Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Sharpen a Splitting Maul
How to Sharpen a Splitting Maul. Hand-splitting your own firewood is always a workout, but it doesn't have to be torture. One way to make the job much faster and easier is to make sure that your maul has a true edge on it. A dinged or warped maul is hard to get set into the wood and forces you to hit the log harder and more often to make through....
Hand-splitting your own firewood is always a workout, but it doesn't have to be torture. One way to make the job much faster and easier is to make sure that your maul has a true edge on it. A dinged or warped maul is hard to get set into the wood and forces you to hit the log harder and more often to make through. You might not notice the difference at first, but by the time you've made it through a face cord you will definitely feel it! Fortunately, you can reshape the edge of your splitting maul with just a few common shop tools.
Things You'll Need
Splitting maul
Grinding wheel, disc grinder or flat fine-cut hand file
Wet or dry hand-stone
Safety glasses
Protective work gloves
Shaping the Maul Edge
Inspect the maul edge for damage or distortion. The maul edge should be straight and parallel with the handle. If you see any dings, dents or distortions, its time to get out the tools.
Use the grinding wheel, disc or file, grind the cutting edge of the maul so it is parallel to the maul handle.
Run the grinding disc or file along the forward sides of the maul, being careful to follow the angle of each side. Use a firm but even pressure. The sides of the maul should be straight all the way to the cutting edge; don't bevel it inward as you would when you sharpen an axe.
Inspect the maul head to make sure the front edge is parallel to the handle and the wedge sides are now straight.
Use the hand-stone to remove any burrs or rough edges left by the shaping process.
Tips & Warnings
Remember that you don't really want the edge of the maul to be very sharp.That would cause it to stick in the wood with each stroke.
Make sure that the cutting edge of the maul is parallel to the handle.Older mauls can develop a slanted edge, greatly reducing the splitting efficiency of each blow.
If your maul had a painted head, you might want to re-paint it after you've reshaped it. This makes it easier to find in the woods.
Always be sure to wear protective glasses and gloves as you reshape your maul. The process will cause metal filings to fly -- and if you're using a power grinding tool, those metal specks will be red hot. Hot filings can cause serious burns, skin irritation or eye damage.
