© Vipukirves
Even though the tool is simple, using it can be dangerous in unskilled hands. One uses a lot of power to drive the sharp tip into wood and once the head of an axe gets going, it's not easy to stop. The chopper can miss the wood and impale a body part or hit the log at the wrong angle, causing the axe to bounce and do little chopping at all.
But check out this ax from Finnish company Vipukirves. It's called the Leveraxe and instead of a wedge, this ax works more like a lever. The head is attached to the handle from the side instead of the center, which also moves the center of gravity off to the side. The specialized shape of the head also capitalizes on the natural kinetic energy of a person's swing. The tip is not strictly a wedge. A couple of inches from the tip, the blades widens. That causes the head to slow when it penetrates the wood, but the momentum from the swing is still there and because the head is off center, gravity forces the tip to rotate downward, which turns the blade into a lever.
Just look how easy it is to split wood. And putting the log inside a tire is also genius-level thinking. Father's Day is right around the corner, people. Wouldn't dad love this? And hell, mom might like one too.
Reader Comments
This looks like a gimmick.
Buy it for father and watch it gather dust.
I've seen all sorts of re-invented wood-splitting tools.
Most work only on special occasions (situations).
I cut and split a lot of wood, all kinds. I have a heavy (Monster) maul, a medium maul, splitting wedges, felling wedges and various lighter head axes, double and single bit. I have a Jonserud chainsaw, and a smaller Poulan.
The best time to split (difficult) wood is when it is about 20 below zero, most wood splts relatively easily then. If you can't split it when it's 20 below, maybe just leave it and let it rot. Or you can cut it into small pieces with a chainsaw.
I really like wood (trees) and being out in the woods, the forests, I like the smell. I've gotten hurt, working on wood, once or twice, but usually pretty careful.
I am a Finnish-American, live in Minnesota, 3 generations from Finland.
ned
Looks like seasoned birch. Not the densest wood, but I've split logs like these with a regular axe and it does take more effort than this one.
I want one!
I also noted the excellent quality of the wood he was working with. Straight veined and dry. But I also noted that this guy was not at his first rodeo. I've been splitting wood my whole life…and the ease with which Mister Expert was working makes me feel like a boy with some holes in his smile.
So I just ordered two Leveraxes. I'll post a review up in the forum when I get the chance to work with them.
In the meantime, I'd just like to add that harvesting wood is not something you do when you feel like some physical exercise in the fall. It is a year-round, multi-year, process. It's no accident that the folks who invented this novel, simple axe have a lot of really good quality, properly dried wood to work with. And they have learned from experience (and beyond splitting, there is stacking!) that some trees make better splitting logs than other.
At the risk of pointing out the obvious, this axe is designed for only one thing, splitting firewood. It does appear to be effective for that purpose.
However, you wouldn't want to use it to fall a tree, trim tree branches or strip bark, nor would you find it useful for building a cabin, furniture or a boat.
And as other have noted, it's probably not quite as effective if you're not splitting well aged, dry, straight grained wood. Black birch? Cedar? Fir? Yes, those woods all split rather easily. Other woods likely don't fare well.
Hello.
My name is Heikki Kärnä. I am the inventor of the Vipukirves/Leveraxe.
I read the comments and I noticed, that for some people it seems to be very difficult to understand the splitting technique with the Vipukirves/Leveraxe.
There is practically nothing to do with cutting and wedging when splitting with the Vipukirves.
Leverage is the way how to do it.
There is no friction as with the conventional axes and mauls, because on an optimum strike the blade penetrates into the block only about 5 millimetres, less than a quarter of an inch. At the very moment, when the edge of the blade touches the surface of the block, the blade starts to lean to the right. Here comes the leverage that multiplies the splitting force up to 35 times bigger. The edge of the blade grabs to the side of the part of wood. All the kinetic energy turns to the left and pushes the piece away. Initial spitting force can be even 15 tons.
Splitting is now much easier, because you do not have to use so much power. By holding the handle as gently as possible you allow the rotation in your hands. You will not get such chocks to your hands and body as with the conventional axes and mauls.
It is very important to hold the handle so, that you do not resist the rotation.
This way also the safety elements, which are build in to the design of the blade, function as they are planned to do. The blade will stop on the top of the block, or slows down the speed so, that it is fully under the control of the user.
Vipukirves has been on the market nearly 10 years. There has happened NO ACCIDENT.
It is advisable to split the wood as green as possible, because this way it splits easiest, the insects cannot multiply in it and it dries best.
Vipukirves has spread all around the world. The feed back is excellent.
There is a lot information in my websites, Google etc. Youtube. Search by words Vipukirves and Leveraxe.
I wish you to make yourselves acquainted with this new kind of tool which is in commercial production first time in the history. I would also like you to understand that among the other advantages the safety elements make the splitting really enjoyable because you do not have to be afraid all the time about the blade.
Based to the feed back, so called hard wood is not any more a problem when using the Vipukirves.
Of course it requires some knowledge about the structure of the tree to optimize the splitting.
In the videos you can see myself splitting. I am around 70 years. Now I am 74 and my total experience in splitting firewood consists of 67 years time.
Read more: [Link]
Hi Heikki,
Thanks for coming directly to Sott. I admire and appreciate your experience with firewood. I read your link. The first thing I noticed about the linked story was the first sentence, which claimed that splitting wood is not fun, or 'one of the least favorite tasks', to quote directly. For me, I've always enjoyed it. The second thing I noticed about the linked story was that it was written by a woman. Women, have today, a vast tendency to be industry parrots, they just repeat their lines as given to them by somebody else higher up in the given (any given) industry. Men do this too, of course, but women even moreso because it is part of their modern 'liberation' and how they get away from traditional living and become part of the modern and lavish scene of technocratic revision, exploitation and destruction.
