A Product Review of Kindling Cracker XL
Heating exclusively with firewood is quite liberating. It’s about as caveman as you can get. Wood. Fire. Heat. (Well, if you’re using the proper kind of seasoned firewood you get heat. But that’s another post.) Processing your own firewood seems so visceral, and lends itself to feeling quite accomplished, and sweaty, when you’re done, and warm. But it can also lend itself to back pain and other sorts of pain.
This is our third winter heating completely with wood. But it’s the first winter I’ve managed to start acquiring tools needed to process logs into dimensions usable in our wood stove. Before this year, we’ve always ordered pre-cut cord wood from craigslist. We have a modern wood stove, but it’s pretty small. Firewood can’t be too long or too wide, or it won’t fit.
After the Kindling Cracker King Firewood Kindling Splitter had it’s way with the wood.
Yes, I know there are wood splitters, gasoline, electric powered. But I want to do as much with human-powered hand tools as possible, before I move on to gas-powered equipment. That being said, I finally began learning how to effectively use an eight-pound maul and wedge, with a few tricks – like using an old tire to hold the firewood together while you’re swinging the hand tool.
I’d been eyeing piece of equipment for months and finally broke down and bought it the other day, because I unexpectedly drove by Northern Tool, which had it on sale. It’s a Kindling Cracker King Firewood Kindling Splitter — XL Size.
I was skeptical at first. How could it be? I’ve seen the youtube videos, read the manufactures information. But how could this rather simple looking device make my life easier? And was it worth the money – for the cost I could’ve bought a hand-powered hydraulic wood splitter.
First, I split a wheelbarrow full with the Kindling Cracker and a four-pound 16″ sledge hammer. Large pieces definitely took maybe a half dozen mashes, but smaller ones just one or two. I definitely would like a heavier sledge, maybe a ten or twelve pound, then each piece would be one blow. Even though it did take plenty of effort, it wasn’t the sort of work that made me break a sweat. It felt easy.
Then, just so I could fully appreciate the new tool, I went back to my old tire and eight pound maul, and split another wheelbarrow full. I was sweaty and got my workout warm up.
The Kindling Cracker King Firewood Kindling Splitter is definitely an easier tool to use for the job, it wins hands down. I look forward to many years use from my new tool.
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I bought my Kindling Cracker at Northern Tool, and I’d do it again. You can also find Kindling Cracker XL or Kindling Cracker Original on Amazon.
