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5 Best Wood Splitting Wedges of 2024 – Review & Buying Guide

 

Splitting logs shouldn’t have to be a back-breaking task; all you need is the right tool for the job. Splitting wedges are a thoughtful invention that every woodworker should be eternally grateful for—they magnify your strength so you can conquer unbreakable logs effortlessly. 

The metal wedge that features a sharp end and a broad base is driven into the timber with a colossal hammer. The splitting force impact is far-reaching with every strike.  

Last update on 2024-05-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Buying guide for wood splitter wedges

Back in the days, when readying firewood for my stove, I would use many wedges at once to split the indestructible logs in my backyard.  Not one single device delivered an effortless experience; one would get stuck, the other would bounce, or the splitting force provided by one would not be enough to crack a thick block. So I set out to find a single tool that could deliver all the efficiency I needed.

Splitter wedges are a dime dozen, as I soon found out, and it takes a keen eye to acquire the best quality tool.   The construction design of the wedge can dramatically impact its performance, and so do its weight and other features. The idea is to minimize your work as much as you can while paying attention to safety, durability and versatility.

Forged steel is the most reliable splitting wedge material 

A wood splitting wedge needs to have a strong structural integrity to withstand the splitting force you deliver with the sledgehammer.  If for instance, the wedge has a plastic construction; it might shatter and dangerously fly in the air during log splitting. That’s a safety concern. The best splitting wedges are made of forged steel, a factor that helps with durability and strength. Those that have a soft steel construction will give in to deformations and dents when hammered.

Hefty wedges make your work much easier 

Wood splitting wedges are of different weights and sizes.  The type of wood and the intensity of your operations should inform your choice here. Weighty splitting wedges deliver a greater cutting force that’s needed when dealing with hardwoods, or if you have more wood to cut. 

Heavy-duty log splitters pack plenty of power, and a considerable wedge length to handle logs of 30 inches or more in thickness. The bigger the hand tool, the larger the blocks it can split.  However, you might have to use two wedges if the logs are extra-large.

Consider the shape of the wedge 

There are old school wedges that feature a flat side chiseling towards a sharp end.  However, new models hitting the market have revolutionary designs branded as ‘grenade.’  This design is hulky, with pointed edges so you can split logs 4 ways in a single strike. 

Four-way splitters are sensational, but their functionality might be limited. These wedges will not be efficient to start a split. What they do instead is hasten the job and lessen your effort by splitting logs into four parts with each strike. 

Sharpness is not of great importance 

When it comes to splitting wedges, the splitting impact mostly relies on the shape of the wedge. A wedge with an aerodynamic design will easily bite into, and plunge into the wood with an effortless thrust. Too sharp splitting wedges often get stuck, especially when dealing with thick timber.

The construction design; look for robust and durable

You want a wood splitter with unwavering strength and one that can give you a lifetime of service. Look at its construction design and eliminate those that you find to be brittle.  A compact and robust wedge can absorb the striking force with grace, and dive into the wood instead of bouncing off. It is not only frustrating when the splitting wedge bounces off, but also a significant safety issue.

A higher mechanical advantage depends on the length and width

The mechanical advantage of the wedge (basically its performance) depends on its height and width.  A shorter wedge with a broad base might give you a speedy splitting action, but it will take more of your energy than a long wedge with a slight angle.  Wedges with wider slopes are more effective than those with steeper slopes. 

Best Splitting Wedge Review

Ludell 11605 High Grade Steel Splitting Wedge, 5lb

Last update on 2024-05-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This splitting wedge is made of high-grade steel and weighs 5 lbs. Its material will ensure that it survives daily hammering without deformations. 5lbs. is a considerable weight that will make it effortless to cut big blocks of wood. 

The Ludell 11 605 features an old school design. It doesn’t have any serrations or spins; just a plain chiseled metal with a flat end for hammering. This design guarantees strength and durability.

The Ludell 11605 is drop forged— a manufacturing technique that helps with the dynamics of the metal flow line. The Ludell 11606 stands out with better surface quality and straight edges because of this. The process also improves the durability of the shaped metal.

The wedge features a rust-resistant head, and it is also heat treated and enameled for unyielding strength and durability.  The splitting wedge can also work well with mauls and sledges, helping to achieve efficiency and precision. 

The edge is not that sharp, but that’s alright as per the buying guide. A splitting wedge is not meant to be a cutting tool; instead it helps to split thick logs by using a hammer. You can use an ax or a saw to notch a starting slot before engaging the wedge. 

