Splitting WITHOUT a splitting block?

[northwinds]

I have a thinner large round of elm that I use as a splitting block. But I don't use it that often. Large rounds are a pain to lift up on top. I split those where they
lay. For the smaller log-like rounds, I'll lean them against the big round so that they don't fall over. I hand split all of my wood for exercise. I've thought about
getting a motorized splitter, but I really enjoy hand splitting wood, except for elm which I try to avoid.

 

[tsquini]

I too split on the ground using the tractor trailer tire method with nothing under it. I split with the x27 as well and the handle usually hits the tire before the blade hits the ground saving me from having to fix knicks as often

+1 on the tire. I have to pick the round once. The tire keeps it contained and standing upright so i don't have to bend over and pick after every swing. Because of this, I only have to do quick half swing. As I chop is just slide it closer to the rounds.

 

[Tom Wallace]

I split large rounds (> 24" diameter) on the ground. Any smaller than that, I put them on top of a large round. I use a maul and wedge to split big rounds on the ground. Once they're small enough, I use a Fiskars SS with the wood on top of a block.

 

[CenterTree]

I split large rounds (> 24" diameter) on the ground. Any smaller than that, I put them on top of a large round. I use a maul and wedge to split big rounds on the ground. Once they're small enough, I use a Fiskars SS with the wood on top of a block.

This is the way I do it too. Big rounds on the ground with the wedge and sledge....then the managable peices go to the block for final splitting with the X27.

 

[CenterTree]

Wow, A lot of good replies here. I appreciate all the input.
(I am also pleased to see that no one found it necessary to mention to "just buy a hydraulic") LOL.

I should have made this a poll. It seems about 50/50 on ground vs block.

I like the idea of using a tire and LETTING the axe hit the side, hence stopping it from striking the ground...I will try that too.

I did think about a flat piece of lumber...(plywood or similar), but I just can imagine it kind of "bouncing" as it would maybe wobble on uneven surface???? Don't know.

I am gonna cut a lower block (big diameter round) to maybe about 8 inches and see if it holds up.


I think it is important to keep a SHARP edge on the axe. (maybe not a maul as much)
I just have the mindset similar to using the chainsaw > Soil is the enemy of a sharp cutting tool.

 

[yooperdave]

Up until two years ago, all my splitting was done by maul only...on the ground. Used a block many years ago for only a brief period of time and then found out it was easier and faster to split without one. Yes, the ground does absorb part of the shock.
A couple of years ago, one of 99's neighbor came over while I had been cutting and splitting for an hour or so. By this time I was short of breath and panting like a steam engine! Take a break he says! After visiting for a few minutes, I realized that this shortness of breath was directly related to splitting the wood by hand and in order to avoid it, I should buy a splitter with a shorter handle (one with an engine attached) Life's good now.
Still do a bit of splitting by hand, again, with no block -just on bare ground. But you know I save the big gnarly stuff for when the splitter is around.

 

[VAnewbie]

i split with an axe and just use plywood underneath.

 

[billb3]

ON a stump or short big round.
Dirt here is soft and splitting on the ground would get ya a fence post hole in no time.
Where there is no dirt it is gravel and full of rocks.
( I used to split the few splits that were too big on the concrete basement floor until inadvertantly punched a hole in the floor. )

Splitting directly on clay ground seems a bit easier.

 

[firewoodjunky]

I cut and split in the woods - always on the ground, neither my maul or Fiskars have been beat up too bad. When I used to get tree service loads at my house I used a block. So maybe it is dependant on the situation. I can't really say which was better - on the ground is much faster, buck, tilt up, split, throw in the trailer.

But...splitting on a round was somewhat more satisfying for some reason - something about splits flying and piling up around the block just felt good!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I agree that type of wood matters. If I buck a lot of red oak, I'm going to split them on the ground rather than lift to a block - doesn't take much effort to split the round. Red maple for example, typically gets placed on a block since, in my experience, it can be more difficult to split. As for swing, I definitely prefer the block - allowing a square hit of the axe heat. I don't really like swinging very hard at ground level rounds when the head is starting to angle toward me footsies. Cheers!

You must be doing something wrong. I've never felt my feet were in danger.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Would someone please come here and find me a piece of ground that absorbs the energy?! Sorry, but our ground is very hard and will not soak up any more energy than a stump would. In addition, if I am splitting wood, no matter if it is with axe, maul or hydraulics, it will be a cold day in that other place before I lift every piece of wood before I split it.

It is strange to me that many give the excuse of the ground soaking up energy but make no mention of the energy required to lift every log before splitting. In addition, I have watched some splitting on a block and most times when they split, one or another split will fall to the ground and then they are picking it back up to place it on the block. So which wastes more energy? Splitting on a block or letting the ground absorb a little energy?

I've also stated as have others that hitting the ground is not a concern of mine. In most cases, I know how much power it will take to split a log. If I am splitting some easy stuff, why on earth would I swing hard to push the axe or maul through the wood and into the ground. It is just like splitting with hydraulics; on the easy splitting stuff, you don't have to run that wedge all the way through the wood! Many times you barely touch the wood with the wedge and it will split (would be nice if all were this way). So, if I'm splitting, say, soft maple or white ash (we have lots), it is rare that I would put all my muscle into a swing.

One more thing about the splitting on the ground is that as someone else wisely stated, you have a longer stroke on your swing if your log is not placed on a block. That alone gives you much more splitting power.

