How to: make kindling

You can split smaller pieces of wood to produce kindling. You need dead and dry wood for this purpose because it will burn a lot better than fresh wood. The following techniques are also mostly used during hikes or when spending time on the campsite. As you are traveling you don't need large pieces of fresh wood. You need smaller pieces of dry wood. Check out the following infotopic if you want to learn more about splitting larger pieces of wood.

The best type of axe to make kindling

For splitting small wood, a hand axe, camping axe, small chopping axe, forest/bushcraft axe or trekking axe is ideal. The smaller the handle the less efficient the axe. An axe about the length of your forearm is perfect!

You can also use a log splitter. With such a splitter, you split the wood without needing an axe. It’s very safe and easy!

The different ways to safely split wood to small pieces

1: On a large chopping block.

The first method is the most straightforward. Use the same chopping block that you previously used to split large pieces of wood. However, for finer chopping work, you will need to kneel down. This is important because the handle of a trekking axe is shorter than that of a splitting axe. If you miss, the axe head will land on the chopping block or the ground instead of hitting your leg or foot.

Place the wood you want to split at the back of the chopping block. This way, the axe will hit the block if you miss the log. Kneel in front of the chopping block and grip the axe firmly at the end of the handle. Gently place the cutting edge of the axe on the chopping block; this helps you gauge the correct distance and prevents you from overshooting the block, which could break the handle. Never use your hand to hold the wood while splitting! Many fingers have been lost this way.

What if your axe gets stuck?

If the axe gets stuck, you can turn over the axe and the piece of wood. Hit the back of the axe on the chopping block and the piece of wood will split over the head of the axe. Place your hand on the block you want to split to make sure it cannot move and hit the palm of your hand on the far end of the handle. As you do this you immediately take hold of the handle. Afterwards you slowly wedge the axe from the wood. Because of the shape of the head it will come out easily. 

2: Chopping kindling without chopping block

It is also possible to leave out the chopping block. You can place the piece of wood on the grass and split the wood. The problem here is that an axe will quickly become blunt if the edge repeatedly touches the ground. There is a better way: place a piece of wood horizontally in front of you and place the piece of wood you wish to split on top of it at an angle. Let it protrude slightly in relation to the block on the ground. You are standing with your heels past the wood to make sure you don't hit your leg when you miss. Hit your axe in the wood to split it.

3: Splitting pinewood for a campfire

Imagine you're traveling and want to make a fire. In that case, splitting wood is the most practical and safest way to do it. Cut down a 'dead standing' pine tree, with a thickness of about 10 to 15 cm, or grab a piece of dry, dead wood. Always saw the piece of wood just before a knot so that each piece contains one knotted section. This makes it easier to split the wood.

The next step is to find a tree stump on which you can split the wood. Do not use a stone as a surface! This will damage the edge of your axe. Place the cut piece of wood lengthwise with the knot facing away from you on the stump. Knots are hard and can damage the blade. Therefore, position the axe at the end of the wood where the knots are, but avoid placing the axe directly on a knot. Make sure the cutting edge of the axe extends a few millimetres beyond the wood to prevent the axe from getting stuck.

Place the cutting edge and the end of the handle on the wood, and lift the axe and wood slightly with both hands. Gently strike the axe and wood onto the surface so that the axe becomes embedded in the wood you're splitting. Then, strike harder several times to split the wood with the axe. Once the cutting edge has passed through the wood, stop striking.

Next, rotate the wood to the left or right to continue splitting. Never twist the handle! This could break the handle. If the wood hasn't split completely, you can place the axe slightly lower in the wood to continue splitting. Once the wood is split in half, place the rounded side down. This is easier to hold and splits more effectively. Repeat this process until the wood is small enough to use as kindling!

4. Splitting wood with a log splitter

Another easy way to create kindling is with a log splitter. You don't need an axe for this method. Log splitters all have a blade, but they work in different ways. With the Flint Spanmesser, you push the blade away from you to split the wood. On the other hand, with the Kindling Cracker or Kindling Cracker King, you strike the wood with a hammer to split it. The Flint Spanmesser is specifically designed for making kindling. The Kindling Cracker can also split larger blocks, as long as the block fits within the diameter of the ring. For the Kindling Cracker, all you need is a hammer.

That's it! Now you know exactly how to make your own kindling. Don't own an axe yet? Check out all our axes. We sell them in all shapes and sizes. From amazing brands such as Hultafors and Fiskars.

Want to learn more about wood splitters? Check them out here, or check out the videos below.