Inertia Gear Wood Splitter - Cast Iron Manual Log Splitter - No Sharp Edges - No More Axes! Safest Way to Cut Firewood

I wish it was open on top on at least one side. I'd like to stick old boards in there. They're thin and wide, but won't fit.

This is a good quality kindling splitter. The construction seems to be fairly solid and looks like it will be durable. You should plan on mounting it using the provided holes in the base. It is unsafe to split anything other than the smallest and lightest woods without having the splitter fastened down. I mounted it to an old oak stump that was left after the tree was cut down a few years ago with lag screws. A large, heavy section of log would also work-- or you could bolt it to a wooden deck.In actual use, the results depend on the type of wood that you are splitting. Bits of pine or fir 2" x 4" lumber will split with just a tap from a heavy hammer. Larger chunks of softwood like pine, fir, or spruce still split pretty well, but it is important to give the log some clearance in the top ring. I wouldn't try to split anything more than about 5 inches across. It also takes a little more effort to make the initial split on a round log. Even with softwood, the log takes several "whacks" to split. I would guess that it is the physics of the circular tight grain. After the log is split once, there are then fracture lines on the open surface that make additional splits easier.The splitter also works with the red oak and white oak 4-5" thick branches that I had from a fallen tree. However, it does take a good bit more effort. The initial start of the split may take 6-7 strikes on a round log, with another 3 or 4 hits at least to push the split all the way through. Just like for the softwood, the second and smaller splits are a little easier, but they still require more work. For hardwood, a 5" log is about as much as the splitter can handle. It takes a good bit of effort and definitely requires that the stand be mounted firmly.The bottom line is that this is a good splitter as long as you remember that it IS for kindling, not splitting big logs. The price/value ratio isn't quite as good as the major brand Kindling Kracker of the same size, also available through Amazon third-party. The difference between the two is that the Inertia Wood Splitter, even though at a higher price, is sold directly through Amazon and is available for faster shipping. I would recommend this product to anyone that needs to have a safe and fairly easy way to produce kindling.

Love this thing so much, bought one for my son. So easy to use

Nice and heavy and stays in one place pretty well even without fastening it down. I used a small 5 pound sledge to hit the wood and unless the wood had a knot or split into a branch, it always split nicely in a swing or two. I felt better letting the young ones not as familiar with a splitting axe use this if they wanted to help.

use only for small sticks - cannot handle logs

This is a solid unit that works as indicated. Great for any size, if it fits in the top ring.

This item works very well, makes splitting kindling a breeze. However, if you plan on using this outdoors, you will need to repaint with outdoor weather resistant metal paint. Otherwise you will get rust spots very quickly.

It works as expected. When I got it I immediately unboxed it, it was packaged very well. Then I split an old little log in half very easily. I like how the top ring makes a good carry handle as well. Very versatile that way. It has a thick cast iron coating which should, in theory, protect the blade from going dull for long time until the the coating wears off revealing the shiny steel and that is when you can sharpen it with your sandstone. My brother in law likes this just as much as I do. I see that he split more wood with it.This is something that they should sell in the stores too but I haven't seen anything like this in the stores here.This brings a huge convenience. Before this I had to bring the axe outside (so that I don't ruin the floor when the axe the axe misses the log or goes through the log too well) and try to stand wood up on a chopping block or grass and split it into kindling with the axe. it was a pain in the but because as the quarter log gets narrower, it didn't want to stay standing. and some logs wouldn't stand at all because it was cut at an angle. but with this, I can split the quarter logs into any size kindling in the warmth and comfort of the indoors, right by the wood stove with ease. There is not risk of hitting the floor. This allows me to use a hammer instead which is nice. and I can split the wood in a more comfortable kneeling stance. As opposed to being outside in the cold hunching over trying to split a skinny log the wind before it falls over causing me to miss. The half to carry it all in to the wood stove.