Hand splitting wood is a personal thing, I've never split Beech, or ever cut it. I've only split Oak, red & white of different types, and Walnut and the occasional Cherry or Hickory here and there. Tried some Osage Orange but, you're almost wasting your time hand splitting that! Reading and hitting your spots are as important as the axe or splitter you are using and the angle of the one you chose is the one, I would have from using one similar. I was a 5'11 slim guy and could show up bulky guys who thought it was all about power, you still have to hit your spot for the best split on the log! No bust on you, I enjoy watching your videos, it's all about the placement and sharpness of your strikes to the outcome of the split. Wish I could be in that physical shape again. Doing that for hours at a time actually builds you stronger mentally. Thanks for showing videos like this, plenty of people need to learn to toughen themselves for a time that may depend on such things if the easy way suddenly isn't an option anymore.
I really enjoy splitting wood by hand. I dont own a log splitter. Not sure I will ever buy one? Guess some day I might have to. Untill then, I'm going to enjoy it and it gives me a reason to use my tools
Loved green leather ever since my Dad brought home a vintage pair of Ted Williams Irish Setters. Would like to get my hands on some of that Killinger customer green dye.
I have an old council tools 5lb fallers axe I put on a new 28” strait handle it works well for splitting and a traditional 6 lb splitting mail. Gets the job done.
Thank you so much for the comparison evaluation. I agree if you can afford all three definitely go that route. Me being so tall I always reach for longer handle axes first. I’m gonna try the 6 pounder and see how it does.
Hi Chris!!😀😀 They did all seem to work pretty much equally as well. You need a 4 wheeler and a small trailer for getting around in the wet ground. That's what I do at my place when cutting in the lower ground. Take care my friend!!😀😀❤
Very nice comparison and discussion as well as super workout! Beech is tough enough to split with a machine let alone by hand. You're right about the tight grain! That's why they use it to make work bench tops. 💪
Nice work with the splitters, Chris. Enjoy the rest mom the task. Now you just need to get a side-by-side with the dump box on the back of it for the property. They are true little work horses, and real handy at getting around the woods.There is soooo much they can do for you. Best regards, and we'll see you on the next one.
Very nice set of axes sir!! An u reminded me i got to buy me a couple of the council tool axes. I remember ur other videos on em we talked alil about em the quality of the steel an the profile an hang etc..
I can tell you the main difference that I have found - hardware store handles are harder than crap. The reason is they are kept in an air conditioned environment and this dries them out, tremendously. I just got through putting a new hickory handle in a 200 year old broad axe and getting it to fit dulled out my spoke shave. It was like cutting a brick. If I had it to do again I would put it outside in the rain for a few days, but since I wanted to get the job done I just grinned and neared the extra effort.
Indeed some nice, vintage splitting axes and gettin' some PT in. 👍 Ever since you showed me the Fiskars Hookaroon, I ordered a Fiskers IsoCore 8 lb. Wood splitting maul too. I have split a lot of wood many different ways in my lifetime but aside from a hydraulic log splitter, that Fiskars IsoCore 8 lb. maul is by far, better and more productive at splitting firewood than any other axe, wedge, or maul I have tried. It is easy to swing, almost no vibration back through the handle, and splits most firewood rounds on the first strike.
I have the 5 pound splitter. It works great on Pine. I didn’t choose the FE6 cause I don’t like how it has the notches for the Halligan tool, but it does have a nice wedge, shape profile!
Really nice review Chris! I bought the 5 pound splitter and the wife got me the FE6 for Christmas. Both were purchased due to your great videos! Keep it coming Sir!🙏🏿🇺🇸🪓
Council Tool handles come from the factory with excellent grain orientation, very good hickory and already thin and immediately usable, they're hands down the best factory handles.
