Axe Head Design for the Paul Bunyan Wood Chopper

A discussion of the type of axe head to select when replicating the Paul Bunyan Wood Chopper.
UPDATE July 19, 2023: A lot of life has been happening lately so I was delayed in finishing up the plans.
But I’m getting close! 🤗
Due to the number of people contacting me asking how to buy the plans, I just finished making an email sign-up page so you can be first in line to purchase DIY Plans for the Paul Bunyan Wood Chopper as soon as I complete them.
I’m doing my best to get the plans done by August 15th, “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.” 😉
Just visit the link below, enter your email, and click Submit!
paulbunyanwoodchopper.com
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[@jakebredthauer5100]

A longer wedge would put greater stress on the neck of the beam just as it would for an ordinary splitting maul.
The remedy is that the standard single horizontal beam be re-engineered into three separate much smaller members to form triangles for bracing purposes. On the head end, two would be attached near the bottom and one near the top. On the hinge end, one would be attached at the center and one at each end of a long hinge. A long hinge would be stronger and more resistant to wear.
The spring structure would need to be designed to lift on all three members at once.

[@jakebredthauer5100]

Instead of using a wedge engineered to be used on a wooden handle, I would engineer a 14-inch long (straight) wedge specifically for the Bunyon splitter. If it were sharp enough, it would not bounce. Because of the length it is not as likely to get stuck. Also because of the length it is more likely to get a tiny crack started. As a bonus, you could make two or three splits with one strike.
Use high carbon tempered steel for the center blade and mild steel plates welded on the sides to make it flare out to cause the wood to open up.
You can get good steel from junk farm equipment. Sometimes they don't junk the equipment, they just take parts off and put on new parts.
None of the commercial splitters use a short or narrow blade. They go full length. There is probably a way to calculate the tons of pressure. When the wedge comes to a sudden stop, the tonnage would be very high.
Cutting a slot for the wedge, would help. Using a specially designed lever to pry the wood off would help.

[@sergiorodriguez1107]

City guy here, lol. Would a smaller Paul Bunyan Wood chopper work as well? I ask because I don't have acres to put something away without taking more room in my backyard.

[@vincentphelps6325]

Could you please show the side of the blade? Paint it and the paint wearing off will show the point of separation and the point of highest pressure.

[@TomWylie]

Excellent idea. I’ll try to do that when I am able, and post the results either here or within the Facebook page.
For anyone else coming upon this comment later, you can join this Facebook group to learn more about the Paul Bunyan Wood Chopper: m.facebook.com/groups/manuallogsplitterdesign