Splitting Big Rounds By Hand - Splitting Maul vs Log Splitter vs Chainsaw

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Here is a video showing how we cut up this tree and brought these large logs up to our firewood processing area kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpPCYoawnNSMjrc Thanks for watching and check out our other John Deere 2038R compact tractor videos at kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWrGlHaofremnbs And subscribe to our channel at kzbin.info Buy me a coffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/rockhillfarm Thanks for watching

[@True-crime-junkie]

well done. I split all my wood by hand, 16lb sledge, wedges and 80 year old axe that has been handed down 3 generations. I collect large rounds from people who want them out from fallen trees. the biggest I deal with is about 32" because at 55 thats about as big I can get into the back of my pick up....by hand. I stack on on the other and roll it in to the truck. Like my daddy, I never stepped foot into a gym, but always work hard. I always wedge from the edge, never in the middle. I found the chainsaw is useful when cutting around the large knots like you did on that one. thanks for posting I got some tips that will be helpful. I have never swung a sledge on my knees...

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for watching and for sharing your story.

[@InspiredCraftsman]

16lb? Nice! I'm sure you have a good handshake, and getting rounds that large into a pickup is very impressive. I enjoy splitting wood by hand but only swing a 10 or 12lb sledge

[@howtogetoutofbabylon8978]

Agreed. Kneeling while using the sledge is not the way to do it; to much wasted energy because it is so inefficient. Using lots of power to get it up in the air, then not taking advantage of gravity and the massive amount of force generated in that downward motion.

[@swimbikestumble]

This video covered ALL of the questions I had about how to take care of some big rounds. As someone who has constant FOMO, thank you for helping me make the choice that works for me.

[@carle5538]

That was a lot of fun watching your video. It does look like a lot of work, but it is satisfying, especially when the wood is burning in the fireplace. Thank you.

[@gregmerckx8557]

Nice demo of different methods. I’m 47 and still do all my splitting by hand - 5+ cord/yr. I’m thankful I can still do that. biggest thing I’ve encountered has been a 40something inch hard maple. It was huge. The homeowner was offering a couple hundred for someone to get it and I realized why when I saw it. I was able to split like 3 pieces using wedges and a maul. But I got a lot of splits from those monster rounds. Fun stuff and satisfying. Earns a hearty serving of meat and potatoes!

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Yes sir. Thanks for watching

[@waynejohnson9855]

I just use the saw to split them down if I can’t split them by hand. It’s a lot easier than wedges. I use a fiskars x27 as I find I can split anything with it that a maul can split.

[@kimberlybrown4284]

Thank you! I can't wait to get out and start splitting some pieces from a tree more than a hundred years old. Diameter over 30".

[@walterforstbauer774]

Ouch... I felt the large amount of energy you expended splitting those large rounds with a splitting maul. Well done and I'm happy it wasn't me swinging that sledge hammer... been there and done that and ready to quit firewood making forever. The large Douglas fir rounds I split here is done by using my log splitter with the aid of a peavy and 6 foot crowbar to maneuver the log into position. Unlike Oak the Douglas Fir large logs usually still splits across the radius of the log . In my experience the Log splitter is much easier, safer and faster then using a splitting wedge.

[@kenweis7913]

That maul is awesome....very very perfect

[@khtractors]

You can get lots of wood from those big blocks but shew it’s a job! I guess I’ve split more wood by hand then I have with a splitter. Back in my high school days and early 20’s I cut a lot of wood before we ever got a splitter. Good exercise for sure!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

There's so much great firewood in each piece! But that's a lot of work-per-piece! Nice job.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks

[@ДмитрийШепелев-у7н]

Love it! Got the original, saw how small it was, returned it for the XL. It splits my ~7x16" firewood into smallwood and kindling in a flash. kzbin.infoUgkxSRemO77LrM90rx_It_Wh6ZnKAS0H2A8t Good for debarking too. It's so fun I now have too much kindling and have to fight the urge to split the big pieces. I usually split dried cedar, but I've split dried oak too. The edge on mine has stayed razor sharp. I mounted it on a couple pieces of pressure treated 4x4 to hold it steady and quiet the ringing. Several reviews and videos show people having trouble keeping the wood straight. How do I put this gently?... You have to be smarter than the wood. Don't try to split knots, or badly curved grain. And hold the wood (with leather gloves) and tap it once to set it on the blade before giving it a good whack. And you have to know how to swing a hammer. If you don't know what wood grain or knots are, and you can't swing a hammer without hitting yourself or things around you, I suggest buying firewood and kindling pre-split. But if you're smarter than a log, this beautiful tool will make splitting firewood into kindling safer, faster and way more funner! I highly recommend it, and get the XL.

