If you decide to handsplit, do yourself a favor and get an old tire to put the rounds (that will fit) into while splitting. Easily the best thing that's helped me in my years of handsplitting. The thing that hurts your back the most IMO is bending over to pick up the log and resetting it after every strike, but with the tire method it's just whack, whack, whack around the round and the tire keeps it all in place. And if you're really good, after every strike the maul bounces up off the tire back into position for the next strike! :coolsmirk:
