Great! I built a "table" from 4 x 4"s screwed together. Nearly destroyed it in 3 hard days of splitting. 6 x 8 timbers and 4 x4's with the right tire and I"m off and running. Cant wait to try this... thanks a bunch!
Thanks Mark. I tried splitting wood a couple of weeks ago and it didn't go so well. Just watched this along with your video on how to "read" the wood. These primers will definitely help. I'm subscribed and will definitely return to your channel.
How do you move it? looks too heavy to just pick up? Why dont you make the wooden base with rounded corners same diameter as the tire.??? then to move it you just push it over and roll it.
I ended up taking some thick rope and fasting one end to the bottom right timber and the other end to the bottom left timber. The rope was just long enough so it could be pulled around by lifting it just high enough off the lawn to move it like a sled. It really moves pretty easy that way.
For what it's worth, that second axe that you use is a felling axe not a splitting axe. It's meant to be used for chopping trees down (i.e. it cuts against the grain) not really for splitting wood. Its not huge problem, but just not the exact right tool for the job.
The tire holds the wood in place and is a bumper for over/under strikes, Keeps the axe from hitting the ground. The 1 or 2 tire setup is just for the height, so it's below the wood a little bit.
+stoolie10 Thanks for feedback. I watched both videos and noticed my design went together faster with Lag Screws, even though it may cost $3-$5 more in parts. I prefer my low profile tire size and the fact that it's shimmed up 3.5 inches from the part that the firewood sits on. That difference allows the bark to fall through and virtually no cleanup inside the tire. If someone see's an improved to the design, please comment.
I've heard of people tying a rope around it to keep the wood from flying. I'm not sure if a loose bungee cord would work. I'd just hate to see something under high tension snap and go flying. The tire is my favorite and it's inexpensive.
Did you get the idea from Wranglerstar's channel?! Sure is a good idea!! Nice looking axes, but I can't stop buying those Granfors Bruks axes, just my all time go to ax now! Cheers!
I actually published my video a month before Wranglerstar did. I still use this same chopping block all the time and it's held up great. Someday, I'm going to try out the Gransfor Bruks. Cheers!
Awesome!! Love watching better ways to split wood, I have to heat my home with wood, so nothing better than finding better ways, thank you so much for posting!! Cheers n' beers Sir!~!
Davehiphop I put the screws in at a slight angle. In this video, I have a low profile tire (short sidewall) and that makes it easy to fasten it to the wood.
Great video mark!!....since I do live in Germany I just might get me an ochsenkopf. Am hesitating a little bit since I don't like real heavy splitting axes that much but its nice to see how good of a job German products do. Tomorrow I will be finishing my job,chopping up the rest of my hard wood. I am still all for my fiskars x17. I will get the limited edition - fiskars 365....that bad boy is also an x17 but with an longer handle plus a silver coating on the blade,all black handle and the topping of the cake is that everyone has its own serial number on it!. Ready to be registered online. There are only 100.000 made. What's you're opinion on that matter?.
I really like the Ochsenkopf axes and mauls. Their steel is very high quality. They offer several options as far as the weight of their tools. Thanks for the comment Alan!
I believe the bottom pieces are 6x8 treated timbers. The upper parts are 4x4's. I may have to make a blog post about it showing the exact dimensions and directions.
@@MarkThomasBuilder What Jimmy Hagar is getting at is your awful form. How have you been splitting for all these years and still manage to look like such an amateur?
Waste of lumber. Three tires stacked chopping block round or stump in bottom. Bolt the middle and top tire together and done. Lumber is expensive and this is an utter waste of expensive kiln dried lumber.
Horrible swing technique! Windmill swing is a waste of energy! Maul head should never go behind your head! Keep maul head close to body and lift straight up.
@@MarkThomasBuilder I've been splitting wood with maul for more than 40 years. Here's a few more tips: When at top, thrust maul head forward while simultaneously sliding upper hand down handle to meet other hand and snap wrists down forcefully. Feet should be shoulder width apart, front hand foot (rt if rt handed) 1-2" in front of back hand foot. To position feet, place maul head on round where you want to strike. For big rounds, I strike farside, nearside, then middle. Do not over extend and miss farside. Unless you want to break your handle, of course. 😁 Chopping block should be short enough such that top of round is below waist, about mid-thigh height, but not lower than knee. That way some of your weight is transferred down the handle, thus increasing the power of the blow. Also great technique for ringing the bell at the fair!
Great video mark!!....since I do live in Germany I just might get me an ochsenkopf. Am hesitating a little bit since I don't like real heavy splitting axes that much but its nice to see how good of a job German products do. Tomorrow I will be finishing my job,chopping up the rest of my hard wood. I am still all for my fiskars x17. I will get the limited edition - fiskars 365....that bad boy is also an x17 but with an longer handle plus a silver coating on the blade,all black handle and the topping of the cake is that everyone has its own serial number on it!. Ready to be registered online. There are only 100.000 made. What's you're opinion on that matter?.
