How to Split Wood With a Double Bit Axe
A double bit axe is really two tools in one. Hone one blade sharp and use it to fall or limb trees. Keep the other blade relatively dull and use it to split firewood. This will help maintain the keen edge. The dull edge is better for splitting wood anyway. Sharp axes are more liable to get stuck in hard-to-split rounds. If you keep track of which edge is which and use them for separate tasks, you'll spend less time sharpening the bit and less time working your stuck axe like a pump handle.
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Instructions
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Mark off lengths of 16, 20, or 24 inches into a log. Consider the size of the stove or fireplace you'll be feeding them into.
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Cut the log into rounds. You can do this with a hand saw or even an axe, but you will save a lot of time and sweat if you use a chain saw. Always wear proper safety equipment when operating a chain saw.
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Stand a round on edge.
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Find the grain of the wood. You will see several cracks near the center of the round; the largest, most dominant of these is the grain. Your initial split should go with the grain; that is, in the same direction as the crack.
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Take your first couple of swings at the wood. Aim for a spot about an inch from the far edge of the round. Swing hard, but always maintain control. Chop straight down and avoid angles that endanger your feet and shins.
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If the round doesn't split, keep swinging and begin working your blows in a line back toward the near edge of the round. It should eventually split. (If the round is too big or knotted, consider setting it aside for later or using a different tool, such as a splitting maul, wedges with a sledgehammer or a motorized splitter.)
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Continue splitting the round until the pieces are convenient to handle. The first split of a round is always the hardest.
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Tips & Warnings
Work with somebody more experienced than you.
Practice chopping the axe at a large round before you begin pounding them in earnest. You want to have a good feel for the swing.
Don't swing any harder than you have to to split the round. There's no reason to waste your energy.
If camping out of a vehicle, pack an axe instead of a hatchet.
Never use a chain saw for the first time without close supervision.
Never use a chain saw without proper safety equipment, including eye protection, a hard hat, ear plugs, safety chaps, close-fitting clothes and steel-toed boots.
Splitting wood is physically taxing. Be prepared and stay hydrated.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Firewood image by lefebvre_jonathan from Fotolia.com