[@walterheublein5848]

That is doing it the hard way.

[@carsilk2492]

While I always appreciate the practicality of splitting wood, I don’t know why the hell ive been watching these videos for an hour

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I spend a lot of time watching other people cut firewood or brush hog a field or whatever. I find it Relaxing

[@JBplumbing12]

@@RockhillfarmYT Yes, we learn from each other. Here in Australia I'm learning from American brothers. Thank you for your suggestions.

[@ronthompson2421]

Good video guys splitter beats them all for sure and for certain, Those big limb knots I just saw them through, best way I found to deal with them and crotch pieces too.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Cut them in half and then use the splitter is what I usually do Thanks for watching

[@HomeWithTheBuffingtons]

That looks like a brutal demonstration of different methods! hahaha

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I had a good time

[@terryluebbe2560]

Thanks for sharing, Brock. I am have quite a few 30-48" wheels of oak to split in the near future, so it was very timely. Based on how hard you breathed during the various techniques, I plan to start with my log splitter, but I'll try a few swings with a splitting maul, too.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for watching.

[@guymcelwee3489]

Roll the log on its side and cut down through the wood. It will shoot out long slivers of wood or some people call noodles. Makes alot of fire starters quick.

[@HardyBrothersOutdoors]

Brock you are wearing me out watching this. You need to let the young buck swing the maul and sledge... you demonstrate then supervise. Haha. Nicely done. I’ve got a bunch of large maple rounds and they are too wet to split.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I could use a little more of this kind of work

[@HardyBrothersOutdoors]

@@RockhillfarmYT lol you and me both brother.

[@jamesmiller7283]

Slice em down th middle with your saw

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve actually been using that method more lately especially since I’ve got some bigger saws now

[@StoreyBen]

How long do you wait before splitting the rounds? I've got some but they are very wet and don't split easily at all. Should I let them dry out a bit as full rounds before trying to split?

[@sophierowe4632]

Also interested to know about this

[@andrewroberts3152]

I have that same maul. Been swinging it hard for 6 years.

[@thomasjeffersonjones]

I saw my large rounds into quarters with my chain saw lying the round on its side thereby cutting with the grain . This method produces wood shavings, not saw dust. I use the shavings in my chicken coup and for mulching. A few large rounds will give you a 30 gal. garbage can full of the wood shavings. After you cut the rounds into quarters, it becomes easy to split the quarters.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for sharing

[@michaelcollins1899]

Dad always said firewood fits in stove a lot easier when split by hand🤣🤣🤣 when u have a log splitter, u will split pcs a lot smaller lol. When u are swing a maul, u will make it small enough to fit in door and that all. On subject of large??? We just split 38 inch white oak Saturday on our splitter

[@426superbee4]

I'am 70! I bust up 4 or 5 rounds of 33" 17" log red oak logs. Finish them up on my electric 6 ton log splitter. That a days work for me It take me a day or 2, to cut down a tree and get it sawed up

[@larrywheaton7037]

This works real well for me . Bury the mall , then use your sledge hammer to drive the mall on home .

[@leebaker2588]

You make house calls . . . Longmont, Colorado?? . . . great job!

[@bopitbull3957]

Thank you

[@rogerknights857]

I’ve read that it’s better to set the round atop another round, to reduce “give” in what you’re splitting and to reduce the chance of hitting your shins with your axe or sledgehammer if you miss your target.

