The Best Splitting Maul For Any Budget
Splitting maul – a tool used primarily for splitting logs for firewood. There are many types of mauls: lighter, heavier, shorter, longer, made by hand or a machine.
Problem is, it might be hard to decide what is the best splitting maul for you, especially on a specific budget.
The information below will guide you through and hopefully let you make up your mind on what splitting maul should you buy.
Best overall
Fiskars Iso Core
You might have seen this splitting maul be suggested as a top choice on every single page on the web that talks about splitting mauls, and guess what, there’s a reason for it.
First and foremost, it’s a cheap, or i should say an affordable maul made by a reputable company, but that alone doesn’t always tell the product is great, right?
It’s the great features that make this maul stand out from the rest of the competition, so let me list them down below.
Features
I guess i should begin with the design: first thing you might notice is that the handle is not made from wood, but from fiberglass.
The fiberglass handle, which is 36 inch (91 cm) long, is a lot less likely to crack or split if you over strike (hit the handle just where it meets the maul’s head), and even if you do, usually the damage won’t get worse as you continue to use the maul, because it’s made from synthetic materials.
If, for some reason, the handle randomly cracks in half, or something along those lines happens during normal use, you can always try returning the maul back for replacement, as the it has full lifetime warranty.
The maul’s head weighs 8 pounds (3.6 kg), while the whole tool weight is about 10.4 pounds (4.7 kg). The head is also mechanically attached to the shaft, not glued on.
This is important, as improperly attached maul’s head can be a potential hazard to you, or other’s nearby where the wood splitting takes place.
The handle is also quite ergonomic: it features specific texturing to make the grip not only be less slippery, but also more comfortable.
The flare at the handle’s bottom is also nicely pronounced, to prevent your bottom hand from sliding off during the splitting motion.
Now let’s talk about why this maul might be not for everybody.
Things to consider before buying
It is a pretty heavy maul: the maul’s head is in the 6-8 pound (2.7 – 3.6 kg) range, and while that is a proper weight for a splitting maul’s head, it still might be too heavy for some people.
If you are in your later years, or simply think that the weight of the maul is too much, this maul might be harder to use making the firewood splitting process too cumbersome.
Also, if you love working with rubber coated gloves, know that the friction between the handle and the gloves might make the splitting motion too “grippy”, so you might either choose to work bare handed, or use gloves that don’t have a rubber coat on them.
In conclusion
Besides all that, the Fiskars Iso Core maul (link to Amazon) is truly amazing, and that’s the reason why this is the best splitting maul, at least in my list; yes it might not look good for everybody, but let’s be honest, rarely the looks matter when you want an affordable and proper tool for the job.
The high end
Gränsfors Bruk Splitting Maul
Willing to spend a little more coin, eh? Well, then this splitter might be exactly for you.
Now let me begin with the obvious – this maul is pretty expensive. I can’t really say the exact price because it constantly fluctuates, but you can be prepared to spend from two to three times more than on most splitting maul’s on this list.
Is it worth it? Well, i guess the features and other things i tell you down below will let you make up your mind.
Features
I guess i should first start with the looks: it is a beautiful maul. It’s that type of tool that you can hang on your wall near a fire place, or in a workshop as a decoration when not in use.
It is hand crafted after all, in Sweden. I guess that might be the reason why it’s quite pricey.
It’s one of those things which you wouldn’t be ashamed of giving to somebody as a birthday gift, or even passing to the next generations as a family heirloom.
Even though the handle is made from wood, more specifically hickory, the over strike part is covered with a metal sheet to prevent it from cracking, and eventually splitting.
The splitting maul’s handle length is 31.5 inches (80 cm).
Maul’s head weighs 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg); the total tool weight is 7 pounds (3.2 kg).
It also comes with a leather sheath for the protection of the maul’s head.
Things to consider before buying
The maul is shorter and lighter than what i suggest: people who can’t swing a heavier maul will benefit here.
As i pointed before, the maul is pretty expensive.
In conclusion
This maul (check it out on Amazon) is definitely the most beautiful out of all in this list – hand made with love, it truly is the work of art made for work. If you appreciate traditionally made rustic tools, then this is a go-to choice.
Low budget
Seymour SM-8FG
Check the product out on Amazon
If you don’t want to spend the biggest bank on a splitting maul, this might be an option for you.
Features
The tool has a very traditional type of head, which some people prefer over any other such as the Fiskars one, or Gränsfors Bruk.
The maul features a fiberlass handle. I strongly suggest choosing a splitting maul with this type of handle, because more often than not, they’re more durable.
Seymour SM-8FG has a proper, 36 inch (91 cm) long handle: maul’s head weight is 8 pounds (3.6kg), while the total weight of the tool is about 10.25 pounds (4.7 kg). I think you should always choose a heavier maul, because in my opinion, it splits wood easier than a light one.
Things to consider before buying
The mauls handle is somewhat thin, which makes it harder to grasp, making it twist in your hands during the wood splitting process, especially if you won’t have working gloves on.
Handle’s over strike protection, which is made from rubber, may start to wear off after some use.
Just like the Fiskars, it’s one of the more heavy mauls, so you have to make sure whether this amount of weight is not too much for you to handle.
In conclusion
Even though the maul is the cheapest on this list, and really not that bad, i would still highly suggest buying the Fiskars Iso Core, considering the fact that it’s higher quality tool, and generally only slightly more expensive.
