I’m just glad no one caught me on video

[rustynut]

wow,
sure alot of posts on this one right quick.........
ok so here's mine.
had some ash that had been sitting for a while and listening to all the posts about getting in shape splitting wood by hand figured it wouldnt heart me a bit to get in shape.
took a good poke with the ax ???
ok now
switched to the maul
bought a 28 t the next day
figured if i was gonna do this that i might as well get serious...........
rn

 

[LLigetfa]

...listening to all the posts about getting in shape splitting wood...
bought a 28 t the next day

Ja, that's how I get my exercise... at my splitter. No sitting on a milk crate either like some guys.

 

[cycloxer]

I like splitting wood with a maul. It doesn't bother me in the least. It just takes time...and of course every now and then something weird happens and you get whacked in the forehead, rotflmao. I use an 8#-er. Had it glance off before or get stuck in the fr#$%en wood, but I can't imagine it coming back up at your head, wow wow wow

 

[Jamess67]

When I first got my Fisksers I experienced a glancing blow that actually hit my leg. Thank God It was a light swing and I barely got a scratch. It scared me to death and I didnt use that axe for about a month. I developed a healthy respect for the Fiskers and rarely ever swing over my head. As stated above I bring it up to about head height and use a punctuated down blow to split the wood. In most cases I have trouble getting the axe back out of the wood. Its a great tool, and with a longer handle it would be superb. Lets all learn from others experiences and keep each other safe. I hope your head heals quickly and get back on the splitting horse. Be safe

 

[btuser]

I don't like having to pick up the wood to hit it. Why can't they make the handle longer?

 

[derecskey]

Slightly off topic, but while other people offer up sympathies, I'll add mine. As a teenager on one of my first deer gun hunts... there I was sitting in the stand, waiting, waiting, waiting, finally a buck shows up. Shoulder the gun ( I did shoulder it, right? ) Lean in to the scope, sight 'er up. Pull trigger, BAM, instant black eye. Not sure it was really black, as I think the blow was mostly high on the eye.

I got the buck. Shoulda made up a story about bagging it with my bare hands and suffering injuries during the scuffle.

 

[savageactor7]

Holy Cow!

 

['bert]

pointy end towards the wood you are trying to split! It will bounce back every time when you have the blunt end towards the wood. Just buggin, ya. Hope all is ok.

 

[stanb999]

I'm sorry folks but how could the maul come back at you? Are you following proper splitting technique?

Meaning. you start with your aim hand (left) at the base. The drive hand (right) at the neck. Then bringing your hands together and bending at the waist in one clean motion. On impact the handle of the ax or maul should be at arms length. The head would be that plus the length of the handle. So it should be more than 4' or so from your head. Also, if your doing it right you shouldn't be able to hit your legs. The handle length and arm length with the slight bend at the waist puts a miss into the ground.

I bet the issue is your trying not to split it too much and cause the wood to fly or to prevent the maul from get stuck in the base wood.

P.S. I'm a righty... if left handed you switch.

 

[gerry100]

Sounds like a perfect storm of a light tool hitting a round in one of those specail places where the tool cannot penetrate even a little bit. Probably swung too hard with no feel for the tool.

I've had my 8lb maul bounce off a an oak crotch more than once, but being heavier it doesn't come back that fast.

You'll learn to recignize those spots as you look at more rounds and you'll develop more experince with the Fiskars.

 

[pen]

You can use all the technique you want, but sometimes I swear that piece of wood just has it in for you.

A lot of my wood is some really big hardwood and most commonly beech. I can't tell you how many crazy fast "get-the-!@#$-outa-da-way" dances I've done when my wedge decides to be rejected and turns into a projectile after being whacked by a 10lb sledge. ! (yes, the wedge is sharp!)

pen

 

[myzamboni]

I have not had my fiskars bounce back. I have had it hit the round with a thud instead on entering into the wood. This usually happend when I hit a round right above a knot. I've had my 8lb maul bounce many times.

Sorry about your forehead, but you need to ease into using the fiskars. Your exuberance was punished this time.

 

[Gator eye]

so the real question we all want to know..........how's the super splitter???? is it ok?? can we have the address to send flowers?


Glad you kept your head though it all. ;-P

 

[KP Matt]

Could there happen to be a little strip of glue along the edge of the blade?

I had something similar happen last summer, only it was a hatchet I had bought to make kindling. It didn't bounce back as far as my head, but it definitely surprised me!

Upon closer inspection I noticed a little bit of glue along the length of the blade. I can only suppose it was put there at the factory to prevent accidental cuts in the store.

 

[davidfishlock]

Ok, I figure out what happened. I went out today with my regular splitting maul (now that the swelling in my head has gone down.) I tried striking the same piece of wood with my old maul, and even IT bounced a bit. So I think the problem was trying to split rain-soaked wood. Additionally, I realize that I need to use short, quick strokes with the Fiskars, not big over-the-head strokes like I'm used to with my maul. I've been splitting wood by hand for 13 years and by my best guess, I've split about 75 cords of wood. In that time, I have never once had this happen, so I don't think I have a problem with my technique per se. I just needed to adjust my technique to a new tool. For those of you unfamiliar with the Fiskars, it's only about 2/3 the length of a typical maul. There were a number of posts saying, "I just don't see how you could do this." Well, with a normal length maul, I agree, it would be nearly impossible to get hit in the face with one's own tool. But with a shorter handle like the Fiskars, trust me, it's possible. But it won't happen again!

 

[Jags]

it's only about 2/3 the length of a typical maul.

And that right there is a good reason you won't see Jags use one. After years of splitting with a long handled axe (yeah, you heard me - axe), I don't think I could adjust to the short handle before I put a hurt'in on myself.

 

[xrayman]

The last time I went to the ER for stitches (carpentry, not firewood) I told the doc that I didn't want to go because I figured it would stop bleeding on its own. He assured me that ALL wounds do stop bleeding eventually.

Yupp when your heart stops lol.

remember scars are tattoos with a story.

 

[Rougement]

I've had the fiskars bounce plenty of times, big rounds of frozen ash usually. It's never come up near my head though, I keep pressure on it after the impact to stop that. The extra pressure can sometimes stop the log falling over too.

 

[gerry100]

Good to see that the threadstarter is back online and seemingly back to normal.

Let's see , he gets his favorite present and runs out in the back yard to try it. Immediately, the worst thing happens. Probably right after the wife/girlfriend says "be careful".

I think I saw that movie 3 times last week.

".... you'll put your eye out kid"

Sorry Red Rider .. I just couldn't resist.

 

[TreePapa]

I think I saw that movie 3 times last week.

We're you starring in it?

Peace,
- Sequoia

 

[WoodMann]

doh! remember, safety first!

(broken image removed)

ROFLMAO, that is farking hilarious! I just spat up coffee thru my nose onto the keyboard. On a more seious note, hope OP is doing well, I've had a bout with head injuris myself, not chainsaw or axe related. Glad ya have a wife to watch out for you.....................

 

[WoodMann]

What kind of dog is that, anyway....................

 

[Flatbedford]

Safe one.

 

[WoodMann]

Aw, yer killin me, Flatbed...................

 

[ChillyGator]

True Temper
4 Lb. Super Wood Splitter with 36" Fiberglass Handle

Item #: 147592 Model: 1217000

THis is what I've been using, bought at Lowes. Splits nice sized rounds with one or two strikes, resplits dry wood with very little effort.
One the rounds I'm usually swinging full bore from a 6'2" frame.

I'm guessing: Weimaraner (my first dog from birth till I was 13, slept on the foot of my bed every night....I still miss him)