New products are always appearing on the 'free market' (ie. the 'modern scene'), all are claimed to be 'new and improved', but most are not worth a devil's damn and are merely part of the aforementioned
'parrot and sell effect' and in general, are a hatchet job (pardon the pun) designed only to make more money for industry and corporate giants.
So I hope you understand my reticence about your device. Nonetheless, perhaps it is a wonderful product and will and does truly help people, even as it makes a bundle of cash for those who already have plenty.
One last thing: Wood burning is becoming more and more regulated, taxed, controlled and subject to heavy fine and punishment if not done strictly as the burgeoning, ballooning, green industry and their high heeled (ie., very wealthy) executives mandate. Maybe you can do something about that? Or maybe you regard this a good and necessary development and extension of the modern world.
your friend,
nedlud
I am a proud Finn, 3rd generation in USA. Loggers, miners, farmers and -uhhh- preachers in my past.
ned
Hello "nedlud"
Thank you for your interest in this invention. In case you are referring to the attached story, you are right. It was written by my wife, who has closely followed the development of the Leveraxe during these years. It is written as a fairytale, but the content follows the true story.
Splitting firewood is fun and great joy, but now with the Vipukirves/Leveraxe it is far more fun because there is not any problem trees any more. The reason for this is, that you can now hit to nearly any part of the block without the fear that the blade could continue it's way to your foot. There are certain safety elements build in to the design of the blade. These elements will stop the blade on the top of the block. The blade will not get stuck into the block. The leverage multiplies the splitting force many times bigger. The knots are not any problem either. The idea is that you leave the knots as an own split. It's like a game with the nature. It makes all kind of trees, hard wood, soft wood, straight, knotty, stringy , you just name it . No matter, everything goes .You will not get such chocks to your hands as with the conventional axes and mauls because the blade does not stop suddenly, but via rotation, slowly and ends to the brake that acts as a chock absorber.
There is nearly no friction at all, because on an optimum strike the blade penetrates into the block only 5 millimetres, less than a quarter of an inch.
The Leveraxe has spread all over the world. I'm getting excellent feed back all around.
This new tool causes a lot conversation, because it is something that has never existed before. I am possibly the best person to tell and explain about it's advantages and how to use it. My writings have often considered to be advertisement. The meaning is not so. I want people to understand, that now there is a safe alternative for firewood splitting.
I would like all of you readers to find the way to make yourselves acquainted with this new tool. There is a lot
in the internet and Youtube. You'll find the way. I will answer to your questions to the best of my knowledge, but I will not want to be accused of advertising.
Answer to your question: We are eight hours ahead your time. 6:13 AM is 2:13 PM in Finland.
Best regards
Heikki, the inventor
HISTORY OF LEVERAXE WITH DETAILS
A STORY OF AN AXE THAT'S NOT DEPENDANT ON TIME, PLACE OR OIL PRICES
Twenty years ago a man moved to the gloomy forest of Sipoo – a man who wanted to appreciate beautiful, individual trees.
He bravely started his difficult task of clearing the rocky site in order to build a house. He used manual tools he bought from the hardware store. Rough terrain and large spruces standing close to each other, fighting for the little light that got through their huge branches, made work even harder.
But the diligent man grabbed a saw and the trees came crashing down. The man cut, lopped, split and chopped. The old frame saw was smoking and the axe was swinging.
Throughout his arduous work the axe often swung close to the hard working man’s calves. The axe struck him more than once, but luckily the man was wearing protective overalls with his hems stiff into his rubber boots. After receiving a few mighty blows from the axe, he was forced to toss his boots into the trash. When the hard day’s work was over, the man collected all the resinous branches into one pile and the trunks cut with a power saw in the other. They would wait to be cut into firewood.
“Darn it!” the man said in despair. “Making firewood is so much work, and it’s dangerous too!”
He sat down on a stump, threw his gloves in the moss, wiped the sweat from his forehead and started cogitating. He grabbed the axe that the hardware salesman proclaimed to be the best on the market and began to examine the blade and the handle, turning the piece of metal in his sap-covered hands. Then it came to him.
”Eureka! I need to work on this!”
Numerous ideas about different axe blades began to swarm in his head. They didn’t leave him alone even at night, and at the wee hours of the morning he arose to sketch out his new axe at the kitchen table.
He realized his plans by manufacturing numerous prototypes of his axe at a local steel workshop. Once in a while he found new axes at the hardware store. They were proclaimed to give greater striking power and strength through added weight and a variety of shenanigans to the sides of the blade.
At times the man was discouraged, but his persistent Finnish nature didn’t allow him to give up. The man continued developing a safer and more efficient axe; one that would allow him to conquer the roughest terrain; one that would be completely manual to overcome the lack of electricity in the middle of the thick forest; one that could be used where even a tractor could not get though, where the mossy forests are too precious to be destroyed by the digging machines.
Years went by and one day the man was levering yard stones with a crowbar. And then, out of the blue, it struck him. He could barely restrain himself – he finally knew the answer to the problem. He was sure that crowbar’s prying power over big rocks and stumps could also be applied to an axe. He threw the crowbar in the bushes, ran to the kitchen table and sketched his new, lever-based axe.
And thus VIPUKIRVES™ was born.