hammerfore Posted November 16, 2012 Posted November 16, 2012 I was splitting firewood the other day wishing I had something a little bigger than my 8 pound maul. I have a 16 pound sledge hammer haed that followed me home and got to thinking could this be forged into a mall. My little break drum forge railroad rail anvil wont handle a project like this. Anyone got an idea what I can expect to pay for this? Any one in south east Michigan interested in this project? Quote
ThomasPowers Posted November 16, 2012 Posted November 16, 2012 Sort of thing folks do for fun at a hammer in or might be able to arrange to do it at a meeting *if* the proper equipment was available---I was able to use a 200# Chambersburg hammer at one of the local ABANA Affiliate meetings to do some heavy hitting on one of my projects. Quote
Glenn Posted November 16, 2012 Posted November 16, 2012 There are a couple of threads on IForgeIron about splitting wood, one by Tom Clark and a maul style he developed, another by a company from Sweden(?) that looks promising. Both use straight grain wood and a small to medium diameter log so things look much easier. Depending on the type of wood you are splitting, the diameter of the wood, and the size of the resulting splits, you may want to use the 16 as a sledge with wedges. I use a store bought 16 pound splitting maul. The shape does not get stuck in wood like many mauls and each swing usually produces a piece of firewood. Do not be fooled, when swinging a 16 pound hammer or maul the real work is often measured in minutes rather than hours. (grin). There are many types and designs of mauls out there. My suggestion would be to bring 4-5 sections of wood with you and ask to try it out in the parking lot. The IForgeIron stories section has a article on cutting trees. You may want to read that before you get too far into your project of making a maul. http://www.iforgeiron.com/page/index.html/_/stories/s0019-cutting-trees-r139 Quote
rthibeau Posted November 17, 2012 Posted November 17, 2012 splitting firewood?? get an electric hydraulic log splitter if doing only a couple cord a year....more than that or as the source of home heat...get a gas run splitter as big as you can afford. Splitting mauls? Not after age 45...... -_- Quote
mike-hr Posted November 18, 2012 Posted November 18, 2012 This is my first year of splitting wood with hydraulics, I can honestly say I'm not ashamed at all about that. Also, drawing a wedge taper on one end of a 16# hammer is formidable. I expect even a 200# PHammer would still not thump hard enough to not make fish lips on the end, heat after heat. Quote
John McPherson Posted November 18, 2012 Posted November 18, 2012 Northern or Tractor Supply or someone else in your area carries the Truper 12lb maul for less than $40. (Heir to the late, lamented Sotz Monster Maul. I love mine and would not part with it.) If that won't do it, go to hydraulics. A good 16 pound sledge is much harder to find. Treasure it. Quote
Adirondacker Posted November 18, 2012 Posted November 18, 2012 Splitting wood by hand is at the very best good exercise and big waste of time, hyd is the only way to go, 1/3 the time so you gain 2/3 to work at your forge. My father, brother inlaw and I when in together thirty years ago and bought a used splitter, I still have it and use it. I have in that time split thousands of cords of wood, and will likley past this splitter to my grandsons. Heres what I want, splitter bed about waist high, you can modify in your shop, hyd cyclinders you can rebuild, engines, hoses , spiders, pumps, ect that you can if need be get parts for. I'm fussy about keeping equipment covered up or put in shed, sun light destroys hyd lines, treat the gas when not in use. One last thought, you can and will get hurt if you are tired and in a hurry, swinging a 16 lb splitting hammer at any age will wear on you, save it for the forge. Adirondacker Quote
VaughnT Posted November 22, 2012 Posted November 22, 2012 Just got a rack-and-pinion log splitter. Waaaaay better than a hydraulic splitter and light years better than a wedge/maul! Very recommended. Quote
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