[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.