Herein are novel tools for splitting wood and material handling. Disclosed is a vehicle supported wood splitter comprising a blade portion and a fixation portion extending from the blade portion. The blade portion comprises a generally upward facing cut edge situated between a primary deflector face and a secondary deflector face and in one embodiment at least a portion of the fixation portion is sized and shaped to be received in a hitch receiver of a vehicle. In other forms, the blade portion comprises a ball space for seating over a hitch ball. In some forms, the splitter is in the form of a jack stand. Also disclosed is a complementary kindling collection system, a guide system, and splitter device adapted to one or more of casting, machining, and welding. Several methods of use are also disclosed.

A custom bracket hinge which is used a single time during assembly of the log splitter, and a customized shipment stand allow an extremely quick and safe method of swinging two heavy parts of a log splitter trailer together, without lifting either part off of the ground until they are mated and can be swung into position. The first method aspect of the invention consists of the use of the special equipment (double hinge bracket mechanism and stand) to assemble the log splitter in a very small number of steps. The second method aspect of the invention is shipping the log splitter with the equipment, in a much smaller footprint.

A custom bracket hinge which is used a single time during assembly of the log splitter, and a customized shipment stand allow an extremely quick and safe method of swinging two heavy parts of a log splitter trailer together, without lifting either part off of the ground until they are mated and can be swung into position. The first method aspect of the invention consists of the use of the special equipment (double hinge bracket mechanism and stand) to assemble the log splitter in a very small number of steps. The second method aspect of the invention is shipping the log splitter with the equipment, in a much smaller footprint.

Herein are novel tools for splitting wood and material handling. Disclosed is a vehicle supported wood splitter comprising a blade portion and a fixation portion extending from the blade portion. The blade portion comprises a generally upward facing cut edge situated between a primary deflector face and a secondary deflector face and in one embodiment at least a portion of the fixation portion is sized and shaped to be received in a hitch receiver of a vehicle. In other forms, the blade portion comprises a ball space for seating over a hitch ball. In some forms, the splitter is in the form of a jack stand. Also disclosed is a complementary kindling collection system, a guide system, and splitter device adapted to one or more of casting, machining, and welding. Several methods of use are also disclosed.

Herein are novel tools for splitting wood and material handling. Disclosed is a vehicle supported wood splitter comprising a blade portion and a fixation portion extending from the blade portion. The blade portion comprises a generally upward facing cut edge situated between a primary deflector face and a secondary deflector face and in one embodiment at least a portion of the fixation portion is sized and shaped to be received in a hitch receiver of a vehicle. In other forms, the blade portion comprises a ball space for seating over a hitch ball. In some forms, the splitter is in the form of a jack stand. Also disclosed is a complementary kindling collection system, a guide system, and splitter device adapted to one or more of casting, machining, and welding. Several methods of use are also disclosed.

An apparatus for mechanically splitting materials has a body with a cutting element arranged relative thereto. The cutting element has at least one cutting surface oriented vertically. The splitting apparatus has the cutting element applying an upward pressure against the material which is split when a separate downward force is applied to the material. The body of the splitting apparatus also has a safety element to protect the user from the cutting element; an elongate supporting element to distance the safety element from either or both the cutting element and a surface on which the splitting apparatus is used; a stabilizing element to stabilize the splitting apparatus relative to a surface on which the splitting apparatus is used; and optionally a deflecting element to deflect split materials away from the cutting element and container element to contain therewithin split materials produced during the splitting.

An apparatus for mechanically splitting materials has a body with a cutting element arranged relative thereto. The cutting element has at least one cutting surface oriented vertically. The splitting apparatus has the cutting element applying an upward pressure against the material which is split when a separate downward force is applied to the material. The body of the splitting apparatus also has a safety element to protect the user from the cutting element; an elongate supporting element to distance the safety element from either or both the cutting element and a surface on which the splitting apparatus is used; a stabilizing element to stabilize the splitting apparatus relative to a surface on which the splitting apparatus is used; and optionally a deflecting element to deflect split materials away from the cutting element and container element to contain therewithin split materials produced during the splitting.

Disclosed is a vehicle supported wood splitter comprising a blade portion and a fixation portion extending from the blade portion. The blade portion comprises a generally upward facing cut edge situated between a primary deflector face and a secondary deflector face and wherein at least a portion of the fixation portion is sized and shaped to be received in a hitch receiver or similar apparatus of a vehicle such as an automobile, RV, camper, trailer, or UTV. Methods of use for various embodiments of the apparatus are described. In preferred embodiments, the wood splitting device is supported entirely by a vehicle's hitch receiver. Also disclosed in various embodiments is a kindling collection system, a guide system, and splitter forms adapted to one or more of casting, machining, and welding.

Disclosed is a vehicle supported wood splitter comprising a blade portion and a fixation portion extending from the blade portion. The blade portion comprises a generally upward facing cut edge situated between a primary deflector face and a secondary deflector face and wherein at least a portion of the fixation portion is sized and shaped to be received in a hitch receiver or similar apparatus of a vehicle such as an automobile, RV, camper, trailer, or UTV. Methods of use for various embodiments of the apparatus are described. In preferred embodiments, the wood splitting device is supported entirely by a vehicle's hitch receiver. Also disclosed in various embodiments is a kindling collection system, a guide system, and splitter forms adapted to one or more of casting, machining, and welding.

A wedge holder system and kit and method for splitting a log having a polymer foam block member with a concave top surface forming a basin with raised left and right longitudinal sides paralleling a center axis, the top surface designed to conform to a rounded side of a log. A planar bottom surface of the block member is designed to rest on a log cross section. At least one slot portion through the foam block member is designed to hold an at least one metal wedge member vertically to drive the metal wedge into a log. At least one V-shaped notch portion for holding wood vertically may be disposed within at least one exterior longitudinal side portion of the polymer foam block member. Polymer foam block members may be adjacent or coupled lengthwise or vertically.