BOHLE Hardwood Wooden Wedges x 50 Pieces BO 5162002

Product Information

Weight – Wedges can weigh anywhere from 3 – 5 Ibs usually, but 4 Ibs is the most common weight. Anything outside this range will affect how easy it is to maneuver and actually split the logs. Safer Process – Splitting wedges create a safer cutting process because they give you a larger target to swing at and reduce the amount of time and energy you need to put into splitting. Both of these reduce the chances of an accidental injury. It’s best to use a splitting wedge whenever you have multiple pieces of wood to split, rather than just a log or two. If you’re going to be working on lots of wood or for a longer period of time, a splitting wedge makes the overall process easier and more efficient.

And among each material itself is a range of hardness. For example, there are some types of steel that are harder than others, which will affect the wedge’s overall performance and longevity. Easier Cutting – Splitting wedges make the process of cutting wood easier and helps you leverage your natural strength and tools to their best effect. If you’re looking for a traditional splitting wedge, you can’t go wrong with the Estwing Sure Split Wedge or Hooyman Splitting Wedge. The Collins Diamond Wedge and Truper Super Splitter are the best choices among diamond, grenade, and torpedo wedges.

This will essentially boil down to the type of wood you deal with most often and how you want it split. Universal – These wedges can be used for both felling and splitting. But the tradeoff for this versatility is that universal wedges aren’t as effective as specific types of wedges. Clean Splits – As a bonus, wedges split the wood more cleanly than other tools. Instead of swinging an axe multiple times and cutting in multiple different places, the splitting wedge creates one cut that’s continually deepened. These aren’t the only benefits of a splitting wedge, but they are four of the most important. So while splitting wedges aren’t must-have’s, they certainly should be on the top of your wish list. How To Select A Splitting Wedge

For heavier and knotty wood, err toward a larger and heavier splitting wedge. For softer woods, go with a smaller and lighter wedge. Cost Size – Thinner and longer wedges are more effective than wider and shorter wedges. This is because the former is able to transfer more force from your swing into the wood. When splitting particularly large logs, you can set the wedges up in a line and “leapfrog” from one to the other.

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If your wedge is dull and you don’t have any sharpeners on hand, you can switch to the second wedge. Each of these four has quality construction, holds up over time, and splits wood both efficiently and effectively. In the sections that follow, we’ll break down everything you need to know about splitting wedges and talk about our top choices. Using a splitting wedge also means you won’t be wearing down your axes or risking breaking your tools, such as the axe handle.

Keep in mind, expensive wedges aren’t necessarily the best ones. Price is tied to a variety of factors, not just quality. But compared to other woodworking equipment, such as the axes themselves or electric grinders, splitting wedges are cheap.

The dimensions of a splitting wedge (size and weight) can influence its performance, efficiency, and longevity. Extended Lifespan – Using a splitting wedge can preserve other cutting equipment such as mauls and axes. These tools take more force and time to cut wood, wearing them down and potentially shortening their lifespan or increasing the cost of maintenance over time. Splitting wedges are made of hardened steel so that they can handle repeated impact from an axe, maul, or other tool. They may also be made of aluminum, Placement – The wedge should be placed so that it lines up with how the tree grows. Don’t try to drive the wedge perpendicular to the fibers or across the tree. The quality of a splitting wedge is tied to the material it’s made of, but that’s not the only factor at play. Shape

Because of this, it’s a worthwhile investment to get two instead of one. Buying two wedges has its own benefits:It’s crafted with drop-forged, heat-treated carbon steel for durability and longevity. It has ‘teeth’ that line the four blades to help prevent it from shifting when you first place it in the wood, but nothing as extensive as the Collins Diamond option. Material, cost, and shape/type are a few elements to keep in mind when selecting a splitting wedge, all of which are covered more in-depth in the sections below. Material Steel – Steel is the strongest material and most robust when it comes to impact, but doesn’t hold up as well in cold temperatures. If used in freezing temperatures, it’s actually possible that a steel wedge may freeze and break.