The wooden maul is a hand tool that everybody has seen in a village or a warehouse and not only the woodworkers and for sure it isn’t an auxiliary tool , used only rarely .

If you’re a woodworker who likes to work and make carpentry designs using green wood( and not only ) , the wooden maul is a basic tool and a serious helper for you .

Yes , the wooden maul is an ancient and primary tool for the human beings .

The wooden maul is a woodworking hand tool , that consists of a heavy metalic ( steel ) and two sided wedge shaped head ( sledgehammer + wider head axe ) , which is slightly curved to prevent jamming and attached to a long and straight wooden handle .

What is a wooden maul , Used for ?

We use wooden mauls for manually splitting – seperating and chopping wood pieces ( logs , et.c ) of all sizes – but mostly big ones ( mauls are heavy ) , only along the wood’s grain .

How do you split wood , with a maul ?

You place your log – piece on a very stable place ( above of a bigger log most of the times ) , you find a weak spot in its cross section , usually a gap between the growth rings and you hit this spot with power and totally vertical .

The log will split very easily , most of the times you won’t hit a second time .

Is a Maul an Axe or a Hammer ?

Maul is both a heavy hammer ( sledgehammer ) from the one side and a dull , a conical shaped axe from the other side . The wooden maul is two hand tools in one .

What is the Difference between a Maul and a Hammer ?

The one side of the maul’s head is a hammer , but it has some differences with the hammers :

1) You hit wood with a maul , using both of your hands .

2) The maul is way more heavier than a hammer .

3) The maul hit way more stronger and with bigger force than the hammer .

4) The hammer doesn’t have a wedge shaped conical axe side , as the maul has .

See what the hammers & mallets are and some of their “secrets” in HERE .

What is the Difference , between a Sledgehammer and a Maul ?

One side of the maul is a sledgehammer one , but these two hand tools are different , because of their way of use .

The flat , big similar surfaces of the sledgehammer and its heavy weight is targeted to bring demolition force to an area( without being very precise ) and usually for demolition causes , not targeted wood splitting , as the maul is doing .

Using the maul’s conical – wedge shaped side( and big weight ) , you can seperate wood with a high level of precision , if you’re careful enough .

The sledgehammer doesn’t do that . It hits hard , demolishes , pushes big force , in a wider general way and it’s used mostly in constructions , et.c .

Why are mauls , Blunt ?

Mauls aren’t axes , aren’t chisels , aren’t sharp cutting hand tools , you use to cut the wood’s fibers . Mauls are made to seperate – split wood fibers along the grain , very fast and not so “surgical” precise .

The maul should be dull and have big thickness and weight as tool , in order to have the wedge tool specialty and conical design , in order to split wood using constant and uninteruppted pressure to it .

How Heavy , should a Maul be ?

Mauls are heavy hand tools and the most common weights for them are between the 6 – 15 pounds .

Can you hit a Wedge , with a Maul ?

Yes , surely you can and you’ll have very good precision to your splitting , using the help of a wedge , no matter if you split a large or a small log .

Of course you use the sledgehammer side of the maul and you hit the wedge , after you’ve placed it in the exact weaker spot of the wood .

If there is no weaker spot and you’re ealing with a very “stubborn” piece of wood , make a small gap to place your wedge .

Most of the times , by using the wedge and hit it a little in order to stabilize it vertical , or maybe a small axe .

Is it Better to split wod , with a Maul and a Wedge ?

Yes , it is for sure to use a wedge if you like because the wedge gives you splitting precision to the exact spot , you want to seperate wood , no matter if it’s a small log or a bigger one .

If you have a big log – wood piece , the use of a wedge is necessary , because the weight of the maul won’t be able to do the job for a couple of hits .

Remember that if you have to hit your wood many times to split it , the posibilities to “lose” – miss your hitting spot are very big .

See some of my top splitting Wedge suggestions in HERE .

Should a wooden maul be sharp ?

No , it shouldn’t be sharp , it should be conical enough , well balanced and have the correct V – shaped head design , in order to seperate wood along its grain .

How do I sharpen , my Maul ?

I don’t suggest you to sharpen your maul . Mauls should be conicals not sharp , but if you want to give a little sharpeness , use you grinder and be careful not to make the edges curved , even slightly .

The edges should be straight all the way and you can do that , if you put the exact same pressure during sharpening .

How do i Choose a maul ?

1) A maul should be heavy enough .

2) You should feel it very solid in your hands , but not only that .

3) A nice maul should be very well balanced and this is something you feel it on your hands . Make some movement tests before you buy it . You feel it balanced ?

4) The quality of the metal should be the appropriate . You don’t want rust themes , when the color will go from the hits .

5) The handle is very important . It should be long enough , solid enough with nice finishing , strong enough in the head’s area and gives you a very comfortable feeling .

6) The conical V – shaped head , should be very well made and designed .

7) The general feeling should be very good and gives you the sense of a solid well balanced hand tool .

Keep woodworking and the happiness is certain .