Uploaded August 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this video I tell the actual reasons it is often inefficient to split large firewood rounds in half. A common scenario is people thinking they need to split rounds in half, regardless of the size. Sometimes it is to put them on a mechanical splitter. In many woods, most of the blows spent splitting the wood in half could result in a finished piece of firewood instead. Once the mass is whittled down, you can split it in half much more easily. With large rounds, try slabbing off the sides first. I didn't say it in the video, but it uses the mass to advantage, by being able to hit a stable core, which directs more energy to removing the slab, rather than moving the round. There is usually not a good reason to split large rounds in half first, depending on the wood of course. Even if you are using a mechanical splitter, why hit a round 8, 10 12 times or more to get it in half, and then more to quarter it, when in many woods that would equal 6 to 10 pieces of firewood if you were slabbing off the side? Once it is smaller, then you can split it small enough to lift if it's not already, or maybe just finish with the maul instead
Support on patreon.com/skillcult has been critical in keeping me experimenting and making content. If you want to help me help others, this is probably the best way to do it. Thank you Patrons for supporting the mission!
Buy less, but buy it through my links! Shopping through my affiliate links generates revenue for me, at no extra cost to you, click links here, or go to my Amazon Store page: skillcult.com/amazon-store But seriously, buy less, do more.
Standard gear I recommend. I either use or have used all of it.
Council Tool Boys Axe: amzn.to/3z0muqI
Bahco Farmer's File: amzn.to/3Hbdhij
King two sided sharpening stone: amzn.to/32EX1XC
Silky f180 saw: amzn.to/3yZzM71
ARS 10 foot long reach pruner: amzn.to/3esETmM
Victorinox grafting/floral knife: amzn.to/3Jki1E9
Wiebe 12” fleshing tool: amzn.to/3sB0qSl
Atlas Elbow Gloves: amzn.to/3FwB5g6
BOOKS:
The Axe Book, by Dudley Cook: amzn.to/32kx7sN
Bushcraft, by Mors Kochanski: amzn.to/32q2rpT
Subscribe to my channel for more insightful Self Reliance related content: youtube.com/skillcult/subscribe Click the bell icon to be notified of new content. Subscribing doesn’t mean that much on it’s own.
Blog and website: skillcult.com/blog
Instagram and Facebook @SkillCult
In this video I tell the actual reasons it is often inefficient to split large firewood rounds in half. A common scenario is people thinking they need to split rounds in half, regardless of the size. Sometimes it is to put them on a mechanical splitter. In many woods, most of the blows spent splitting the wood in half could result in a finished piece of firewood instead. Once the mass is whittled down, you can split it in half much more easily. With large rounds, try slabbing off the sides first. I didn't say it in the video, but it uses the mass to advantage, by being able to hit a stable core, which directs more energy to removing the slab, rather than moving the round. There is usually not a good reason to split large rounds in half first, depending on the wood of course. Even if you are using a mechanical splitter, why hit a round 8, 10 12 times or more to get it in half, and then more to quarter it, when in many woods that would equal 6 to 10 pieces of firewood if you were slabbing off the side? Once it is smaller, then you can split it small enough to lift if it's not already, or maybe just finish with the maul instead
Support on patreon.com/skillcult has been critical in keeping me experimenting and making content. If you want to help me help others, this is probably the best way to do it. Thank you Patrons for supporting the mission!
Buy less, but buy it through my links! Shopping through my affiliate links generates revenue for me, at no extra cost to you, click links here, or go to my Amazon Store page: skillcult.com/amazon-store But seriously, buy less, do more.
Standard gear I recommend. I either use or have used all of it.
Council Tool Boys Axe: amzn.to/3z0muqI
Bahco Farmer's File: amzn.to/3Hbdhij
King two sided sharpening stone: amzn.to/32EX1XC
Silky f180 saw: amzn.to/3yZzM71
ARS 10 foot long reach pruner: amzn.to/3esETmM
Victorinox grafting/floral knife: amzn.to/3Jki1E9
Wiebe 12” fleshing tool: amzn.to/3sB0qSl
Atlas Elbow Gloves: amzn.to/3FwB5g6
BOOKS:
The Axe Book, by Dudley Cook: amzn.to/32kx7sN
Bushcraft, by Mors Kochanski: amzn.to/32q2rpT
Subscribe to my channel for more insightful Self Reliance related content: youtube.com/skillcult/subscribe Click the bell icon to be notified of new content. Subscribing doesn’t mean that much on it’s own.
Blog and website: skillcult.com/blog
Instagram and Facebook @SkillCult
