Slide hammer wood splitter vs axe vs maul

[@rawbacon]

Worked better than I thought and since I have both back and shoulder problems it might be okay but I really think it needs handles on the sides like a T-Post Driver.........Good Demonstration!

[@BuildALotAcres]

Thank you 🙏

[@buckinfirewood]

Your getting pretty good at reviewing.. great to hear an honest opinion instead of a comercial... great job

[@BuildALotAcres]

Thanks man. Appreciate that. I’m glad you found it a good watch :)

[@jackstone4291]

That great big Fiskars mail splitter et the end is a fave of mine too - keeps you strong and gets through those rounds like a monster bite

[@BuildALotAcres]

Absolutely

[@Pennies_on_the_dollar]

Really enjoyed seeing the comparison of all three! Seems as though the slide would be really tuff on your joints! Maybe some poplar or something if needed in a bind, but hard to beat the tried and true methods of wood splitting! Excellent video my friend, I love the wood cages with the tops on them, had to say that again!! Thank you for bringing us along, look forward to more sir!! 👌👍😁

[@BuildALotAcres]

Thanks Nelson. Glad you enjoyed it sir. I have to catch up on all my friends videos.

[@Pennies_on_the_dollar]

@@BuildALotAcres Yes sir always, and I did!! No worries over my way my friend, keeping up can get busy to say the least to keep up with 🤣🤣 We all do what we can for sure, and I REALLY appreciate it anytime sir!! Stay warm my friend!

[@PaleHorseOutdoors]

My impressions are that it works in a pinch, but that's a lot of work for those rounds. I have much smaller diameter Fir and Alder that it would maybe work faster on. My Fiskars axe does a good job on those. Nice video, Case. Thanks for sharing buddy.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Agreed. It is a neat style of splitter, but not my preferred hand splitter. Thanks for watching friend!

[@jackstone4291]

Yes indeed to a Fiskars X27 splitting axe. Done (although is a good place for those shaft pole splitters too) ….

[@JustCaidsDayFarm]

The sliding splitter is a cool concept, but it looked like it took more hits to get a split. When splitting by hand I'm a maul guy. Nice video and a very good test on some big rounds.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Thank you sir. I agree with your thoughts. It's a neat tool. Figured it would be interesting to see them compared. Glad you enjoyed and thanks for commenting :)

[@GardenTractorBoy]

It looked like the slide hammer needed more weight and I liked the precision. We have retired our manual solutions a few years back but they are great in an emergency. Thanks for a great video comparing these tools

[@BuildALotAcres]

I agree Joseph. It'd be cool to see a sliding tool with a bigger and heavier head to compare. Most of the ones I see are small and slender like this one. As always thanks for watching and commenting good sir. Looking forward to your new Wednesday series!

[@jakebredthauer5100]

@@BuildALotAcres I don't know if there are any on the market that are properly engineered. If you could do one then you would be ready to build them if they became a high demand item. Vvv. Obviously it needs to be heavier. Obviously it needs a longer stroke on it so you don't hit the top all the time. It could have two handles a foot or two apart. I don't know if a silencer could be incorporated. The operator probably needs hearing protection. The weight of the driver and the weight of the wedge may need to be exactly the same. I don't know. I'm thinking of pool balls that hit each other. I don't know if a sledgehammer and a wedge are the same weight. There is a disparity of weight between a nail and a hammer, but the smaller hammers work better on the smaller nails. The impact of a post driver is inside the tube so that may make it quieter but they are not quiet. You don't need to be bending your knees. That is a waste of calories. I think you were trying to compensate for the inadequacy of the tool. The shock on a person's hands could be reduced by having a loose grip at the moment of impact on a properly engineered device. Wooden handles are a possibility. Pipe insulation foam maybe a good cover for the handles to reduce shock. The shape of the wedge may not have been correct. It operates similar to a manual steel T post driver. I don't know whether anyone has put much engineering into them. It would be interesting to see the results. No doubt various ones are adapted to various woods and various people. A safety concern for an ax is if someone is standing behind you.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@jakebredthauer5100 Good points. I agree on most all of them. There is another brand called Splitz-All. The have a few models ranging from about $360US up to over $500US. Too expensive for what it is imo. I agree someone could design and make one that works considerably better than the HF one I purchased. I actually have a table top kindling slide splitter with base I drew up last year but never built. Thanks for commenting👍

[@donmoore7785]

Nice comparison. I have a 30 year old maul, and recently one of the wedges fell out that hold the head on. I know know to stick with a maul if I need a replacement.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Thank you sir 👍

[@AdventuresAtHome1]

Hey Case, Good video! I have a manual sliding wood splitter. It's called a Splitz-All. It's made in USA and it weighs 30 lbs. One of my early videos was on it. It does a nice job on large rounds; however, it will wear you out quickly, unless you are in great shape. I bought this splitter before I bought my gas powered splitter. Now I just use it to noodle away the large rounds to lift onto the gas powered log splitter. Have a great day! Tom @ Adventures at Home

[@BuildALotAcres]

I’ll have to check that out. Is that the one that’s shaped more like a diamond?

[@jakebredthauer5100]

@@BuildALotAcres He sounds like a satisfied user.

[@BluegrassStoic]

wonderful review thank you!

[@BuildALotAcres]

Thank you! 🙏

[@bbo40]

I have a slide splitter and use it. Nice for camping because it is compact; but doing more than a few pieces of wood or too big of a log is out of the question for me. It takes too much out of me, but for a few logs for a night fire its okay.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Yeah, I agree. It’s ok for certain tasks, but in general I prefer a traditional splitting tool

[@thomaswinslow1542]

the manual sliding wood splitter is a decent tool if your just splitting some wood for a camp fire. I split a small 5' truck bed full of wood with one. For the money it is a good tool. I wouldn't want to use it to split enough wood to heat my house. I suppose in a pinch you could use it if you have very little money. I just don't need to split a lot of wood. Just enough to feed a camp fire over the summer and that is it. It saves money because people get rid of trees all the time around where i live and just give it away. I just split it in my free time and stacked it up.

[@noelstractors-firewood57]

Quite a workout using that. Or any manual splitting. Your in good shape to do that. I’d be done in. Great tool for smaller and shorter wood. Has its place same as any tool. I use a 5 ton electric splitter. Works great for me and my hardwoods.

[@BuildALotAcres]

A small electric sounds like a great solution. I agree its ok for certain woods and certain people, but certainly not for everyone or for every piece of wood. Thanks for commenting Noel. Appreciate you consistently coming back friend!

[@eeassa]

I have all 3 and use them depending on the task.

[@OrangeismyNewGreen]

No matter which one you pick all of them will give you a good workout 😳🪓😂 but I would prefer the maul axe. Thanks for the comparison Case 👍🏻. Have a great week 🙂🙋🏼‍♂️👍🏻

[@BuildALotAcres]

I believe you are correct :) Thanks Luc

[@dsbennett]

Try locating the wedge 2" from the edge with the blade parallel with the edge instead of putting it in the center. Best way to split large rounds.

[@BuildALotAcres]

I did edge splitting in the video

[@donmoore7785]

He did that!

[@H2B]

WOW! Love it man. Just Amazing one ....

[@BuildALotAcres]

Thanks for watching 🙏

[@BTBSean0]

As an Australian, I chuckle when you guys talk, "Hard Wood" lol you kids don't have hard wood dude

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@BTBSean0 Not compared to your stuff 👍

[@MySliceOfHeavenoutdoors]

That sliding splitter will give you a workout. It could come in handy if you needed a wedge.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Yes it does. Rattles you like nothing else. Lol

[@jakebredthauer5100]

@@BuildALotAcres It could have short springs incorporated into the handles.

[@stephaniegoggin7952]

Cool video

[@BuildALotAcres]

Thanks Steph!

[@waynejohnson9855]

Are you using the x25? I have the x27 and the iso core maul but seldom use the maul if I can’t split with the x27 it either goes to the saw or splitter.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Yes it is the X25. A little shorter than the 27

[@Fldavestone]

My system is a cheap axe with small sledge,or wedge and small sledge.Sometimes the maul but it is just too wide at the blade.I need to grind it down.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Sounds like a good system sir 👍

[@OutdoorsintheLowCountries]

Great video! I think I would prefer an axe or maul as well. Still in good shape I see. :-) Especially for cross linked wood that is difficult to split, I tend to use a splitting wedge. What is your experience about that?