The middle price
Husqvarna Splitting Maul
Yet another high quality splitting maul straight from Sweden, that isn’t as expensive as the first one.
Features
The Husqvarna Splitting Maul has a 32 inch (81 cm) long handle – the total tool weight is 7.2 pounds (3.3 kg).
Some people say that lighter and shorter maul’s are more accurate, therefore making the wood splitting easier, while in my opinion heavier and longer mauls are better for that.
The maul is hand forged just like the Gränsfors Bruk, except Husqvarna doesn’t actually make the mauls by themselves, they contact other Swedish companies specializing in those areas to produce the splitting mauls for them.
I should note that the maul has a very unique looking head – just by looking at the picture, it’s shape might be more familiar to an axe rather than a maul, but that’s not true. A spine runs on both sides of the maul’s head making it function like a wedge, hence why it’s a splitting maul’s head.
A leather sheath is included for the protection of the tool’s head.
Things to consider before buying
Handle has no over strike protection. If you are careful enough, you might never hit the handle, but let’s be honest, it happens to everybody eventually. The issue can be solved by either making your own custom metal collar, or just by wrapping the handle with some paracord, although it may not be as effective as the first suggestion.
The varnish on the maul’s handle is minimal, so it’s best that you apply some more, such as boiled linseed oil, to protect it fully.
Once again, the maul is a lot lighter and shorter than what i generally suggest in choosing – if you can’t swing a heavier maul, then this might be an advantage, but if you can, always buy a maul with at least an 8 pound (3.6 kg) head, and a 36 inch (91 cm) long handle.
In conclusion
If you want a more traditional type of maul, which is lighter and shorter, features a proper hickory handle, and won’t be as expensive as the Gränsfors Bruk, this option might be for you.
You can get this maul on Amazon.
The second high end
Wilton Tools 50836
You have the money, but want something different than the Gränsfors Bruk? Then read on.
Features
The maul’s price is comparable to the Gränsfors Bruk, but the specifications are a lot different.
The maul is very heavy. Even though the tool shares common features to many of the mauls, such as it has an 8 pound (3.6 kg) head, and a 36 inch (91 cm) handle, the total item weight is about 14.4 pounds (6.5 kg)!
That is 4 pounds (1.8 kg) heavier than the already heavy Fiskars Iso Core.
The reason why this maul weighs so much, is because it has actual metal bars that run in the handle from the bottom to the top of the head, which should make it unbreakable as advertised.
As the company states, if you break the handle during normal use in under 2 years, they will give you 1000$. This is a rare statement for any tool, especially a splitting maul which gets abused quite a lot, so that probably speaks a lot about the overall tool quality.
Things to consider before buying
Once again, it’s a very heavy maul. For some it’s a plus, for others a minus. I really don’t see a point in buying such a heavy maul, as the Fiskars Iso Core is already heavy enough, but if you have enough strength, endurance and will to swing such a heavy maul, then you might consider purchasing one.
In Conclusion
This seems to be a pretty good maul (affiliate link) for what it costs. I’m almost certain that it beats the Gränsfors Bruk splitting maul when it comes to the money and quality, but then again, you have to think of the weight, and whether or not you like synthetic tools.
How to Choose a Splitting Maul
As you probably already know, there are a lot of splitting mauls out there, even on this list, but how do you choose a proper one?
The most important factor when choosing a splitting maul is determining how heavy should it be.
I suggest going no lower than a maul with a 8 pound (3.6 kg) head, as lighter ones are just not that enough to split proper wood.
Some people say that 6 pound (2.7 kg) head on a splitting maul is all you need, but i disagree with that, unless you really can’t toss that amount of weight, even though it doesn’t weigh that much more really.
Other important factor is it’s length: the longer the tool, the more momentum you’ll be able to generate, hence making the wood split easier.
Again, there are folks who swear that having a shorter maul will make it more accurate, and i do believe in that, but losing extra drive from a longer tool is just not worth it in my opinion.
The last thing, but not really a crucial one, is determining what type of handle on a maul should you choose – wood or synthetic.
I highly suggest buying a maul with a synthetic (fiberglass) handle, as those are more durable than wood, reduce over strike damage, and produce less shock on your hands.
What you may also want to do is buy two mauls – one lighter, and one heavier. Use the heavier one to split big, difficult rounds in half, and the lighter one to split those halves into more pieces.
How to Care for Your Splitting Maul
If you do end up buying a splitting maul with a wooden handle, don’t forget that every season you should coat it with a nice layer of boiled linseed oil.
Boiled linseed oil protects your splitting maul, or any tool with a wooden handle from rain and sun, which is crucial if you want the handle to last for a long time.
If you don’t end up doing this every season, after some time the handle will start to dry and darken. If it doesn’t get to the point where you need to replace it, remove the old varnish (the old coating of oil) from the handle with some sand paper, and apply some new boiled linseed oil.
Splitting mauls need to be sharp, not extremely like an axe, but should have an edge to it. The edge on the maul becomes more blunt every time you use it, so it makes sense to sharpen it up from time to time; i suggest doing that before every splitting session.
Here is a full guide post i made on the topic of sharpening a splitting maul.
To Wrap It All Up
There is something special in splitting wood with your own hands – sure, you can buy already split and ready to use firewood, but having logs you can split on your own, by hand, using a tool such as a splitting maul, is truly something amazing.