How to Split Wood Properly

Using logs to provide heat during the winter months takes some time and preparation. If you have access to some timber, you can cut and split your wood yourself. It takes a little practice and muscle power to split wood properly, but soon you'll have a pile of wood split and stacked, so you can sit back and enjoy a toasty fire during those cold months ahead.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Protective eyewear
• Leather work gloves
• Wood splitters' maul (6 lb.)
• Iron wedges (several)
• Sledge hammer

1. Cut logs the length necessary for your particular stove or fireplace. Try to avoid excessively knotty wood since it is more difficult to split. The shorter logs are easier to split for a beginner. With more practice and strength, you can tackle the bigger logs.

2. Position the log in front of you on firm ground with the weakest part as your target. Pick the place for your first strike near the edge of the log where the growth rings are at their widest and weakest point.

3. Stand facing the log with your feet spaced apart for balance. You should be a little more than the length of the maul from your target so you can lean in as you swing the maul. Hold it at waist level with one hand at the base of the handle and the other at the neck, near the head of the maul. Keep your knees slightly flexed and bend a little at the waist.

4. Raise the wood splitter's maul over your head with arms extended and back straight. As you swing the maul up vertical to your body, let the hand at the neck of the maul slide back to the hand at the base. Do this in one forceful and swift action. Continue this hand motion with each upward movement and strike of the maul.

5. Concentrate all of your attention on the one spot you are striking. Use your whole body in the downward movement of the maul bending slightly at your waist and knees. As the maul is about to come in contact with the log, pull back slightly using the muscles of our stomach and legs rather than your arms.

6. Continue striking the split until it widens then strike the other end of the log, increasing the force of each strike. If the log is still too large, it can be split again with a little less difficulty than the first split.

7. Finish splitting the rest of your firewood and stack it for winter use. It should have about 20-percent moisture content to burn efficiently.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the sledgehammer and wedges for logs that are difficult to split. Drive the wedge into a crack or weak point of the log with the sledgehammer and continue to pound the wedge until the log splits into smaller sections. You may need several wedges on extremely hard or knotty wood.
• Always use protective eyewear when chopping or splitting wood. Leather work gloves will protect your hands and help give you a better grip on the splitting maul and sledge hammer.

[wheelchief]

on 12/11/2007 Wood splits easiest from the root to the branch, ie bottom to top. Counter-intuitive but true. Put your logs tree top (usually thinner) end down and attack the root end. Try it and see!