How to Split Firewood Wedges

As oil prices continue to rise, splitting your own firewood can help you save money when heating your home in the winter. Some woods like ash and pine are easy to split, while oak and elm will require the use of more than just an axe. A maul and wedges are used to split these tough woods. Understanding proper splitting technique makes this job easier and safer

Splitting maul
Wedges
Sledgehammer
Cutting platform or stump

Instructions

- 1
  Stand a log on top of your cutting platform or stump to look at the wood grain on top. Turn the log until the grain lines up straight with the width of your maul so it will split easily.
- 2
  Place the tip of the maul blade on the top of the log, hold the bottom of the maul handle with your left hand, and position your right hand halfway up.
- 3
  Draw the maul back and overhead slowly.
- 4
  Let the maul begin to fall down towards the top of the log. Add force to the swing with your biceps as you come down on the log.
- 5
  Continue swinging until the log begins to split. Once a small split is opened, insert a wedge into the crack.
- 6
  Hit the top of the wedge with the backside of the maul head to stick it into the wood.
- 7
  Use the same swinging motion to drive the wedge into the log with a sledge hammer. This will continue to widen the crack in the log.
- 8
  Continue adding wedges to the widening crack and driving them in to the log until it splits into two wedges.

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