If you need to create your own firewood, you need to use a splitting tool to do this. Splitting wood is more effective than chopping as it leads to less waste. When looking at splitting wood in its simplest form, it comes down to a splitting axe vs a splitting maul. But in order to determine which one is better suited to your lifestyle and environment, you need to consider what each is and what the differences are.
What Is A Splitting Axe?
A splitting axe is a cutting tool that has a tapered head commonly made of metal and will weight approximately 3 to 6 pounds. A splitting axe has been designed to split wood along the grain to break apart the fibres. This is different from the traditional axe which was designed to chop wood across the grains. When using a top-quality splitting axe, the force created by the head will split the wood for you.
What Is A Splitting Maul?
When looking at a splitting maul, you might mistake it for a splitting axe as they are similar. The splitting maul also has a metal head, but it weighs more at 6 to 8 pounds. The head of the maul will be wedge-shaped and wider than the head of the splitting axe which makes it better at splitting wood. The shape of the head will ensure that the splitting maul does not stick in the wood when it is splitting it and will prevent any jamming.
Splitting mauls have a lot more engineering put into them making more efficient at splitting wood. This is one of the reasons that splitting mauls are so highly recommended and one of the first options people consider now when they want to split wood.
Axe Versus Splitting Maul Pros And Cons
When looking at the splitting axe and the splitting maul, you need to know what the differences are. There are 3 differences that you need to take into account when you choose between these tools. These are as follows:
1.Weight – Weight of the tool and head make a big difference when you’re splitting wood and can make the biggest difference in which one is right for you. Heavier the head the easier it is to split but the more fatigue you will get when using it.
2.Design – Without a doubt, the head of these two types of equipment is the biggest difference and where the biggest pros and cons are in my opinion.
3.Handle – There is a lot of different variations in the handles of mauls and axes that mainly affect the grip you have on the tool itself, which can affect comfort and how long you will be splitting for.
For most people, the choice between the splitting axe vs splitting maul comes down to personal preferences. The greatest determinants will be the amount of work you have at hand and the size of the wood you are working with. When working with large pieces of wood, a maul would be better than an axe. This is due to the fact that you will be able to split quicker, but you have to consider that you will tire faster because of the weight of the splitting maul.
If you have smaller pieces of wood, a splitting axe will generally be the better solution. The splitting axe is also a better choice for people who are smaller and not able to lift the heavier weight of the splitting maul.
The bottom line is the larger the workload, opt for the maul. Lighter day to day tasks to keep the firewood turning over, stick with the axe.