I have the two of the three. I have the 5lb splitter with the 36” handle and a FE6 with the 32” handle. The FE6 is going to be one of my favorite splitters. They make the FE6 in a fiberglass handle. If you are looking for a great dependable splitter I think that would be a great choice. I would like to own the album you are playing👍
Here are my two cents! First off, CT has the best mass production handles of any manufacturer out there! Second, the FE6 is an awesome splitting axe, but not if you use wedges. The handle is curved for fire work, but that makes it harder to aim hitting wedges (ask me how I know). However, the FE6 uses 4140 steel, which is incredibly high quality and very resilient. I've put it through its paces and it performs marvelously. The straight handle fallers axe looks awesome. Just another example of how CT is the most innovative axe company on the market. Great video thanks for the comparison! That leatherwork on the axe roll is top notch.
Constructive criticism here, when you take any bite on a round, keep the edge of the axe near the outside of the round. When you bite deeply within the round it does not split as well, keep that edge near the outside and it will split far better. I find that when splitting large rounds it is necessary to chip pieces from the outside before trying to center split. You will stack more wood with less swings using that method.
Mr. Killinger how would you compare these Council Tool splitting axe profiles to the Fiskars splitting axe profiles? Do you prefer a slimmer wedge profile or a more Robust profile?
Depends on which fiskars we are talking about as well as what kind of wood. With these, we have to leave the iso core out because that's not really a comparison. That leaves the x27. In this situation, I would prefer the heavy axe I think? I would need to use the fiskars with the axe in the same wood to really reach an honest opinion.
@@KillingerUSA absolutely. The X25 and X27 are the same axe just different length handles. I just bought an X25 a couple days ago after having the X27 for five years. The X25 has a 28'' handle and the X27 has the 36'' handle. I appreciate the shorter handles now. My mother bought me a Husqvarna S2800 with a 27 1/2 '' inch handle for my birthday two years ago. The S2800 is very similar to a X25, the handle is a half inch shorter and 5lb head verses 4 1/4 lbs. The S2800 has a specialized poll too, specifically for pounding plastic and aluminum wedges. A week before last, I split a cord of wood for my neighbor in five days, three hours per days. I used the S2800 the first three days and the X27 and 8lb isocore maul the last two. Cherry, maple and birch.
Mr. Killinger just to clarify things on my part, the X25 is 5.29 lbs over all and the X27 is 5.85 lbs over all. I was under the impression the the axe head was the same weight. It doesn't specify weight on the Fiskars website and I had to look it up on Amazon. I'm generally an ebay fan and purchased it from ebay. When I received my X25 I brought it in the house to unwrap it. When the weather was better yesterday I took it out to split some cherry rounds and noticed it was lighter and the head was slightly smaller. Its a nice edition the the X27 and the heavier Husqvarna S2800.
I've split a good amount of beech. It is not easy when it's that tall! You have to slab pieces off like you're doing. The twisty knotty stuff is brutal. Even axes with pretty good splitting profiles can get stuck. Even worse than splitting beech is riving it. Just not a good idea if you can get ash, oaks or hickory. I rived a 4ft 15 inch diameter piece of American beech in half more than a week ago and still haven't gone back to get handle billets out of it. It's just a lot less fun than a ring porous wood.
Yes. Definitely more noticeable than something like a Dayton, or connie. Seems more in line with a tassie. I keep thinking about felling a tree and bucking with one of the 5lb but just haven't gotten to it. I'd like to see how it would perform in that manner.
@@KillingerUSA cool, if I could get them here I'd definitely give one a go. unfortunately only one place sells council and it doesn't look like they plan on getting more. Probably need quite a bit of time on the grinder to thin it to fell good but could have potential
Set your logs up on a larger log so you aren't bending over so much...my back was getting sore just watching you...I split with a heavier maul and use a different technique where you let the maul almost roll behind you and gain momentum as you power it up and over your head...I believe there's way more energy with less effort than lifting the axe straight up and over your head then down...maybe it doesn't work the same way with a lighter axe
In theory council tools is a great buy. In reality, they will not send you good working axes. Council tool will actively send you downgraded axes over the internet such as Amazon or eBay. I'm 5 axes in and so far all returned for major problems out the box.
