After splitting wood for my (future) log burner for the first time this week, I can honestly say that I'm either a natural, or the Fiskars X25 Wood Splitting Axe is the best wood splitting axe for beginners.
One of the ways I'm going to insulate myself from rising energy prices is to retro fit our home with a multi-fuel stove for heating.
My thinking here is that if things get to the point where supply chains become well and truly frozen, I could always nip out and find something to burn.
However, such thinking proved eye-opening as I began to research the types of stoves and types of fuel I could actually burn and what I discovered almost immediately was that you can't just go out and burn any old thing (well, you can – but you probably shouldn't).
It's not that I didn't already know that, it's just that the lines between what you could burn and what you couldn't were a bit blurred.
And I'm not talking regulatory dos and don'ts here; I'm talking safety dos and don'ts. Regulatory things wouldn't really stop me from doing something to protect my family.
No, the main thing I discovered was that wood burns more efficiently (puts out higher BTU) and is safer (does not emit potentially dangerous Carbon Monoxide) if it is dry wood (or ‘seasoned/cured' wood), with a moisture content of less than 20%.
I wrote an extensive safety briefing about carbon monoxide in the guide about cooking indoors without electricity that I'd recommend you read if you want to learn more about that.
This discovery led to me building my own DIY log store so that I could start sourcing, chopping and drying my own wood.
And it also led to two additional questions:
What Type of Wood Burns Best?
The type of wood that burns best (emits the highest BTU and burns the longest) are fully seasoned hardwoods like hickory, oak, locust, beech, elm and maple.
For further context, hickory emits almost double the BTU per cord of wood than softwoods Aspen, Pine or Spruce.
I compiled a table of the best burning woods from an article written by Ray Lagoe in a 1994 issue of Backwoods Home Magazine.
Which Wood Burns Best: Hardwoods
| Wood Species | Relative Wood Density | BTU / Cord of Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Shagbark Hickory | 72 | 32,800,000 |
| Black Locust | 69 | 31,400,000 |
| White Oak | 68 | 31,000,000 |
| Bitternut Hickory | 66 | 30,000,000 |
| Chestnut Oak | 66 | 30,000,000 |
| American Beech | 64 | 29,100,000 |
| Laurel Oak | 63 | 28,700,000 |
| Northern Red Oak | 63 | 28,700,000 |
| Rock Elm | 63 | 28,700,000 |
| Sugar Maple | 63 | 28,700,000 |
| Yellow Birch | 62 | 28,200,000 |
| White Ash | 60 | 27,300,000 |
| Southern Red Oak | 59 | 26,900,000 |
| Black Walnut | 55 | 25,000,000 |
| Oregon Ash | 55 | 25,000,000 |
| White Birch | 55 | 25,000,000 |
| Black Tupelo | 50 | 22,800,000 |
| American Sycamore | 49 | 22,300,000 |
| Silver Maple | 47 | 21,400,000 |
| Sassafras | 46 | 21,000,000 |
| Yellow Poplar | 42 | 19,000,000 |
| Red Alder | 41 | 18,600,000 |
| Eastern Cottonwood | 40 | 18,200,000 |
| Black Willow | 39 | 17,800,000 |
| Quaking Aspen | 38 | 17,300,000 |
Which Wood Burns Best: Softwoods
| Softwood Species | Relative Wood Density | BTU / Cord of Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Tamarack | 53 | 24,100,000 |
| Western Larch | 52 | 23,700,000 |
| Douglas Fir | 48 | 21,900,000 |
| Bald Cypress | 46 | 21,000,000 |
| Red Pine | 46 | 21,000,000 |
| Hemlock | 45 | 20,500,000 |
| Cedar | 44 | 20,000,000 |
| Fir | 43 | 19,600,000 |
| Pine | 41 | 18,600,000 |
| Spruce | 40 | 18,200,000 |
I also discovered that different types of wood will dry at different speeds but, generally speaking, it's advisable to let wood dry out (‘season' or ‘cure') for a year before you burn it. My newly built DIY log store with a planter on top would help with that.
Second to that, and the primary reason for writing this guide, was to help you find out which Axe was the best wood splitting axe for a beginner.
Is The Fiskars X25 The Best Wood Splitting Axe For A Beginner?
It's a bit difficult for me to answer completely because, as a beginner, it's the only axe I've ever used but what I can say is that I'll never need to use another!
Having took a swing or two to get used to the weight and balance (which I filmed in real time in the video above as evidence!), I can honestly say the Fiskars X25 Wood Splitting Axe made me look like a seasoned wood splitter.
Although I'd never been a wood cutter, or used an axe before, I did used to play a lot of handle sports, and I have a very keen sense of balance. I can say with certainty that the balance on the Fiskars X25 is perfect for my strength and size.
I was able to split conifer logs (like Pine) without much effort, and mostly, with a single swing. The whole wood splitting exercise was pretty painless actually; and thoroughly enjoyable. I can only attribute it to the quality of the tool.
So what goes into a Fiskars X25?
Fiskars X25 Specs & Features
According to Fiskars, the X25 is:
- Best for large logs with diameter of more than 30 cm.
- Able to create extra momentum due to it's thick blade which makes it better at splitting extra thick logs .
- Perfectly balanced between the head and shaft.
- Virtually unbreakable owing to its Ultralight and durable FiberComp shaft.
- Non-slip and comfortable to use because of its anti-shock 3D surface and hooked end with rubberised grip.
- Is safe to carry about in it's sturdy plastic sheath.
I can't disagree with any of those statements at all and think they're all pretty much bang on.
In terms of the actual specs, the Fiskars X25 Wood Splitting Axe comes in at 77.4cm in length with a 23.5cm wide axe head and weighs a total of 2400g.
The balance though, is so perfect that it feels much lighter than it's actual weight which makes it easy to swing clean.
Fiskars X25 Wood Splitting Axe 25 Year Warranty
One of the other reasons I decided to opt for this wood splitting axe and not a traditional wooden-handled axe was because Fiskars offer a 25 year warranty on the X series of axes. Not that I think warranties and guarantees will matter in a few years but it's a definite nice to have.
Where To Buy The Fiskars X25 Wood Splitting Axe: The Best Wood Splitting Axe In The World
In the UK: I scoured sites online and found the best price in the UK (£58 inc VAT with free delivery) at FFX.
In the USA: Unlike here in the UK, in the USA you can buy wood splitting axes on Amazon and whilst I always prefer to shop independently, locally even, you can get a good indication of what you should be paying on Amazon.
Additional Post-Apocalyptic Benefits of the Fiskars X25
In addition to it's obvious wood splitting prowess; possibly making it the best wood splitting axe for beginners in the world, it also looks badass. Like it belongs on the set of the latest dystopian zombie movie where the hero chooses it as his weapon of choice.
Even if you don't need to split any wood, it's worth it for that alone 😜
