Splitting Kindling With A Double Bit Axe

This is not an instructional video or how to. Axe details: http://youtu.be/7mPZ2Qybbcg

The other day I decided to make a bunch of kindling for the forge. Not having a hatchet I came up with this method. If done right it seems faster and safer than most other methods I've tried.

A wide variety of hardwoods were used, some split easy and some don't. I didn't hand select the wood, it's just whatever was laying in the woodpile, ash, oak, maple, hickory, black cherry, elm, etc.

The different video angles show where my hands and body are for safety. I normally don't split wood down this small, instead, I just use twigs to get a fire going. But, I don't have twigs in the yard, used 'em all up. And, I wanted to have a bunch of kindling prepared so firing up the forge multiple times will go quicker.

A side benefit to all this, my axe still shaved when finished, no risk of the blade going into the ground or cross grain cutting at 90 degree angles which both can dull an axe. Also, the axe is stationary which may be safer as well, your mileage may vary.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• splitting
• kindling
• with
• double
• bit
• axe
• axemanship
• ax
• men
• splitting wood with an axe
• woodsmoke
• hatchet
• tomahawk
• hawk
• woodcraft
• axecraft
• camping
• campfire
• hardwood
• fire
• woodsman
• miwilderness
• michigan
• pattern

[NHlocal]

Thanks for the video, there's always an easier way to do everything.

Work safe.

[MiWilderness]

@NHlocal You're welcome! And thanks, Roosevelt

[CanoeJohnny]

Ingenious!!!! 

[MiWilderness]

@CanoeJohnny :) thanks! I wouldn't say ingenious, just looking at a job and figuring out an easier way of doing it.

[MiWilderness]

@robertmccallum1 Could be, it had some pitting that was cleaned up before I got it.

[robertmccallum1]

@MiWilderness i wonder if its old

[MiWilderness]

@robertmccallum1 I don't know. It has the marks 3 1/2 and M on it.

[robertmccallum1]

Nice axe ...who makes that

[MiWilderness]

@JBSurvive2Live Thanks! You can even get shavings and scrapings with this, just takes a bit of thinking to figure it out. I made some "feathersticks" but didn't show it. Axe has to be pretty sharp for that stuff though.

[JBSurvive2Live]

Less work/energy to do it the way you were showing.& likely safer than using the axehead weight. Reminds me of a vertical mechanical log splitter. Thumbs Up! Keep 'em coming!