Grab the FE6! Links for the others in the description! amzn.to/3uP8u1A
Hand splitting wood is a personal thing, I've never split Beech, or ever cut it. I've only split Oak, red & white of different types, and Walnut and the occasional Cherry or Hickory here and there. Tried some Osage Orange but, you're almost wasting your time hand splitting that! Reading and hitting your spots are as important as the axe or splitter you are using and the angle of the one you chose is the one, I would have from using one similar. I was a 5'11 slim guy and could show up bulky guys who thought it was all about power, you still have to hit your spot for the best split on the log! No bust on you, I enjoy watching your videos, it's all about the placement and sharpness of your strikes to the outcome of the split. Wish I could be in that physical shape again. Doing that for hours at a time actually builds you stronger mentally. Thanks for showing videos like this, plenty of people need to learn to toughen themselves for a time that may depend on such things if the easy way suddenly isn't an option anymore.
I really enjoy splitting wood by hand. I dont own a log splitter. Not sure I will ever buy one? Guess some day I might have to. Untill then, I'm going to enjoy it and it gives me a reason to use my tools
the axe roll pouch is awesome! if I ever get a sewing machine I would try larger projects like that
Even with the sewing machine, that thing was a monster!
Loved green leather ever since my Dad brought home a vintage pair of Ted Williams Irish Setters. Would like to get my hands on some of that Killinger customer green dye.
Green is my favorite!
I like that axe storage case.
I have an old council tools 5lb fallers axe I put on a new 28” strait handle it works well for splitting and a traditional 6 lb splitting mail. Gets the job done.
Nice!
Go the FE6! Where do you find this crazy music! Awesome 😁👍👍
Epidemic sound. I pay a subscription to use the music. I spend hours listening to songs to find the right peice for the videos.
+1 for Epidemic Sound.
Thank you so much for the comparison evaluation. I agree if you can afford all three definitely go that route. Me being so tall I always reach for longer handle axes first. I’m gonna try the 6 pounder and see how it does.
I'd I could only buy 1, that would be the one. Your going to love it!
Hi Chris!!😀😀
They did all seem to work pretty much equally as well.
You need a 4 wheeler and a small trailer for getting around in the wet ground. That's what I do at my place when cutting in the lower ground.
Take care my friend!!😀😀❤
I definitely could use something, that's for sure. The tractor is just to heavy. Makes a huge mess!
Very nice comparison and discussion as well as super workout! Beech is tough enough to split with a machine let alone by hand. You're right about the tight grain! That's why they use it to make work bench tops. 💪
It sure is a tough wood. They also used to make wood hand planes out of it.
That tool roll is crazy! 🤪
Its pretty slick!
Nice work with the splitters, Chris. Enjoy the rest mom the task.
Now you just need to get a side-by-side with the dump box on the back of it for the property. They are true little work horses, and real handy at getting around the woods.There is soooo much they can do for you.
Best regards, and we'll see you on the next one.
Thanks Dale! I'd buy one if I could find one! Haha! They like everything else are impossible to buy right now, and I need it right now.
Great comparison, great music, great tool roll!
Well thank you!
Very nice set of axes sir!! An u reminded me i got to buy me a couple of the council tool axes. I remember ur other videos on em we talked alil about em the quality of the steel an the profile an hang etc..
Thanks Justin!
@@KillingerUSA thani u sir
I can tell you the main difference that I have found - hardware store handles are harder than crap. The reason is they are kept in an air conditioned environment and this dries them out, tremendously. I just got through putting a new hickory handle in a 200 year old broad axe and getting it to fit dulled out my spoke shave. It was like cutting a brick. If I had it to do again I would put it outside in the rain for a few days, but since I wanted to get the job done I just grinned and neared the extra effort.
Awesome comparison. I like them all👍🏻
They are sweet!
I really liked this video. Comparisons are my favorite. That FE6 is a beast!
It sure is
Indeed some nice, vintage splitting axes and gettin' some PT in. 👍 Ever since you showed me the Fiskars Hookaroon, I ordered a Fiskers IsoCore 8 lb. Wood splitting maul too. I have split a lot of wood many different ways in my lifetime but aside from a hydraulic log splitter, that Fiskars IsoCore 8 lb. maul is by far, better and more productive at splitting firewood than any other axe, wedge, or maul I have tried. It is easy to swing, almost no vibration back through the handle, and splits most firewood rounds on the first strike.
