Pretty simple and neat idea for splitting wood by hand.

[Jeff Lary]

Frozen maple,... not a problem could split it with a hatchet .Growing up we always split our wood 4' frozen in the winter. Just lay it flat on the ground and swing away.

 

[DAY]

When you lift the axe/stick up, turn them over so the stick of wood is up and the axe is on the bottom. Then when you hit the stick/axe on your chopping block the flat face of the axe will hit the chopping block and the weight of the stick will force itself down on the axe.

I first saw this "trick" in 1960- in the film "The Magnificent Seven".:thumbsup: Charles Bronson is splitting wood in return for a meal, when he decides to join the gunslingers. I thought it was pretty cool at the time, and I had yet to split a lick of wood!

Another trick that I HAVE used is to put the log inside an old tire the size of a riding mower rear; that also keeps the wood upright and in place.

-if the wood is frozen, then ain't it WET?

 

[HammA5690]

Another good way I saw on youtube was to screw a Tire to your chopping block and place a few logs inside it. That way they dont fly away and force you to chase after them. Im going to set the tire up tomorrow and try it since im too cheap for a hydraulic wood splitter

 

[gladehound]

I tried the bungie cord method a while back. 15 minutes and three bungie cords later I switched to the tire method. Been using the tire method ever since. :laughing:

An added advantage of the tire is that it absorbs the shock of an "overswing" when you swing really hard and the round splits easier than you expected.

Highly recommend the tire. I own a splitter, but split 90% of my wood by hand because it is faster and quieter than the splitter. I just send the ones that don't pop on the second swing to the splitter pile.:thumbsup: