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log splitter

LV4-26

Senior Member
Hello there,

How is a log splitter different from an axe?

I was listening again to this interview of a woman (about living with nature and chopping wood to make fire). And she says
"Yeah, but that's brilliant! That's great fun! Chopping the wood, you know, swing a log splitter when you're angry, that's great! What d'you do in a house? you know, smash a plate or something, don't you?"

I understand what it's for (splitting logs), of course, but I'd never heard or read that term before.. All those I've seen on Google images are powered or hydraulic or, well, complicated machinery in any case.

The verb "swing" makes me think it's very close to an axe.
So my question is : why is it not called an axe? 👁 Smile :)


Any input much appreciated
Jean-Michel
I guess you can argue that the writer is just being colorful, but I guess there are many varieties of axes, only some of which are best suited for the specific activity of splitting logs.
Thanks, bibilolept. It is not a written document but a radio program (audio file), actually.
Would a log splitter have a shorter (or longer) handle or a thinner edge, maybe?
I don't wish to sound glib, but it would depend on the size of the log to be split. The handle is probably of average length, certainly longer than a hatchet's. Generally, the longer the handle, the easier the work (the greater the leverage). The head would likely be of the single-bit variety; note that there are axe-maul hybrids (my phrase) that have wedge-shaped heads.
The longer the handle, the easier the work, mechanically speaking; for the same reason, you want it to have a relatively heavy and elongated head. A longer handle is desired because you're cutting the logs lengthwise (and likely repeating the process quite a few times...). The handle would be longer than a hatchet or a forest ax. The head is probably single bit. There are also splitting mauls with a wedge-shaped head for those bigger jobs.

Addition: Sorry about the repetition, I thought my first post had disappeared.
Thanks, bibilolept. It is not a written document but a radio program (audio file), actually.
Would a log splitter have a shorter (or longer) handle or a thinner edge, maybe?

To split logs it would rather have to be a big tool than a small one. Must be one of this big lumber-jack type of axe - you wouldn't want to swing anything smaller than that when you are angry, would you?

However, apart from guessing, I know the "logsplitter" as a heavy piece of hydraulic equipment to split (in stead of sawing) big segments of logs. You'd need a tractor to move that. You don't swing it. So I'll vote for the big axe this time.
Jean-Michel,

There's this one which, by its name, covers everything! 👁 Big Grin :D


HERE


This site lists the different styles of axes and various uses for them:

HERE

It seems that if you're going to split wood manually, there are different tools you can use. That lady seemed to speak from experience, and that's why she was specific on the type of axe she used.

AngelEyes
Nice. I would not take the title of the Ebay page as any guide to the naming of these tools, though. Clearly, the person wanted to maximize the number of times the pages was found by shoppers using the search function of the site.
This site lists the different styles of axes and various uses for them:

HERE
Wow. Impressive! I'm appalled at the depth of my (former) ignorance on the subject. 👁 Smile :)

It seems that if you're going to split wood manually, there are different tools you can use. That lady seemed to speak from experience, and that's why she was specific on the type of axe she used.
Yes, she's been living outdoors (in a teepee) for a few years. I guess she's now an authority on wood chopping. 👁 Smile :)


Thank you all. 👁 Thumbs Up :thumbsup:
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