Felled Slide Hammer Customer Review: Setup Tips and Real-World Splitting Results

First thing's first: - unscrew the shaft bolt completely. You might even want to take it all the way out - it isn't needed. All the bolt is for is to hold the thing together during transport/storage. I don't even put the bolt back in for that purpose. Do not use the bolt as a stop during splitting. - spin up your grinder and sharpen the wedge. The product will not arrive as sharp as you'll want it. PROS: Less Effort required: - it feels heavy at first, but after some use you'll recognize it requires less effort than axe or sledge/stake. Because of this, it becomes the tool you instinctively reach for first. Less Wedge stucking: - easier to dislodge wedge because it's on the end of a stick (like using a breakerbar) Perfect for indoor splitting: - this is why I bought the thing: I wanted a better way to split wood right next to my stove Consistently equivalent or better than axe / wedge&sledge: - you'll be pleased to see this first-hand, it really does the work - safety is improved dramatically. It's not even close. - fiddling/maneuvering improved dramatically. Process becomes more straightforward. Spend less time. Good vs sharply angled wood block surfaces: - This tool's simplified motion aids in starting & finishing a split against sharply angled wood block surfaces --- vs axe: you wouldn't swing an axe at an angled surface, for fear of the axe deflecting off the angled surface (unsafe) --- vs wedge&sledge: better than axe but lots of fiddling and a bit unsafe. 2 hands VS 1 hand using this product - dont need a hand to hold the wedge. EDIT: I should confirm the product's claim that it splits knotted/branched logs more effectively/efficiently. I would say it does. Occasionally I had to assist with wedge&sledge just a bit, and I've sometimes needed to step on this product while it is in the middle of its drive (it can slowly jackknife with the log while driving) in order to straighten it out and continue the drive, but these arent issues persay - theyre normal, part of the job, and clearly this tool becomes the primary driver and other tools (w&s namely) become assistive. I'd say its worth the money to have and I am sure it will last me a long long time. Good buy. CONS(?) - you likely won't use this for tinder splitting (not really a con). EDIT: sure enough I've been using it to split tinder.