[@FloridaDeere]

I love doing the splitting by hand, I guess I just like the old-fashioned way, but of course, here in Florida, I don't do a lot of splitting, just when I take a tree down or God does during a hurricane and then give it away usually, you'd might be surprised how many people like having fires in Florida. I will say that log splitter looked like it was making easy work of the big logs.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I was surprised how well that home owner grade log splitter did on those larger rounds

[@FloridaDeere]

@@RockhillfarmYT well, it almost looked like you had some really dry and easy to split wood, but it looked like it handled it fine. Still watching your video, the work is taking it's toll on you, that was some serious work;-)

[@AdventuresAtHome1]

Hey Brock, You may want to check out the Splitz-All. It’s made in USA! This is a manual, slide-hammer log-splitter. I have been splitting my large rounds with this, since they are too heavy to lift onto the gas powered log-splitter. I have a video of it at my channel, “Adventures at Home”. I liked and subscribed!

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I will check out the tool and your channel. thanks for watching

[@jalton9416]

Good video. I plan to use your methods to get large pecan rounds that no body wants.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for watching

[@MySliceOfHeavenoutdoors]

that was some big knarley rounds

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Yes they were Thanks for watching

[@brianczuhai8909]

There needs to be more videos on dealing with problem wood. The dense wood that you can’t split or wedge, like tree crotches. I found if I cut into it 4 inches then I can wedge it to split. The question is it worth the time and effort to deal with these pieces? Or should we leave them? Why does our ego get in the way?

[@brianczuhai8909]

@@tjhughes7740 Yes to you. Just interested in what others are doing. We all have those. Just chain saw them is the best remedy? I have some right now since I'm low on wood. Just don't see it talked about much on the videos.

[@ShevillMathers]

You have chain saw chaps on but no face/eye/ear protection that I can see. Using steel on steel in high impacts as seen can so easily chip off a very small steel splinter that can penetrate an eyeball with speed & ease. Same applies to hard dry wood. Only got two eyes. Kneeling down hitting steel wedges means you have lost the ability to hop out of the way fast when a miss-hit slides the sledge hammer towards your knees. Having spent time working in A&E, these are some of the typical injuries one sees in outpatients. Demonstrating on KZbin is great, but many viewers will not have your experience-keep safety in mind to teach others will, I am sure, be much appreciated.

[@harrysimpsonimages]

so which was best??

[@jackmcjunkin338]

On big huge rounds I tend to just noodle cut them in 3 pcs and just split them by hand Ive found it faster compared to getting them on the splitter

[@andrewrunnion3557]

A little easier once you get the rounds cut to find the heart crack take the chainsaw and cut a grove to start a wedge. Also have a few wood wedges of different sizes and a few steel ones. Once split in half then have fun. Oh I am out of shape too.

[@rodneyscrivner2504]

I am tired already watching you use the wedge... lol, Nice Video.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

It was a workout, but I could use a little more exercise Thanks for watching

[@marcshields3677]

That wood splits so easily

[@banjo8537]

On the real tough rounds, use your chain saw to cut in a slot for the steel wedge. Get a bigger maul and learn how to use it without tearing yourself up.

[@stevedeweysmith]

I'd vote for the log splitter, unless you just want to get your exercise via the wedge/sledge hammer method. :)

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Definitely a work out

[@jonathanweiner1002]

Definitely try to use the grain to your advantage, not just random scoring with the chainsaw. Then with the defined grain grooved, use 2 wedges, one on either side of the log. It will make it a bit easier, or a lot easier if lucky. I have split large rounds with 3-5 hits to each wedge.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for sharing. I made a few made it hard on Myself in this video

[@jamescochran8509]

Don’t cut end grain turn it and cut from bark side,you will see a big difference in chips,cut half way threw or so then drive in wedge to split,only make pieces as long as saw bar.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for the tips

[@stihlnz]

Great advice. I'm surprised how many people don't know this. Put a ring on its edge and cut along the grain in 1/2, 1/4's, 1/8, or more with your power saw. Your saw is twice as fast ..see the big long chips. Then when you have it in liftable pieces put it on the splitter. When you're young you can lift the rings. Then you get a hernia as you get older ... how did that happen ? On big old man pines I cut 7-8' through, its like a big O and crosses # . as I cut through the base.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for sharing

[@JoostMoesker]

this is the way

[@JoostMoesker]

and buy a fiskar :)

[@smith45acp]

5:32 tighten up Good work

[@chanceholland959]

I just usually use my 271 chainsaw and splitting the big rounds and that works alot better for me

[@michaelcollins1899]

