely a viable technique. I also find if I can split a large round in half then splitting the halves into wedges with the maul is much easier. Totally agree on chainsawing knotty crowns etc.

[@seamuskelly8612]

Hi guys .. How do you sharpen all your high speed steel drill bits ??? . Great video by the way. 👍👍👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I do have an electric drill bit sharpener

[@johnruckman2320]

What is the profile at the top of the wedge, flat or slightly rounded? I had the mushroom cut off on a couple of them I got at a yard sale. Was using one to try to crack a knot and seen a piece fly off the head. So it needs further dressing down. I've never done that before.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Can be scary when a piece of metal flies off can't it? I keep mine slightly rounded on top as I find a sharp corner peens and cracks more easily when struck

[@johngorentz6409]

Be careful about doubling up those wedges. It's less likely when you whack both wedges with each blow of the sledge hammer, but thanks to the low friction of wedge against wedge you can end up with a spectacular flying wedge that pops out of the split at high speed. You would not want your jaw or brain to be in the path.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@johngorentz6409 Interesting, I guess it's possible but it's never happened in 50 years of splitting wood

[@johngorentz6409]

@@EnglishCountryLife I didn't do any serious woodsplitting until about 45 years ago, after which we heated our house mostly with wood for the next 30 years. It's been over 3 years since I last did any splitting, and maybe I had forgotten my old lessons but it happened again. But in thinking harder about it, it gets really likely when you try to put 3 wedges together. The middle one has low friction on each side, and is the one that tries to reach low earth orbit. I'm not going to swear it can happen with just two wedges.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@johngorentz6409 I generally avoid 3 - if two don't work the grain is funky!