When the splitting axe reaches its limits, splitting wedges provide handy logs
As soon as you need logs for a fire or want to store wood for other purposes, you should split freshly cut wood. On the one hand, the longer it dries, the more difficult it is to split, and on the other, its calorific value is reduced as internal rot sets in. If, on the other hand, the felled wood is processed quickly, the logs can dry better, which increases their calorific value.
To split logs, there are several ways. As an alternative to the costly and space-intensive hydraulic log splitter, it is worthwhile to take a sporty grip on the splitting axe or splitting hammer.
However, some logs or types of wood are so knotty or overgrown that even the heaviest splitting hammer reaches its limits. At this point, our forged splitting wedges come into play.
Enormous power due to special design
Splitting wedges come in different shapes, sizes and designs. Their special design makes them particularly suitable for splitting hard wood and meter pieces. The wedge surfaces are provided with a special profile. Lateral “scales” prevent the wedge from jumping out, the inserted grooves and webs provide better guidance, reduce resistance and at the same time increase the splitting effect. To ensure that the wedge sticks better in the wood when it is applied, our splitting wedges are easy to apply with their sharp point and quickly find a good hold in the wood thanks to special notches. All these features of the splitting wedges ensure that firewood can be split into manageable, easily transportable and fast-drying logs in just a few strokes.
Rotary gap wedges are even more efficient
A special form of splitting wedges are the so-called rotary splitting wedges. Their special shape additionally helps to break apart the wood when splitting. Due to their twist, the force of the impact is transferred even more effectively into the wood, as the splitting effect increases enormously due to the wider wedge angle
Correct use of splitting wedges
Regardless of which model you end up using, the application of riving knives always follows the same principle: do not position the knife too centrally for large slices of wood and make sure that it is aligned as parallel as possible to the grain direction. Now you can drive it in with light hammer blows – with a small hammer if necessary – until it is firmly seated. The wedge is then driven into the wood with a heavy hammer until it breaks apart. Ideally, you use for this purpose a special splitting hammer, which itself still has an ax head on one side. This way you can – if necessary – still help with targeted blows without having to change your tool too often. If the wedge disappears into the wood – which can happen especially with meter pieces – you can add a second wooden wedge until the wood splits.
Pay attention to safety when working with splitting wedges
As with all forestry work, the same applies to splitting with wedges: Safety first! Take care of yourself and your surroundings. Wear appropriate protective clothing and safety goggles.
Splitting hammers or splitting axes with PE impact heads offer maximum safety.