 

ESTWING Sure Split Wedge - 5-Pound Wood Splitting Tool with Forged...

Last update on 2024-05-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Estwing SSW is another 4-pound wood splitting wedge, but in this case, it features a fashionable design. The revolutionary design, as the makers have branded it, helps to split wood much faster and efficiently.  That’s also enabled by the fast taper head that removes the hassle when starting. The splitting wedge features split fins that can achieve more splitting action even below the wood line.

The weighted wedge design can be beneficial if you are looking for speedy cutting action. Unlike the Ludell 11605, the cutting edge of the Estwing E-5 is a lot sharper. However, from our buying guide, that doesn’t necessarily help with efficiency. The wedge length from its splitting end is 9 inches, helping to achieve a considerably bigger slope for fast splitting. 

My most favorite feature here remains to be the split fins that might magnify the impact of your hammer action. What’s for sure though, these fin-like extensions do an excellent job of preventing the wedge from getting stuck in the wood.

 

Manual Log Splitter Wedge Diamond Wedge – 4-Direction Steel...

Last update on 2024-05-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This manual log splitter features a design that is capable of a four-directional split. Even though it is not ideal for knotty wood types, it delivers acceptable performance on most hardwood and softwood types.

Unlike the old school wedges, Redneck Convent Diamond has a sophisticated design.  The pointed end is sharp for easier staring while the orb-shaped face allows a centered and powerful blow. The head is broad and flat while the length of the wedge has notches to keep it from bouncing when being hammered into the wood. The avant-garde design multiplies the splitting friction to help you split logs much faster.

The Redneck splitting wedge is made from strong, and heat-treated railway steel. Because of that, durability and strength is almost a guarantee. The orange painting on the whole surface of the wedge helps to safeguard it from rust and other effects of the elements. 

With a weight of about 2 KG, the splitting wedge comes across as light compared to others in the market.  For that reason, the contraption might not function well with unbreakable and massive logs. The good thing is that the manufacturer mentions this inconvenience from the word go.  The weight, you can say, is compensated by a length (7 inches) and width (3 inches) that is capable of a higher mechanical advantage. 

The main highlight of this splitting wedge is its four-pronged cross-section and the pointed end. These design details help to achieve a performance that saves energy and time.

 

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The Fasmov splitting wedge weighs 4.55 lbs., a weight that falls on the light end of the scale just like the Redneck Convent Diamond.  For that reason, its efficiency might be limited only to small sized blocks of wood. That, however, is compensated by its length (7 inches) and width (3 inches) that facilitates a powerful splitting impact. 

The splitting wedge features a heat treated high carbon steel construction. This material make helps to attain longevity and strength. The tool will survive many days under the assault of your sledge hammer. It also has a broad head to ensure that you get the extra splitting power that you seek.

Fasmov Diamond has a ‘grenade’ design that, as earlier discussed helps to split the wood in different directions with just a single hit. The diamond or cross-sectional shape of the wedge, if you will, helps to save energy during splitting operations.  The pointed end of the wedge is sharp enough for easy sticking.

 

Collins Wood Splitting Wedge, Diamond Shape, 4 LBS

Last update on 2024-05-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If you are still after a splitting wedge with a modern design, the Collins Diamond is another wedge worth your consideration.  This tool weighs 4 lbs., which is comparatively light when pitted against the heavy-duty models in this review. However, its ‘grenade’ design can help with speedy and effortless splitting. 

The material of make is high carbon steel. This detail helps with strength and longevity just as in the other models that qualified to be on this list.  On top of that, the Collins Diamond is a little extra sharp and pointed. This design detail might help you deal with thick knotty woods. 

With a height of 7 inches, the friction will be sufficient for successful splitting before the wedge disappears into the wood line. The cross-sectional shape of the wedge helps to achieve multi-directional splits with just one hit. 

The best pick 

In this list of top choices, the Ludell 11605 High Grade Steel Splitting Wedge, 5lb stands out among the rest.  Its traditional design makes for simplicity and yet a powerful splitting action. It weighs 5lbs., which is the heaviest in the review while the material make (high-grade steel) is sturdier. You have a tool whose sleekness works in your favor, and even though it doesn’t achieve four-way splits, it can double up as a doorstop or wheel clock.

 

Last Updated on July 23, 2019 by Tom Bradly