Great video mark!!....since I do live in Germany I just might get me an ochsenkopf. Am hesitating a little bit since I don't like real heavy splitting axes that much but its nice to see how good of a job German products do. Tomorrow I will be finishing my job,chopping up the rest of my hard wood. I am still all for my fiskars x17. I will get the limited edition - fiskars 365....that bad boy is also an x17 but with an longer handle plus a silver coating on the blade,all black handle and the topping of the cake is that everyone has its own serial number on it!. Ready to be registered online. There are only 100.000 made. What's you're opinion on that matter?.
Great! I built a "table" from 4 x 4"s screwed together. Nearly destroyed it in 3 hard days of splitting. 6 x 8 timbers and 4 x4's with the right tire and I"m off and running. Cant wait to try this... thanks a bunch!
Thanks for commenting. Please send an update with your results.
Great work. Refining the details of the already popular tire chopping craze.
Thanks, it took a little trial and error to figure out this design. I'm still happy with it.
Thanks Mark. I tried splitting wood a couple of weeks ago and it didn't go so well. Just watched this along with your video on how to "read" the wood. These primers will definitely help. I'm subscribed and will definitely return to your channel.
+Patrick McKenna Cool, I have a couple videos coming up that feature Helko Axes and Mauls.
This is a brilliant design. I'm going to pass it along.
Thanks!!
for anything over 18", a rubber tie down strap and a length of chain works beautifully.
Good idea , Mark
Thanks 👍
perfect. just what i was looking for.
This one is still holding up well. I drilled a few holes in the bottom of the tire to let rain water drain out.
Your video was very helpful. thanks for posting it.
9251finley1 You're welcome! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
How do you move it? looks too heavy to just pick up? Why dont you make the wooden base with rounded corners same diameter as the tire.??? then to move it you just push it over and roll it.
I ended up taking some thick rope and fasting one end to the bottom right timber and the other end to the bottom left timber. The rope was just long enough so it could be pulled around by lifting it just high enough off the lawn to move it like a sled. It really moves pretty easy that way.
Is that tire attached or sitting loose?I am going to build this today.
I found some lag bolts to screw it down. It's held up well over the years.
How has this held up? Thinking of making one out of some pine railway sleepers but not sure they'll stand up to a 6lb mail.
This design has held up very well. The thing that wears first is the piece of timber that the firewood sits on when splittting.
Awesome sir, just awesome!
+Sean Pearson Thanks, I wouldn't change a thing with this tire chopping block. I just used it in a video I'm uploading soon... The Wilton Maul review.
Love it!
Thanks!!
Thanks
😎👍
is the tire just resting freely on top of the 2x4's? Or is the tire somehow "adhered" to the entire unit?
I installed the tire with lag bolts. It's very secure.
Use washers aswell for even more tiedown
For what it's worth, that second axe that you use is a felling axe not a splitting axe. It's meant to be used for chopping trees down (i.e. it cuts against the grain) not really for splitting wood. Its not huge problem, but just not the exact right tool for the job.
I never really planned to use if for splitting, but it really does a great job on the smaller stuff.
I'm sure you have that tire fastened in some way to the foundation. I missed that part...
I have lag bolts and added a washer to hold it down to the wood.
Any significance for the tire other than holding wood in place?
The tire holds the wood in place and is a bumper for over/under strikes, Keeps the axe from hitting the ground. The 1 or 2 tire setup is just for the height, so it's below the wood a little bit.
Great video! I have some questions about the blocks. Are those 8x8 and what are the length? How did you fasten the blocks to each other? Thanks!
+stevem174 I believe they're 6x8 timbers. I used FastenMaster Timber Screws. They install quickly and are very strong.
similar to wranglestar, also on you tube. your setup may be better design?
+stoolie10 Thanks for feedback. I watched both videos and noticed my design went together faster with Lag Screws, even though it may cost $3-$5 more in parts. I prefer my low profile tire size and the fact that it's shimmed up 3.5 inches from the part that the firewood sits on. That difference allows the bark to fall through and virtually no cleanup inside the tire. If someone see's an improved to the design, please comment.
Mark, is there something besides a tire I could use? I live in the suburbs and the association (and wife) wouldn't like a tire. Thanks.
I've heard of people tying a rope around it to keep the wood from flying. I'm not sure if a loose bungee cord would work. I'd just hate to see something under high tension snap and go flying. The tire is my favorite and it's inexpensive.
@@MarkThomasBuilder thanks
Sorry for your trouble..
Thanks!
Did you get the idea from Wranglerstar's channel?! Sure is a good idea!! Nice looking axes, but I can't stop buying those Granfors Bruks axes, just my all time go to ax now! Cheers!