Its definitely hard to beat! I should do a showdown between it and the adler super splitter. I think the adler would give it a run for its money.
I have the 5 pound splitter. It works great on Pine. I didn’t choose the FE6 cause I don’t like how it has the notches for the Halligan tool, but it does have a nice wedge, shape profile!
It's the best splitter out of the group by far. One of my favorites
Awesome. I just got the council tool 5lb with the 28in handle.
Nice
Really nice review Chris! I bought the 5 pound splitter and the wife got me the FE6 for Christmas. Both were purchased due to your great videos! Keep it coming Sir!🙏🏿🇺🇸🪓
That's awesome James! I got some other axes in the works! I cant help myself. I love axes!
ooo baby I been waiting for this video the council guy is super excited about this 😍 👍❤
Nice! Hope you enjoyed it!
Council Tools is right down the street from me!!!!!!!
That's really cool!
Great comparison! You got to give yourself credit. The rounds looked 16 inches long or better. Not an easy split. Good to see you in the woods.
Thank you! Yes, 16". I try to keep all my rounds around 16".
Split today . No knots straight grain x27 anything that looked tuff went to hyd. Splitter . But I'm open to suggestions .😂
What's a hydraulic splitter? 😉🤣
Council Tool handles come from the factory with excellent grain orientation, very good hickory and already thin and immediately usable, they're hands down the best factory handles.
Good handles
Do you have access to a deer sled/ drag sled? I’ve used them here in VA when it’s dry/wet. You can still get a few hundred pounds at a time.
No but that's a fantastic idea!
I have never burned beech. I’ve heard it is pretty good though.
I burned a little this season and it does good.
I personally like the faller's axe, I echo Kurt S on the music...nice...Mr. Killinger you had me smiling for all the right reasons....
I happy that I put a smile on your face friend!!
Very good video I thought the FE 6 was the better ax it really went deep into the one log you had to use your foot to get to out of great video thanks
I would aggre.
Good choice in tunes! FE6 looked like the perfect profile and I liked the curved axe handle. Hmmmm....
Thank you! Yes, it works really well!
nice matchup, that 28” is a banger 👌
It sure is!
Buddy we need to find a way to get together and split!
Send it! Haha!
Nice comparison
Thanks Fred
Sure have a wide selection of splitters thanks for the review
I do enjoy trying different axes
Time to start throwing some wood!
That's how I will probably get it out ha!
@@KillingerUSA it could be a new olympic sport!
I have the two of the three. I have the 5lb splitter with the 36” handle and a FE6 with the 32” handle. The FE6 is going to be one of my favorite splitters. They make the FE6 in a fiberglass handle. If you are looking for a great dependable splitter I think that would be a great choice.
I would like to own the album you are playing👍
Great axes! The FE6 is my favorite!
Love that axe case
Thank you! It sure is handy!
Here are my two cents! First off, CT has the best mass production handles of any manufacturer out there! Second, the FE6 is an awesome splitting axe, but not if you use wedges. The handle is curved for fire work, but that makes it harder to aim hitting wedges (ask me how I know). However, the FE6 uses 4140 steel, which is incredibly high quality and very resilient. I've put it through its paces and it performs marvelously. The straight handle fallers axe looks awesome.
Just another example of how CT is the most innovative axe company on the market. Great video thanks for the comparison! That leatherwork on the axe roll is top notch.
Great axes and thank you!
I don't think you could go wrong with any of them either, but i do prefer the shorter handles.
They all work great!
Hard work no matter what axe.
Good for the heart!
I have the 5 & 6 pounder. Pretty cheap price for what you get.
Was the axe roll bag really necessary to walk 10 steps in the backyard ????
Yep
Constructive criticism here, when you take any bite on a round, keep the edge of the axe near the outside of the round. When you bite deeply within the round it does not split as well, keep that edge near the outside and it will split far better. I find that when splitting large rounds it is necessary to chip pieces from the outside before trying to center split. You will stack more wood with less swings using that method.
Sweet!