 

[Ralphie Boy]

I've been using a sledge and wedges with no block for years with no problem. I just bought an X-27 so when the ice melts I'll be using a block and a tire.

 

[nmaho]

Usually split big log on ground then move to stump

 

[ClintonH]

I've never split on a block: split it where it lies. I prefer this to wrangling the large rounds: 1/4s, 1/8s, 1/16s are nicer to handle any day. Interesting note: I can Abe-Lincoln (log laying flat on ground rather than on end) split most ash piece 8" and smaller with my X27 XD Bwahahaha!

 

[David.Ervin]

The x27 is a heck of a tool. I've been splitting on the ground when it's frozen (all the time lately) and on a piece of OSB or plywood when it's not. I had been using a short, wide round of oak to split on until the x27 went through the block I was working up and split the oak piece too.

 

[Den69RS96]

I have a cheap box store 4.5 lb splitting axe and I used to split on the ground. It took forever to split a round and usually left a nice imprint in the ground of the round. One day I had a round big enough to use as a splitting block and the axe went through the rounds with less effort. Ijust bought a x27 and it splits 100 times better than my box store splitting axe.

 

[Lumber-Jack]

Up until two years ago, all my splitting was done by maul only...on the ground. Used a block many years ago for only a brief period of time and then found out it was easier and faster to split without one. Yes, the ground does absorb part of the shock.
A couple of years ago, one of 99's neighbor came over while I had been cutting and splitting for an hour or so. By this time I was short of breath and panting like a steam engine! Take a break he says! After visiting for a few minutes, I realized that this shortness of breath was directly related to splitting the wood by hand and in order to avoid it, I should buy a splitter with a shorter handle (one with an engine attached) Life's good now.
Still do a bit of splitting by hand, again, with no block -just on bare ground. But you know I save the big gnarly stuff for when the splitter is around.

Up here we call all that panting and heavy breathing Exercise. Some even claim it's good for you and spend a lot of money and time trying to find ways not to avoid it.

 

[red oak]

I do not use a chopping block or anything other than the ground. It does not dull the maul very much but I usually sharpen it once or twice a year. I do feel like I get more power to my swing going to the ground rather than using a block. And I've never felt my feet were in danger.

 

[blazincajun]

I usually split on the ground as well unless it is muddy.

Most folks don't realize that if you turn your rounds upside down it is so much easier to split. I usually mark the bottom side with a mark. Sometimes you just don't know but most times with a little study of the round you can figure which side is the bottom. Other wise, good luck

 

[Lumber-Jack]

Would someone please come here and find me a piece of ground that absorbs the energy?! Sorry, but our ground is very hard and will not soak up any more energy than a stump would. In addition, if I am splitting wood, no matter if it is with axe, maul or hydraulics, it will be a cold day in that other place before I lift every piece of wood before I split it.

It is strange to me that many give the excuse of the ground soaking up energy but make no mention of the energy required to lift every log before splitting. In addition, I have watched some splitting on a block and most times when they split, one or another split will fall to the ground and then they are picking it back up to place it on the block. So which wastes more energy? Splitting on a block or letting the ground absorb a little energy?

I've also stated as have others that hitting the ground is not a concern of mine. In most cases, I know how much power it will take to split a log. If I am splitting some easy stuff, why on earth would I swing hard to push the axe or maul through the wood and into the ground. It is just like splitting with hydraulics; on the easy splitting stuff, you don't have to run that wedge all the way through the wood! Many times you barely touch the wood with the wedge and it will split (would be nice if all were this way). So, if I'm splitting, say, soft maple or white ash (we have lots), it is rare that I would put all my muscle into a swing.

One more thing about the splitting on the ground is that as someone else wisely stated, you have a longer stroke on your swing if your log is not placed on a block. That alone gives you much more splitting power.

LOL
I think this timeless discussion must be where the term "different strokes for different folks" was started.
All I know is my chopping block has been hacked up and split apart from chopping splits on top of it. I can only imagine what my driveway and splitting maul would look like now if I wasn't using a chopping block to chop on.

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[Makers Mark]

Don't forget the car tires around the splitting block works a lot faster don't have to stop and stand splits up again if needing another wack.

 

[STIHLY DAN]

I just had some 30"+ rds along with some smaller ones frozen to the ground. I split them on the ground. I found that it really bothers my back, I can feel the twinge when bent over as the pa 80 hits the round. For me its less stress on the back and no loss of power, although a rarely ever swing at 1/2 power forget full.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I just had some 30"+ rds along with some smaller ones frozen to the ground. I split them on the ground. I found that it really bothers my back, I can feel the twinge when bent over as the pa 80 hits the round. For me its less stress on the back and no loss of power, although a rarely ever swing at 1/2 power forget full.

No way will I do that either. But then, there is no way I'll ever play golf again either. It is plain he!! on the back; extremely painful.

 

[yooperdave]

LOL
I think this timeless discussion must be where the term "different strokes for different folks" was started.
All I know is my chopping block has been hacked up and split apart from chopping splits on top of it. I can only imagine what my driveway and splitting maul would look like now if I wasn't using a chopping block to chop on.

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Accept third party cookies

Lumber Jack, I sure hope that isn't you in the vid you posted!! Seems to me like the guy doing the splitting needs to learn how to swing the maul...

 

[Lumber-Jack]

Lumber Jack, I sure hope that isn't you in the vid you posted!! Seems to me like the guy doing the splitting needs to learn how to swing the maul...

Guess you need to post a video and show us how to do it.