[ConstantVigil]

Here's a helpful trick for those of you who might need to get some firewood going but the chainsaw gave up the ghost.

It can be kind of tricky and kind of dangerous for the foot if you aren't careful; but you can split a log length wise using only your axe and some torque. Carefully work your way up the length of the log slamming the axe down into the wood in a straight line, or as straight as possible. Depending on the tree and your strength; this may take one or two passes to get it splitting apart nicely.

Worst case scenario is you start cutting off small chunks on the side; but honestly you gotta be wailing pretty hard to get that happening on a strong log.

Otherwise, once you have your first pass done, start bringing the axe down harder to finish the split; twisting the axe each time to help spread it apart. If you did it right, you should end up with two long halves of a full log. Once that is done, you can do it again with each half; and then buck it down into smaller pieces with a hand saw.

Yes, you could use the hand saw first; but this is a much faster method. Or at least I think it is. I can get through a full log in about 5 minutes or so. 10 minutes tops. Never timed it; I just know how long I can stand outside chopping wood with a pair of jeans and t-shirt in -30c weather.

[bergenty]

This is very hard work with just an axe. You have to use wedges as well. Once you get them in, just keep hammering them in equally until the log falls apart.

[silisili]

Being pedantic, but generally you shouldn't use an axe for splitting wood. Mauls are much heavier and meant for the purpose.

[drewzero1]

A maul would be the proper tool when you've already got the log cut up into firewood length, and you can enter into the end grain. I think what GP is describing is to split the log before cutting it to length, which (as far as I'm aware) is also an unorthodox technique. A maul wouldn't be acute enough to cut into the face grain.

[silisili]

Ahhh, thanks. I must have read it wrong and kinda was wondering why a long description for basic wood splitting. I think you're right, they're splitting an entire tree lengthwise. I've never attempted such a thing, so have no idea what would work best. I'd probably start it with an axe, then try to finish with a maul, but that's a complete guess.

But it's just pedantry anyhow, as many people in the US use 'axe' to mean everything from hatchets to mauls to fireman's axes. I do wish people would use the correct terms in general, as it causes a ton of consumer confusion. There's a really light felling axe I like, and every bad review is a broken handle trying to split giant pieces of wood.

[ConstantVigil]

I'm not sure if this is going to be seen, but I was temp banned or am still shadowbanned or something?

Either or. If you do see this, yes, you are both right that I would be best to be using a maul.

But not everyone has a proper splitting maul available, and mine was kind of missing that day... So I used my 20$ timber store 'everything' axe. I should have been more specific, as you make a point of. I call it that, cause I'm not sure which kind of axe it really is, but it gets used for pretty much everything, lol.