Son in law is like most ppl these days.....spends bucks on work clothes to look good standing back watching u work

[@PinkslipDaddy]

Splitting it by hand is why I now complain about working with lazy people, now I end up with joint stiffness after working with lazy people and listening to them complain about it being too much work, if I wanted to I probably could of joined the Football team in school from it, I've been helping my Grandpa split wood by hand since I was 14 years old, it might of only been one weekend per month, but still, he got a cord of wood split by himself by hand, it takes a while, but for a 75 year old man to split a cord of wood by hand I found rather impressive as a Teenager. nice video though, My Grandpa had a bigger splitting maul than you though, Grandpa had a Wedge Sledge.

[@KuanTii]

Great video, I have to admit never seen anyone hammer splitting wedges on his knees. i would think that is why you got so tired.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Seems like the wedges were trying to bounce out when I swung it harder so I was limiting my swings in that way and also landing them cleaner

[@KuanTii]

Try standing and let gravity take the hammer down.

[@308dad8]

What this video showed me is I was right. If you can’t shell out $1000 plus for what you consider a “small homeowner low end splitter” your words not mine, then better use a wedge. Powder wedges don’t seem to be made anymore but weren’t exactly a safe method of doing it either.

[@justsmitty1709]

I hardly ever use a sledgehammer on my wedges. I just use a 3 pound hammer and usually 3 wedges. I cut small noodles too. Just enough to make it easy to start my wedges. Heck I sit down on the log while I'm smacking wedges. I must be getting lazy in my old age.

[@PinkslipDaddy]

You're supposed to drive the wedge in so it don't come out very easy and then you're supposed to whack it real good with the hammer, that's probably why you're out of breath already, more swings than you have to per log, now I can see for a log that keeps wanting to tip over, you'd want to be more careful with your swings, but that's a pretty stable log that looks like maybe a foot thick, on a good sturdy log, after you got the wedge started, it should only take maybe 5 swings with a sledge hammer, depending on how hard the log is and how big your hammer is.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

It’s really easy to sit back and tell someone what they should do different. I’m 100% efficient at telling other people what to do. This video is over four years old, so I don’t remember what I was doing

[@PinkslipDaddy]

@@RockhillfarmYT It's an interesting video, different ways to split firewood, but I'm just saying that it'd been easier to of stood up and swung the sledge hammer and you wouldn't of wore your self out by swinging the hammer more times than you have to, I use a 20 pound sledge hammer to split wood sometimes.

[@PinkslipDaddy]

@@RockhillfarmYT For you to say that you're out of shape, you still work harder than most people I've came across, most people now a days that I've came across would of complained about picking up the Sledge hammer being too much work for them. Which I was merely stating that standing up you can get more momentum in your swing and wouldn't have to swing it as many times. but then now a days it seems like people try to find the laziest way to do things and wonder why there is such a thing as obesity.

[@min-dakwoodhound7314]

I have shape if you consider a zip lock of jello as shape.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for watching

[@davidsherlin5123]

I can work hard but you wore me out just watching you

[@RockhillfarmYT]

thanks for watching

[@marktemplin1159]

Splitting straight grain is fun,, bit y's and yokes,, that's wene a piece of wood becomes a challange

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Definitely

[@banjo8537]

Yeah...great when you're 240 lbs and you're working with straight grain. I'm 5'10 and 160lbs. A brass sledge and a steel wedge with blood sweat and tears are what work for me. The real knotty stuff gets cut into slabs which I use for night time burns due to better cooling. Been hearing with wood since 16 with my father. I'm now 66. In good shape despite age but this life isn't for sissies.

[@PinkslipDaddy]

Why was you kneeling to split it with the Sledge hammer? that's probably why you're already out of breath, that was a ton of swings with the hammer on you knees.

[@briansmaller7443]

I used to do all my splitting by hand. But at 60 I did my shoulder in and just cannot do it any more. It is a logsplitter for me nowadays.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Yeah, I primarily use a hydraulic splitter but I like to swing the maul occasionally Thanks for watching

[@ryanaracich5279]

The value of heat is way higher when you do it yourself

[@naknakacknak]

You put the wedge with the grain not perpendicular to it. 1st. put the wedge between the bark and the log, and remove the bark around the perimeter. Then keep the wedge near the outside of the log and lined up with the grain and split off pieces from near the edge. If you just randomly put the wedge down in the middle of the log against the grain you're in for a world of hurt.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for sharing

[@JimBronke]

Too much time is spent on this video showing routine cuts by chainsaws instead of getting to the point

[@pattithompson7065]

Where are your hearing and eye protection?

