Location – Place the splitting wedge in the middle of the log or piece of wood, in the most central location possible. This will help you break the wood into even pieces and is most effective at breaking through the wood fibers. 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. They’ve been thoroughly reviewed online and have held up admirably against their manufacture’s claims. All in all, any one of the wedges above would work well for years to come. More From Timber Gadgets 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,

Because of this, it’s a worthwhile investment to get two instead of one. Buying two wedges has its own benefits: Easier Cutting – Splitting wedges make the process of cutting wood easier and helps you leverage your natural strength and tools to their best effect. 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. Instead of focusing on which type of wedge is objectively better, think about what your current and future splitting needs are. From there, choose the wedge that fits these needs. 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.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. Choosing a splitting wedge will depend on a variety of factors, such as your budget, needs, and current equipment. Splitting wedges range from basic models to more advanced versions, such as those with four-way splitting designs. 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.

The Truper Super Splitter Wedge is a serious contender in terms of diamond wedges and affordable splitting accessories. 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. 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 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.

Hardwood Wedges

You may not need a splitting wedge with smaller logs or stumps, or with softwoods like pine and fir. But for any larger pieces of wood, knotty wood, and hardwood, it’s easier to use a splitting wedge. This saves you from having to employ mauls or other heavy equipment, which are effective but require more physical force. Felling – Felling wedges are distinctly different from splitting wedges; they should only be used to fell a tree, not cut through wood or split logs. These types of wedges won’t hold up to being repeatedly hit with a maul or axe. 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. There are also 3 Ib and 4 Ibs versions available and a regular wood splitting wedge option instead of the super wood splitting wedge.

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 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.This will essentially boil down to the type of wood you deal with most often and how you want it split. 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. Another term for a diamond wedge is a wood grenade wedge. As such, you’ll often see them used interchangeably. However, diamond is the more common of the two. Less commonly, you’ll see them referred to as a torpedo-type wedge. 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. Splitting wedges help you cut wood into halves or quarters by driving down into the wood fibers and forcing them apart, expanding the break until the log or wood splits.

If you just work with softer woods and are turning them into firewood, then traditional wedges will work. But if you’re working with hard or knotty woods and need them broken into smaller pieces, such as for kindling, then a diamond or grenade is the way to go. Size & Weight (Dimensions)

MARINE TIMBER & Hardwood Suppliers

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. 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 For heavier and knotty wood, err toward a larger and heavier splitting wedge. For softer woods, go with a smaller and lighter wedge. Cost The best splitting wedge will meet your splitting needs (halves, quarters, etc.) while holding up to the repeated use it’s undoubtedly going to get. It should be easy to initially drive into the wood and be able to handle splitting different types of wood.