How to Split Wood

In this video, you're going to learn how to Split a log of wood

Caution, this task requires:

Protective gloves

Closed footwear

To split a log, you will need

An axe or hatchett

a sledgehammer or hammer

And a wedge

You'll also need

a log of wood

splitting a log can be done in two steps which we'll outline for you:

Step 1: Breaking the wood

Position the log vertically

Place the the axe in the middle of the log

the axe's blade must remain vertical and line up with the wood's fibres

Strike the back of the axe head with the sledgehammer. Make sure it stays straight

Keep your feet spread wide to avoid any risk of injury

Step 2: Splitting the wood

Once the wood has been cracked for the first time, position the wedge into the crack, then hammer it with the sledge hammer to split the wood in two

Keep the wedge in the centre of the log as best you can

If the wedge gets stuck in the wood and you can't access it, use your axe to split the wood again until you can reach the wedge.

With these two tools alone, you should be able to split the log

Check that the split surface of the log is straight and even

If it isn't, you can shave and plane it with the help of your axe

Now you know how to split a log.