This Spring I had to split a 30" black ash and a hickory tree. I know that pros recommend a 12 pound sledge, but I only had an 8 pounder. Both woods are stringy and difficult to split and the 8 pounder didn't work well and I had about 60, 30" and smaller blocks to split.

My buddy offered me his 12 pound wedge type splitter. It's a steel pipe with the wedge attached at the top. It has a brand name, but I forget it. The large end of the wedge is about 4 inches tapering to a point. An 18" long section of log was split in one drop, compared to 3 or more with a sledge and wedge.

It's my choice for the job. It also makes work much, much easier if you split on a concrete pad. Use a sheet of plywood under the log to save the wedge.

I wonder if that maul was a Monster Maul. I have never seen one but after reading about several users experiences, I would like to get one.

Someone said that the company that made them is out of business.

Something like that. Maybe ebay.

I think there is still a Monster Maul knockoff at Northern Tool.

MM

I use an 8 or 10 lb maul and a 10lb sledge-and-wedge

The maul is nice and works for most tasks, but sometimes you just need to wedge it.

I have looked long and hard to find the Monster Maul. Two companies make them in the 15 Lb. size. Here are the sites.

http://www.baileys-online.com Item is called Mega Maul 14.5 Lbs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Monster Maul

Maul/sledge (8lb) and wedges here.

It depends on the wood, I use just a splitting maul, 8 lb., for smaller straight grain wood. Water oak, hickory, white and red oak. The best wood to burn here about(south Georgia) is live oak and let me tell you it is tuff. Old Ironsides got it's name from the propensity for cannon balls to bounce off. Sledge, wedges and splitting maul come into play and sometimes I just give up(panting heavly) and the piece goes into the impossible pile. When B-B-Qing a hog, I use the impossibles for the coals. I have been splitting wood for 50 years and still ring the bell at all carnivals.