If you use firewood or kindling in your home or vacation rental, having a good setup for splitting firewood matters. And, whether you’re using it for your wood stove, outdoor cooking, or wood-fired hot tub, keeping a stash of kindling on-hand is a big part of that process.
When you have a safe, simple, and effective way of splitting firewood, it can turn what might feel like a chore into a meaningful, everyday ritual that connects you with the outdoors.
The Best Ways to Split Firewood
There are a handful of time-tested ways to split firewood at home or at the cabin, each suited to a different pace and scale of work. Whatever tool that you choose, it’s a good idea to research and make sure you’re choosing one made from lasting, quality materials, that you won’t have to replace.
A Wood Splitter
Using a Firewood Splitter is typically an easier to use and safer option than an axe. A wood splitting wedge allows for a more controlled approach, allowing the wedge itself to help split the wood along the grain.
An Axe
The most classic option for splitting wood, using an axe requires a steady surface and care. It’s perfect for homes with smaller loads and straight-grained logs. The best axe for splitting wood is made from durable materials like carbon steel for the head and hickory or fiberglass for the handle, ensuring strength and long-lasting performance.
A Heavy Manual or Hydraulic Splitter
If you’re handling big logs of wood or splitting regularly, heavier manual or hydraulic splitters allow for an efficient way to split wood. These can be a strong option if you go through very large quantities of wood, for farms clearing timber, and more. They can also more easily split hardwood than can be more challenging to split manually.
Why a Firewood Splitter Is the Best Tool
We designed a Firewood Splitter for a more elevated option for wood splitting. Explore a few of our favourite reasons:
A Safer Option
The GOODLAND Firewood Splitter can be a safer option to split wood than a traditional axe. A sturdy, circular frame secures firewood in place, while acting as a guard to help prevent accidental contact with a blade. You’ll be able to split wood single-handed, especially making the process safer for already-thin pieces of kindling and wood than swinging an axe.
Easy to Use
You can confidently place and split wood without worrying about shifting or complex setup. Everything about its form and function has been carefully refined so that creating firewood feels effortless and deeply satisfying.
Efficient Striking
Firewood splitters can allow for more consistent, confident splits than using an axe. Choosing a firewood splitter with a frame and a blade supported by a heavyweight foundation is designed to help prevent shifting and flexing.
An Elevated Outdoor Ritual
Crafted from heavy-duty cast iron and engineered with a fully supported blade, this splitter delivers consistent, confident splits without the shifting or flexing that can occur with lesser tools. Thoughtful design that’s a genuine pleasure to use helps elevate the act of preparing kindling into an intentional outdoor practice to look forward to, instead of simply a chore.
Durable, Made for a Lifetime
Choosing a splitter with durable materials, like the Firewood Splitter, designed to be an heirloom-quality tool to be passed on for generations to come. Look for materials like cast iron with a quality finish to prevent corrosion and help your splitter stand up to year-round use.
Ideal for Vacation Rentals
If you’re the host of a vacation rental property, you’ll likely want to provide some kindling to get your guests started with a wood-fired hot tub or wood stove. But, if you’re looking to provide them with another way of splitting additional firewood if needed,
How to Set Up Your Space for Splitting Wood
Having a well-set space makes all the difference for splitting wood. Both an axe and a wedge firewood splitter requires a chopping block on stable, level ground, which can be something as simple as finding the right stump on your property. It’s also essential to have a clear space around you to swing either the axe or sledge hammer for a wood splitter, without feeling crowded or being at risk of hitting anything around you.
Other things to keep in mind are making sure there’s enough lighting to see what you’re doing, and ensuring that your firewood splitter is properly and safely mounted with the help of a screwdriver.
How to Care for a Firewood Splitter
If you choose a quality axe or firewood splitter made from durable materials, lots of maintenance shouldn’t be required. But, taking care of your outdoor tools can improve their longevity to help ensure they perform well for years (and years) to come.
Our Tool Sharpener and Tool Wax were created to help you build a ritual of care around your firewood splitter or axe. A tool sharpener can help hone blades, while natural waxes designed for tools can help condition surfaces and provide a layer of moisture resistance.
Courtney Dionne
Courtney leads the marketing team here at GOODLAND, where she shares her expertise on all things bathing, slow living, and more. She loves a good long walk in nature, lounging at the lake, birdwatching, and (of course) a soak in the Wood Burning Hot Tub.
