Mauls, splitting axes, and felling axes are NOT the same. There are a lot of websites providing partial answers to the axe vs maul debate, but most of them appear to be incomplete, or just plain wrong.
So, in this article, we’re going to dig-in and clarify things once and for all! By the end of the page, you’ll have a clear understanding of how these 3 types of axes are different from each other.
Then, you can use your newfound knowledge to end a debate, win a bet, or what have you. Let’s start by simply answering this question:
What is the difference between a splitting axe and a splitting maul?
The main difference between a splitting axe and a maul is the weight of the head, which is typically 3-6 lbs for a splitting axe, and 6-8 lbs for a maul. Splitting axes are sometimes confused with felling axes, which are designed for cutting across the grain of wood, rather than splitting along the grain.
There are many different types of axes, including carpentry axes and hatchets, but for the splitting axe vs maul debate we are chiefly concerned with 3 categories:
- Splitting mauls
- Splitting axes
- Felling axes
Let’s begin with an at-a-glance comparison, and then we’ll dig deeper into each one.
Maul vs Splitting Axe vs Felling Axe
That’s the high-level view.
The difference between mauls and splitting axes = the weight of the head.
The difference between felling axes and BOTH mauls + splitting axes = the purpose, shape of the head, and shape of the handle.
In other words, mauls and splitting axes are very closely related and perform the same function. However, felling axes have a completely different purpose and design.
We’ll dig into each of these tools in greater depth below, but if you’re mainly interested in splitting firewood, there are actually 5 types of tools you might use (including mauls and axes). If you’d like to learn about all 5, you can check out this article and the video below:
Next up, let’s dig deeper into splitting mauls.
Splitting Mauls
A splitting maul is sometimes also called a sledge axe or a hamaxe, because the design of the head resembles a sledgehammer on one side and an axe on the other side.
In fact, a splitting maul is technically considered a hammer by some definitions, and not an axe at all.
Due to the half sledgehammer, half wedge shape, splitting maul heads are typically 2-5 pounds heavier than splitting axe heads. And an average splitting maul head will weigh 6-8 pounds.
If you compare the head of a splitting maul with a felling axe, the weight difference can be even larger, because felling axe heads tend to be flatter and lighter.
Another thing to note about mauls is the way that they split wood. Whereas a felling axe is designed to cut (or chop) through wood against the grain, a splitting maul is designed to split wood apart using leverage (along the grain).
Finally, another notable difference between mauls, splitting axes, and felling axes is the handle design. Mauls tend to have a slightly longer handle, that is straight and round shaped. Axes tend to use more oval-shaped handles, and felling axes also have curved handles.
Splitting Axe
For all practical purposes, a splitting axe is a slightly lighter and slightly smaller version of a splitting maul.
If you compare a splitting axe and a maul side-by-side, you’d see that the splitting axe has a slightly smaller (less sledgehammer shaped) head. You’d also notice that the handle on a splitting axe is a little shorter and the whole tool weighs less.
When to Use a Splitting Axe instead of a Maul
So, this naturally raises the question: when do you use a splitting axe vs. a maul? You can answer this question, by asking yourself three simple questions:
- Who is going to be using the tool?
- How long will the tool be used at once?
- What type of wood are you splitting?
First, since a splitting axe is usually lighter and smaller, it’s also easier to handle. As a result, a splitting axe is a great alternative for anyone who might have trouble using a splitting maul.
In addition, it’s helpful to think about how long the axe is going to be used. If you’re getting geared up for hours of firewood splitting, then a splitting axe might be a good choice, because you’ll be able to swing it for longer hours.
As an example of this, my family has heated with firewood for many years, and we have a pretty large arsenal of different splitting tools. My sister, who is in great shape, likes using a 4-pound splitting axe because the shape and weight work well for her body type.
Lastly, it is worth considering the type of wood you’re splitting, because you might need to (at least temporarily) switch to a larger maul if you’re splitting something really difficult. For example, Hickory and Sycamore can both be tough to split.
Now, we’ll turn our attention to felling axes (a completely different category) to highlight the differences.
Felling Axes
Felling axes are built for chopping down trees, cutting off tree branches, and similar jobs. All of these tasks require you to cut across the grain of the wood. In other words, you are cutting perpendicular to the direction the tree (or branch) grew.
Another way to think about this is that felling axes are used for the type of work, that creates woodchips as a byproduct. For example, cutting down a tree, chopping off large branches, cutting a log in half (against the grain).
For cutting wood (e.g. not splitting), you want a very sharp, thin, and flat blade. This allows the tool to slice through the grains and chip off a chunk of the wood.
In addition, with a felling axe, you are more likely to swing in a variety of directions (e.g. side-to-side, up-and-down, diagonal, etc.). As a result, it’s important for felling axes to be easy to grip and handle. The lighter weight head and curved handle of a felling axe help provide this functionality.
Related Questions
What’s the Best Axe/Maul for Splitting Wood?
The best splitting axe/maul I’ve ever used is the Gransfors Bruks Splitting Axe, which you can read about on my recommended tools page. It’s not cheap, but WOW can it split. It’s a beautiful piece of Swedish engineering, and it’s one of those tools that will get you excited to do chores.
How Many Pieces of Wood are in a Cord?
A full cord of wood typically contains 600-800 pieces of split firewood, which translates into 200-275 pieces in a face cord (or rick). A cord is measured by the total volume of wood, so the number of pieces will change depending on the type of wood and how it is split.
