Good Maul

[MAX-24-Dean]

I've got one of those - picked it up 40 years ago.

Big, all metal splitting maul, head shaped like a triangle.

It was painted bright red, thin foam sleeve on the round handle...actually worked pretty well.

Couldn't wear it out, I tried. Somewhere through time it did get a slight bend in the handle.

But it still works. Even now, it stands in the corner of my shop.

And somehow it gets heavier every year. At this point, it must weigh 75 pounds!

Guess it will just have to keep standing there in the corner...

Yep, I had one of those too (Monster Maul), got it about 40 years ago. I agree with you, that it definately got heavier as I aged.
I replaced it with a Fiskars that I used for 12 years.

 

[Hay Dude]

I still have my Chopper-1’s from 40 years ago doing firewood with my dad.

Chopper 1 One Wood Log Splitting Axe Maul Spring Loaded Spreaders New Easy Split | eBay

Condition is New. Splitting wood with The Chopper1 is faster and easier than with any conventional axe. The key lies in the rotating levers on each side of the axe's head. When the blade enters the wood, the levers swing out, directing the downward chopping force outward and exploding the log...

www.ebay.com

 

[Cycledude]

I still have my Chopper-1’s from 40 years ago doing firewood with my dad.

Chopper 1 One Wood Log Splitting Axe Maul Spring Loaded Spreaders New Easy Split | eBay

Condition is New. Splitting wood with The Chopper1 is faster and easier than with any conventional axe. The key lies in the rotating levers on each side of the axe's head. When the blade enters the wood, the levers swing out, directing the downward chopping force outward and exploding the log...

www.ebay.com

Had one like that and it was pretty lousy, fortunately someone had given it to me for free. These days I have a 8 pound Fiskars that works great.
The one at the very start of this thread does look interesting.

 

[Jstpssng]

Somewhere through time it did get a slight bend in the handle.

Wow! Remind me never to arm wrestle with YOU!

 

[Doughknob]

I totally lost the "firewood for fun and exercise" thread, and wanted to post a photo of my splitting maul. It is 6 lb., fiberglass handle, and really never gets stuck in a split. All it took was a little kick in the casting on one side. I've never found another like it.

View attachment 732364

interesting Larry. Only has that on 1 side?

 

[turnkey4099]

My kid is slowly beating up our wooden handle maul. It’s not broke yet……

I used to run a 10llb sledge and 6lb maul with wooden handles. Had to replace both about every 3-4 years. Got tired of that so bought 8lb and 6lb with plastic handles. Beat the plastic handle sledge loose in 3 years - bought a hydraulic splitter. End of replacing handle

 

[Larry Caldwell]

interesting Larry. Only has that on 1 side?

Yes, one side only. It's a really nice tool to use. 6 lb. is about right for me. If you know your wood, splitting by hand is pretty easy. Our local white oak and bigleaf maple split best when they are green. Madrone checks so badly it almost splits itself, so I stack it and wait for it to dry before splitting. The only time I have ever wished for a power splitter was when I got stuck with a bunch of 3' maple rounds. I had to split shakes off the outside to get it small enough to split through. Horsing them to the splitter would have been a task, though.

I don't burn soft woods in the stove because I don't want to deal with the creosote. Cedar and fir are good in the outdoor fire pit, as long as they are dry enough to not spit a lot of sparks.

 

[Doorman63]

I used to run a 10llb sledge and 6lb maul with wooden handles. Had to replace both about every 3-4 years. Got tired of that so bought 8lb and 6lb with plastic handles. Beat the plastic handle sledge loose in 3 years - bought a hydraulic splitter. End of replacing handle

Window shopping the HF 10 ton Hydraulic splitter……comments/concerns anyone?

 

[jyoutz]

Yes, one side only. It's a really nice tool to use. 6 lb. is about right for me. If you know your wood, splitting by hand is pretty easy. Our local white oak and bigleaf maple split best when they are green. Madrone checks so badly it almost splits itself, so I stack it and wait for it to dry before splitting. The only time I have ever wished for a power splitter was when I got stuck with a bunch of 3' maple rounds. I had to split shakes off the outside to get it small enough to split through. Horsing them to the splitter would have been a task, though.

I don't burn soft woods in the stove because I don't want to deal with the creosote. Cedar and fir are good in the outdoor fire pit, as long as they are dry enough to not spit a lot of sparks.

When I used to heat exclusively with wood, I would burn both hardwoods and softwoods. The key to reducing creosote problems is how you burn the wood. I used to start the fire with split pine, then burn pine and fir to get the fire roaring to heat up the house quickly. If you burn hot with full open air vent and damper open, the softwoods don’t produce creosote and nothing heats the house quicker than pine/fir. Then I let them burn down to coals, and add the hardwood logs. Once they are burning good, I close down the air/damper to slow the burn for overnight. I have never had creosote problems by burning this way. But if you try to burn softwoods slow overnight, that’s when the creosote starts forming in the chimney.

 

[ernemats]

I bought a monster maul about 55 years ago. It was triangle shaped with metal handle welded on and no rubber grip and it was 16 pounds I believe it would split a lot that a 8 pound maul would not. My grandson and son now have it and use it not too often, they usually use a Fiskar splitter or my hydraulic log splitter.