Got Wood? Take Care of it with the Fiskars Super Splitting Axe
When it comes to big wood, there’s only one solution — a big axe. Fourteen inches, 20 inches, 26 inches, none of it will do. When you’ve got thick, long, hardwood, you need a 36-inch axe for the job. And the Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super 36″ Splitting axe is the only tool that will do. A hefty head and lightweight shaft take all the work off your shoulders and allow you to use the power and momentum of this tool to your advantage. Fiskars is well-known for its excellent cutting tools. Their line of axes is no exception, and this monster is a case in point.
Fiskars Axe: Big Wood? No Problem.
Often, finding wood to chop for axe testing is a challenge. Luckily for our Gear Hungry audience, the weather happily complied. A recent windstorm left a large tree laying across one of my roommate’s properties, and the Fiskars axe arrived right on time to lend a hand. We cut large pieces from the trunk of the tree with a chainsaw, to get things started. But from there, we put the Super Splitting Axe to work to clear up the property. Plus, we had to prepare some firewood for a summer of weekly bonfires. And, of course, whip up some useful research for this review.
The axe made light work of the felled tree, and we’re stocked up on bonfire wood for our summer get-togethers.
After our good deed of the day, the next test for the Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe was splitting 14-inch and larger birch stump blocks for seasoning. The axe handled well, and the additional weight in the head made for excellent power and momentum and made splitting easier.
The composite fiberglass flared handle kept my sweaty hands from slipping as I worked, which kept errant swings into my shins to a minimum (read: I still have both my legs). The day we split the rounds from the tree was a warm one, and I was thankful for the extra grip while working.
Swing and a Miss
The blade is a little wider than most splitting axes, and when splitting, it did not nest into my chopping block well and would bounce back a bit, so I had to store it on the ground between chops and jobs. This minor nuisance resulted in more bending over, but that’s certainly not the end of the world. However, the protective sheath does come with a hanging hole for easy storage when not in use. But besides that minor quibble, there’s not much fault to be found with this axe.
Overall, this product worked incredibly well, especially for bigger tasks, but it felt a bit large and unwieldy for me. When I had the chance, I often moved to a smaller axe for smaller and medium-size blocks. This feeling might be because the axe is more than half my height. However, for my much taller roommate, this tool was perfect, and he used it over the course of several days while we managed the tree debris. For the biggest blocks and large jobs, this axe really was the perfect tool.
The Buy & Review Conclusions
The MSRP for the Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super 36″ Splitting axe is $70, a fair price for a reputable brand and such a handy tool.
However, I recommend nailing your splitting technique before progressing to such a large axe, though. Check out our curated guide on more axes for chopping wood. Once you get your form dialed down, feel free to go full Viking on whatever wood comes your way.