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I generally wear it. not sure why I wasn’t that day Thanks for watching

[@larrybecker9645]

I also usually wear hearing and eye protection but not always. Recently during tree thinning with an excavator, a small branch about 20ft away snapped in the the jaws and a small piece hit me in the face like a slingshot, I normally wear a Stihl hard hat / ear muff and face guard combo because I carry a chainsaw onboard for some situations. Also, I’ve been hit a few times by flying branches coming through the machine cage. Whether hand splitting with wedge or hydraulic machine, the risk is great! Don’t forget your safety gear. I have learned it only takes that one time.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for sharing

[@deaniacoponi2139]

Striking those hardened steel splitting wedges with a sledge and without wearing any eye protection?

[@deaniacoponi2139]

Now that I'm older and much wiser I don't cut/split any wood that is over 2ft in diameter!!!!!

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Really not worth it I got this to take the work out of large rounds This Inverted Log Splitter Is Awesome - Wolfe Ridge kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaWZeIaEpat-aqc

[@chanceholland959]

Then put them on the spliter

[@philgriswold2133]

Best method is to give the splitting maul to the young man.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Yeah. I do a fair bit of that but a little manual work is good for me every once in a while Thanks for watching

[@kenweis7913]

If only the splitter was used efficiently on all that over travel

[@cnccutter61]

You need to change how your starting your splits. Never work from the inside out. You need to break the outer growth rings first. Then work into your round.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for the feedback. I thought that’s what I was doing but always room to improve

[@rockymountainfirewood3873]

Great video. Love the passion. I'll show you how I split firewood in my next video! Check out Rocky Mountain Firewood for all things firewoodin'

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for watching

[@dariuszdata1431]

Turning them with a tractor? Common lol

[@superacma2651]

Protective chaps but no eye or hearing protection. Bit silly

[@mattfogarty8144]

I'll give you one piece of advice when splitting big rounds by hand... Stop trying to split the wood directly down the middle take the wood around the edges and avoid the knots it'll be way easier than any trick you seen someone else do you made it look 10x harder than it actually is split it around the edges you're taking less wood that way so it'll be easier to split the whole object of splitting wood is to make it smaller it doesn't matter where you hit it you don't need to split it down the middle unless you wanna create more work for yourself 🤷

[@roncar1761]

Great videos and thanks for posting them!!! I watch a video on how they would split large rocks by hand. They would have about six to eight spikes space apart and alternate hitting them. The same thing can be do with two wedges at the "12" (clock) and "6" positions. You can also used a small piece of wood as a third wedge if needed. Thinking outside the box the link below shows a guy hammering the maul from the outer edge to split the big rounds. Heck...you could sit in a chair and put less stress on your body. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rV61lGBqmNx9Z7s

[@derekgrimes6544]

🤣 He does make it look a lot easier.. !

[@roncar1761]

@@derekgrimes6544 I got my last load of free wood of Maple to burn for winter of 2024. I was able to split three of the eight pieces with my axe. The maul and wedges would not work. I had to pull the chain saw out to cut it!

[@kenweis2291]

Why cant they just make a 4 ft axe handle.....seriously

[@dkat1108]

Yep sadly spitting large rounds by hand there is no right way or wrong way its just do the best you can without injuring yourself. You really have to pace yourself or your back will give out then your worthless.

[@michaelkearney5562]

You need to learn how to swing a sledge with force while STANDING UP. It's impossible to get any power going, while down on your knees like that. Clearly you didn't enjoy working that way. On those big rounds, a bigger sledge would also be more effective. There's no point in making work harder than it needs to be.

[@chrisdavis7368]

Wtf that's not by hand he has an axe lol

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I have another video where I shred them with my bare hands, but it’s behind a pay wall

[@happycamper-ux5pv]

I LIKE SMALLER LOGS just cutem in to 16 18inch pcs with out spliting