Kindling Jack Jr.- The Firewood Kindling Tool Wood Log Splitter Blade Wedge - Replaces Hand Axes

Been burning wood for over 40 years, always chopped kindling with a hatchet. Stumbled on these products... I looked long and hard at the other similar products, but I was concerned that due to the frame design they'd bend or break eventually. This same company also has a larger model with a frame too, but I was concerned that it might bend too. This is really sturdy, and will probably last longer than I will. I bolted it to a piece of plywood, and now I can split up a bunch of kindling faster than ever. Safer, too. The only thing I'd improve is the length... most firewood is 18" long for wood stoves, fireplaces can run even longer. So there are some pieces of wood, especially red oak that is jsut barely seasoned, that don't completely break apart after splitting all the way to the bottom. Not a big deal, I just turn it over and give it a couple taps, but it would be better if the blade was about 3-4" longer. I also like that, since there's no frame, it will be very easy to sharpen. One of the best wood burning accessories I've bought in years... wish I got it 40 years ago.Edit: 1 year later it's still awesome, haven't even needed to sharpen it. I used this all last winter... the best way I've found to make kindling fast, and safe.

I needed something to cut small chunks of wood for my smoker. I was thinking of using my small hand axe, but I figured I would end up chopping off some fingers. This worked well for the 10 pound box of apple wood chunks that I purchased. About half of the wood chunks were small enough to fit in my smoker properly, but the other half needed some trimming. This worked much better than a hand axe, and I only hit my finger once with the hammer. I didn’t mount it on a log – I just set it on some cement and split my apple wood chunks. It did move around a little when I was splitting the chunks, but I’ll probably just keep it this way it is because it fits on my shelf in the garage easier. I’m sure if I screwed it into a log it would be more stable, which would make splitting even easier.

Poor packaging, arrived damaged with the edge broken off and large dings in the blade. Since this is not a Japanese chefs knife, I decided I could fix the blade enough to not require a replacement. After some time with a metal file, I had the blade sharp enough to do the job and I have had a pretty easy time ripping logs apart. I use a short handled 5 lb hammer, and comparing it to other things on the market, I am very happy with the design of this tool. I also like that I don’t have to mount it to anything so I can store it up high away from my kids and pets.

I have 20+ oak logs roughly 16-18 inches long and the diameters of them range from 10 to 25 inches. None of these logs are uniform in terms of having straight grains in them. Many of them have the pith well off center on both sides and not in line on both ends. Point being, these are not the types of logs you would put in a product demo or in a YouTube video. I have let all of these logs dry for about 11 months. They are just now getting to the point where they can be split. Most of them must be split with wedges and sledge.This tool worked okay for splitting the pieces from the initial split into smaller kindling. I think my little kindling axe does just as good of a job. But this tool is handy when you are getting tired.I think having this mounted on something a bit off the ground will probably work better. I was tempted to bolt it on top of a log or stump but that means I would not be able to move it out of the elements later one without having to unbolt it after each use.

I have always had a problem splitting kindling - I was using a hatchet and there is some danger to that. My wife suggested I get a kindling splitter and it was a great idea. First, the item is a lot larger than I thought it would be - I thought the base was suitable for mounting on a 4x4, but it is a full 6x6. The blade is 6" long. The picture illustrates the mount I made for it, with the 6x6 timber being 18" long. This makes a steady base for the splitter. Be aware that wood will go flying out from this in some cases, so wear jeans and a good pair of shoes. Also, don't use it next to that shiny new car! Gloves are recommended. In our area we have pine and aspen, not oak. I would not try the split anything larger than a 4' or 5" log - use a maul for that. I am very satisfied and I wish I had bought it years ago.

I am a recent widow since Oct 2020, and my husband always took care of the wood for our woodstove. I love wood heat so I want to keep the fire going this winter but I need kindling to build it back up in the morning. I can't split wood to save my life. Both me and my daughter have tried. It just isn't happening. And I can't keep calling on friends to split it. If you've ever used wood heat, you know that you go through kindling pretty quickly. So I thought, there has got to be some kind of contraption that will help me to make kindling. So I got on Amazon to look and I found this. It came a day early, just when I ran out of kindling and I am so excited of how this thing works! I use logs that have already been split and place them on the top, and with a small sledge hammer I whack it to stay in place (it weighs 3lb 6oz). Then I use the heavier sledge hammer to pound it and wa-la! No more pestering men to help! They were always willing but as often as I go through kindling I just hate to bother them for help all the time. The company recommends a 4lb hammer but unless you're a man, it won't do a thing. For me, all mine did was hammered it down to the bottom of the blade and it wouldn't split apart. You need a heavier one, probably a 6lb or 8lb one. You don't want too heavy or you won't be able to lift the dang thing and swing it! I don't know what the weight is to my bigger hammer that splits it but it is almost too heavy for me to use. I'm afraid of coming down on the blade and also it's a little hard on my back so I'm going to go get a less heavier one. I'll try to weigh this one first. I hope this helps someone that's struggling to get kindling.