How to Split Firewood

You'll learn how to split firewood safely and efficiently by understanding the wood and the tools.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Splitting maul
• Sledgehammers (hand sledge and full-sized)
• Suitable firewood
• Chopping block/stump
• Splitting wedges
• Safety glasses

1. 
   This log has two important features: an old branch stub and a weak area (not obvious in picture) where it might already be inclined to split.

   Set your log upright on the splitting stump and look for ways in which the log may already “want” to split, making note of any branch stubs.

2. 

   Orient the log so as to strike parallel to the direction in which the branch stub juts out. (This direction in the grain is often easiest to split.) Swing your maul and aim at the weak spot, if any, identified in step 1.

3. 

   If the log doesn’t part in one chop but the maul seems to have started a good split, strike the maul with your sledge but BE CAREFUL. You must hold the maul handle while you strike it, otherwise the handle can flail dangerously in the air with considerable force.

4. 
   No worries about the handle here.

   Alternatively, rather than swinging a maul, you can hold a splitting wedge on the log and start it into the wood with your hand sledge.

Tips & Warnings

• If there's more than one branch stub, make your best guess as to where to attack it. Some gnarly logs (those with twisted grain and /or multiple branch stubs) may be beyond splitting by hand.
• Some woods (elm, for example) are beyond reason to split by hand, even without gnarly branches.
• Often, wood will split better under some conditions than others. Wet oak may split easier than dry; frozen may split easier than thawed.
• With a little perseverance and maybe some sweat (try to avoid the blood and tears), you’ll get through the first log and be moving on to the next one and the next one.
• Always wear safety glasses when splitting wood.