I actually published my video a month before Wranglerstar did. I still use this same chopping block all the time and it's held up great. Someday, I'm going to try out the Gransfor Bruks. Cheers!
Awesome!! Love watching better ways to split wood, I have to heat my home with wood, so nothing better than finding better ways, thank you so much for posting!! Cheers n' beers Sir!~!
Cheers n' beers!!
Nice video. What editor do you use?
Thanks! I just use iMovie. Eventually I may go to Adobe Premier or Final Cut Pro.
fun! great
Thanks!
Thanks, do you screw them in at an angle? I cant get my drill in at 90 degrees.
Davehiphop I put the screws in at a slight angle. In this video, I have a low profile tire (short sidewall) and that makes it easy to fasten it to the wood.
Great video mark!!....since I do live in Germany I just might get me an ochsenkopf.
Am hesitating a little bit since I don't like real heavy splitting axes that much but its nice to see how good of a job German products do.
Tomorrow I will be finishing my job,chopping up the rest of my hard wood. I am still all for my fiskars x17.
I will get the limited edition - fiskars 365....that bad boy is also an x17 but with an longer handle plus a silver coating on the blade,all black handle and the topping of the cake is that everyone has its own serial number on it!. Ready to be registered online. There are only 100.000 made.
What's you're opinion on that matter?.
I really like the Ochsenkopf axes and mauls. Their steel is very high quality. They offer several options as far as the weight of their tools. Thanks for the comment Alan!
awesome bro thanks!
***** You're welcome!
Cool
😀👍
What is the dimension of the wood you used to build it?
I believe the bottom pieces are 6x8 treated timbers. The upper parts are 4x4's. I may have to make a blog post about it showing the exact dimensions and directions.
nice
15 inch or 18 inch?
I went with a larger tire so I can fit 2-3 pieces in there at a time. I believe it's 18".
not bad bruv
Thanks!
Tires work better if you cut the side walls out
Thanks for the advice.
I couldn't see the "pitcher" he was talking about.
+A Lu I should've said that the word "view" instead of "pitcher".... I said I'll show you a "pitcher" of the high end German forestry tools.
Hi, how do you screw the Tyre on?
Davehiphop I use 4@ 3.5" Spax brand lag screws. They have built in washers that holds the tire securely to the wood.
You swing the axe like you're scared of it
I don't like to over swinging if I don't have to and have the axe hit the tire.
Im confused today
You haven't been splitting wood long have you
I started splitting wood when I was a kid. When I was 12, I got a chainsaw for a Christmas gift.
@@MarkThomasBuilder What Jimmy Hagar is getting at is your awful form. How have you been splitting for all these years and still manage to look like such an amateur?
Waste of lumber. Three tires stacked chopping block round or stump in bottom. Bolt the middle and top tire together and done. Lumber is expensive and this is an utter waste of expensive kiln dried lumber.
Horrible swing technique! Windmill swing is a waste of energy! Maul head should never go behind your head! Keep maul head close to body and lift straight up.
I'll try that next time. Thanks!
@@MarkThomasBuilder I've been splitting wood with maul for more than 40 years. Here's a few more tips: When at top, thrust maul head forward while simultaneously sliding upper hand down handle to meet other hand and snap wrists down forcefully.
Feet should be shoulder width apart, front hand foot (rt if rt handed) 1-2" in front of back hand foot. To position feet, place maul head on round where you want to strike. For big rounds, I strike farside, nearside, then middle. Do not over extend and miss farside. Unless you want to break your handle, of course. 😁
Chopping block should be short enough such that top of round is below waist, about mid-thigh height, but not lower than knee. That way some of your weight is transferred down the handle, thus increasing the power of the blow. Also great technique for ringing the bell at the fair!
Great video mark!!....since I do live in Germany I just might get me an ochsenkopf.
Am hesitating a little bit since I don't like real heavy splitting axes that much but its nice to see how good of a job German products do.
Tomorrow I will be finishing my job,chopping up the rest of my hard wood. I am still all for my fiskars x17.
I will get the limited edition - fiskars 365....that bad boy is also an x17 but with an longer handle plus a silver coating on the blade,all black handle and the topping of the cake is that everyone has its own serial number on it!. Ready to be registered online. There are only 100.000 made.
What's you're opinion on that matter?.
Great video mark!!....since I do live in Germany I just might get me an ochsenkopf.
Am hesitating a little bit since I don't like real heavy splitting axes that much but its nice to see how good of a job German products do.
Tomorrow I will be finishing my job,chopping up the rest of my hard wood. I am still all for my fiskars x17.
I will get the limited edition - fiskars 365....that bad boy is also an x17 but with an longer handle plus a silver coating on the blade,all black handle and the topping of the cake is that everyone has its own serial number on it!. Ready to be registered online. There are only 100.000 made.
What's you're opinion on that matter?.