[@BuildALotAcres]

I use steel wedges quite a bit for big rounds. Since I’ve built the SuperSplitter log lift, I use them not as much

[@426superbee4]

I don't care for hammering on wedges. Metal pieces start flying! Like a dam bullet if it hits ya. It needs a longer cylinder to get more downward thrust> When you maul bounce back out at ya. Mean ITS TO BLUNT or DULL > need to sharpen it down. When you get it to penetrate. IT WILL BUST OPEN

[@BuildALotAcres]

I think the design of the HF sliding splitter could definitely use some improvements. A longer stroke as you said, and a heavier "hammer" as well.

[@426superbee4]

@@BuildALotAcres Its seem like the heaver mauls has a shorter handle IDK why? they do that for? 8 lbs. and more needs longer handles 42" where you can grab it and let slide going down in your hand with the thrust. Every time a swing a 8 lbs. maul > my hands are at the very end of it. If i had that extra handle i can give it more thrust

[@katiespeckman2061]

Would this work on hard walnut?

[@BuildALotAcres]

I haven't tried personally, but I assume it would.

[@dave_arthur]

Nothing in this video beats the 8 lb. fiskars maul for efficiency and clean splits...Never start in the middle unless you are using a hydraulic or powered splitter, you'll be spent in no time. I split about 4 cords a year with the 8 lb. maul, it is the best designed maul out there

[@BuildALotAcres]

I agree, the Isocore is the best splitter of the bunch.

[@dave_arthur]

@@BuildALotAcresAlso, a lot of people don't even know that you can flip the log over if it doesn't want to get started, wood likes to be worked one way more than another a lot of times, just like hand planing

[@jhosford4]

Honestly, cut off the handle and grab a sledge. I think it would work better as a splitting wedge. More power behind the sledge

[@BuildALotAcres]

Yeah. I wasn’t too impressed either. It’s a neat tool, but definitely wouldn’t be my choice. Thanks for watching and commenting

[@brownbear7869]

The mule it's the champ 😎🪵💪

[@BuildALotAcres]

Big wood…big splitters 👍

[@waynefoulds1973]

I'll stick to my small electric one

[@im-that-guy-pal]

A slide with more mass would help driving it in deeper.... giggity.

[@BuildALotAcres]

It’s definitely too light. I think the head shape could also use improvement

[@ANismo82]

I wonder how it would work to break the bead on a tire.

[@BuildALotAcres]

I'm not sure 🤔

[@jackstone4291]

Should have placed it nearer the edge though right…. Near that outer split part already … hmmm

[@kevinyonke6773]

What a joke. The amount of energy used to do what one swing of the maul. Precision, if your worth a grain of salt you can hit exactly where you want with a maul. Re invent and market. If it ain't broke don't fix it. He sure makes short work with the maul. Love the video

[@BuildALotAcres]

The slide hammer definitely wouldn’t be my first choice

[@wolf-ls7jx]

Your hands are gonna hurt from the slide hammer. I did about 5 20" tall pieces and my hands were shaking from the impact. I can split with a maul all afternoon.

[@BuildALotAcres]

I agree. I could see getting a lot of blisters after using this tool for awhile as well. Thanks for commenting 🙏

[@Sailor376also]

Your qualifications for doing the video were evident in the back ground. The sliding tool will kill you. Too many blows for even the simple stuff. It works,, yes, but how many times do you have to work it. It is a short stroke, especially as compared to a full swing of an axe. Its benefit is accuracy. You can place the point exactly in the crack. You'll appreciate this,,, I taught my son how to split wood. And I. being a lazy sot, knew that accuracy of where the blow fell was of prime importance. I put a dime on a crack and told him to hit the dime,, with the 6 pound maul. The little rat fink did !!, bent the dime to 90 degrees. AND, the log split easily because he hit the crack spot on. Lessons over. Lets get to work. He lasted about 15 minutes that first time. He was only about 10. He and I made quite the team over the next few years.