The moment the blade hits the wood give the axe a twist
Thanks for the tip
Mr. Killinger how would you compare these Council Tool splitting axe profiles to the Fiskars splitting axe profiles? Do you prefer a slimmer wedge profile or a more Robust profile?
Depends on which fiskars we are talking about as well as what kind of wood. With these, we have to leave the iso core out because that's not really a comparison. That leaves the x27. In this situation, I would prefer the heavy axe I think? I would need to use the fiskars with the axe in the same wood to really reach an honest opinion.
@@KillingerUSA absolutely. The X25 and X27 are the same axe just different length handles. I just bought an X25 a couple days ago after having the X27 for five years. The X25 has a 28'' handle and the X27 has the 36'' handle. I appreciate the shorter handles now. My mother bought me a Husqvarna S2800 with a 27 1/2 '' inch handle for my birthday two years ago. The S2800 is very similar to a X25, the handle is a half inch shorter and 5lb head verses 4 1/4 lbs. The S2800 has a specialized poll too, specifically for pounding plastic and aluminum wedges. A week before last, I split a cord of wood for my neighbor in five days, three hours per days. I used the S2800 the first three days and the X27 and 8lb isocore maul the last two. Cherry, maple and birch.
Mr. Killinger just to clarify things on my part, the X25 is 5.29 lbs over all and the X27 is 5.85 lbs over all. I was under the impression the the axe head was the same weight. It doesn't specify weight on the Fiskars website and I had to look it up on Amazon. I'm generally an ebay fan and purchased it from ebay. When I received my X25 I brought it in the house to unwrap it. When the weather was better yesterday I took it out to split some cherry rounds and noticed it was lighter and the head was slightly smaller. Its a nice edition the the X27 and the heavier Husqvarna S2800.
Nice demo on the collection. We’re did you get the case?
Thanks! I made it
I've split a good amount of beech. It is not easy when it's that tall! You have to slab pieces off like you're doing. The twisty knotty stuff is brutal. Even axes with pretty good splitting profiles can get stuck.
Even worse than splitting beech is riving it. Just not a good idea if you can get ash, oaks or hickory. I rived a 4ft 15 inch diameter piece of American beech in half more than a week ago and still haven't gone back to get handle billets out of it. It's just a lot less fun than a ring porous wood.
I cant imagine driving this stuff. Haha
Looks like a good profile, does it have any high centre to it?
Yes. Definitely more noticeable than something like a Dayton, or connie. Seems more in line with a tassie. I keep thinking about felling a tree and bucking with one of the 5lb but just haven't gotten to it. I'd like to see how it would perform in that manner.
@@KillingerUSA cool, if I could get them here I'd definitely give one a go. unfortunately only one place sells council and it doesn't look like they plan on getting more. Probably need quite a bit of time on the grinder to thin it to fell good but could have potential
Man, I wish I had a side by side.
Yes!
Prefer to use smaller straight handle and generally, I use the bigger rounds as a base for smaller rounds then work into bigger rounds. 🤙👍🤙👍 thanks!
Sweet
nice to see how well you take care of your tools . my tools want to leave for your place . john
Haha! Tell them come on over!
Set your logs up on a larger log so you aren't bending over so much...my back was getting sore just watching you...I split with a heavier maul and use a different technique where you let the maul almost roll behind you and gain momentum as you power it up and over your head...I believe there's way more energy with less effort than lifting the axe straight up and over your head then down...maybe it doesn't work the same way with a lighter axe
FE6 looked the best but it appears that was some tuff splitting wood.
It was and yes, the FE6 for the win!
What kinda wood is that
Beach
First😎
Look at you go!
Ahh
Not even close to first! 😩
Haha!
👊🏼🔥👍🏼🧡
Appreciate you!
Молодец
Thank you
In theory council tools is a great buy. In reality, they will not send you good working axes. Council tool will actively send you downgraded axes over the internet such as Amazon or eBay. I'm 5 axes in and so far all returned for major problems out the box.
That's a shame. Remember when you used to be able to buy directly from their website? Also used to find them local. Weird direction they took.
👋
🖐