The Gun Counter

The axe design causes the head to rotate on impact, dissipating energy and reducing chances of deflection. Reportedly it work very well as a splitter.

Video is available at the link

That's pretty stupid. Using that old tire on his chopping block (which is not a bad idea at all) has a lot more to do with the speed he can split at, than the design of the axe head. But then he wastes the time saved, by chucking all the wood on the ground instead of putting it on his stack.

Netpackrat wrote:That's pretty stupid. Using that old tire on his chopping block (which is not a bad idea at all) has a lot more to do with the speed he can split at, than the design of the axe head. But then he wastes the time saved, by chucking all the wood on the ground instead of putting it on his stack.

Yep. I have an old truck tire screwed to a large round that I use for my chopping block. I also have a smaller 14" tire for smaller logs. It really saves time and saves your back from constantly having to bend over.

I can't wait to start reading the negative reviews.

For my stoves, that log would have been 6 pieces max, maybe 4. I like hydraulic splitters and infrequent reloading.

Meh. It's capitalism.
It's probably not a stellar idea for a first invention to futz with the tool that's been around since Thag and Og walked around in saber-tooth skins.

He should sell a chopping block kit that includes a fancy, whiz-bang tire like object.

If you are doing it right, you're not going to get a whole lot of shock from splitting wood on a block. Ideally by the time the maul/axe hits the wood, it should be driven almost entirely by its momentum, and your arms are along for the ride and providing control.

Edit to add: When AlaskaTRX and I bought our cabin, a friend of mine who had a fireplace in his house tried to get me to go halves with him on a log splitter. When I told him I could split wood almost as fast with a maul, and certainly fast enough for what little I burn over the course of the year, he thought I was full of shit. Later I took him out to the cabin with me where he got to watch me split wood, and he had to revise his thinking a bit. Of course, throw one spruce log in with the birch and that changes things a lot, the wedges come out, etc.

That's true, but if you spend enough time in the woods/cutting wood, any number of bigger dangers are way more likely to fuck you up long before repetitive strain gets to you. Which reminds me, I should pick up some hard hats to take to the cabin this year. I've seen a couple nasty widowmakers hanging in the trees around there before, but it's the one you don't see that gets you.

He's using white pine. You could almost split it with a hammer. Try his fancy axe in knotty elm or good red oak. Then go back to a splitter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmtMv7Cz0HA
Don't call OSHA...!