[@426superbee4]

I just not a woodpecker I hate picking at wood. Maul is 1 swing most of the time. Truthfully a 8 lbs. and 10 lbs. mauls is for a big short man. The handles are not long enough for me to use my body on the swing. I like the 6 lbs. better than the 4 pound > I use the 6 the most. More easy to control. Plus i can use my body better on the downward swing. Use what fit YOU!

[@BuildALotAcres]

Depending on the species of wood and the length of the rounds, one hit splits are not always feasible. I agree longer handles suit most people better. Head weights are a personal preference in my opinion.

[@musiclaw1486]

HF's Slide Hammer was far too abrupt for me. Too much direct repetitive metal to meal impact. My best results after years of splitting lots of Oak, Eucalyptus, Pine, and much more have been from using Fiskars' IsoCore units: 1) Fiskars IsoCore X27 36 Inch approx 6lb Super Splitting Axe, 2) Fiskars' IsoCore 36 Inch 8lb Maul, 3) Fiskars PRO IsoCore 10 lb Sledge Hammer, 36 Inch, and 4) Fiskars IsoCore 4 Pound Club Hammer 14 Inch, plus several steel Wedges, as needed. Your vid comparing the 36" Maul to a shorted Fiskar's splitting axe (was it the X25?) is not even close to an even match! The longer 36" X27 Splitting Axe would have been a better match up. I have yet to find anything impervious to the 36" Maul or X27 36" Speed Axe. If those won't do the job, a wedge or two set with the 4 Pound IsoCore Hammer then driven with the 36" IsoCore 10 Lb Sledge or the 8 lb Mauls Flat sledge head always gets the job done with a pleasant sense of satisfaction! The IsoCore system handles do a great job significantly reducing most of the impact vibration. The Fiskar products are all I use now and they're doing the job!

[@BuildALotAcres]

Fiskars does make some nice tools. I have the X25 axe, the Isocore maul, and the hatchet, along with a bunch of other non splitting tools from them. I did a video on it a while back. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaaskpimm76Xp6s

[@musiclaw1486]

@@BuildALotAcres Just watched your other Fiskars vid. Thanks for the link. I concur that the 32" X27 is tied with their 36" Maul as my two favorites. Also see (if you've not already) this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2fGY3qka9KWaMU for a wider range of the Fiskar units.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@musiclaw1486 Yes sir. Chris and Tony both have great channels. I wouldn’t mind trying a x27. I just don’t want to spend the 70 bucks. Lol

[@musiclaw1486]

@@BuildALotAcres I was quite surprised how significantly more effective the X27's length was over the X25. At 6' tall swinging the X25 I found to be a limiting factor.

[@perryjacobs4093]

No thank you they can keep that thing I’ll keep my splitting maul it’s a whole lot less work.

[@FabbedFun]

Meh... I don't like the motion and force/impact angles. I have a feeling using it for a long period would give the user much more pain. At the end of the day, the user looks MUCH LESS MACHO using that vs an axe or similar splitter LOL.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Lol. It definitely doesn’t feel good on the joints. Can’t imagine using it all day. Thanks for watching and commenting Logan!

[@FabbedFun]

@@BuildALotAcres We're getting to the age where we have to consider what repetitive motions we make or we'll be less functional the next day. Take care!

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@FabbedFun yes sir. All that laughing we did at the older folks as kids isn’t so funny anymore

[@escapetherace1943]

fiskars trash.... ugh... but good vid

[@BuildALotAcres]

Thank you 🙏 I understand what you’re saying. Fiskars have a cheap plasticy feel to them. If I’m honest, they seem a bit over rated.

[@escapetherace1943]

@@BuildALotAcres they are and their steel is soft. Personally with an axe I don't really care if the steel is a bit soft but the fiskars can break and if they do they can't be re-handled. People say that's ok because "lifetime warranty" but I think that doesn't do you good if you're already in the woods and it certainly just adds to the landfill. God bless.

[@MarcioDascal]

Quero ver cortar angico seco. Jamais