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.

A device for collecting split wood, having a plurality of bar elements, which each have a first and a second longitudinal portion, and a plurality of connecting elements, which connect the bar elements movably to one another. The second longitudinal portion of each bar element extends in a curved manner and the first longitudinal portion extends in a straight manner. The connecting elements cooperate with the second longitudinal portions, and a clamping element, which cooperates with the first longitudinal portions, is designed to firmly clamp the bar elements to a chopping block by their first longitudinal portions.

A device for collecting split wood, having a plurality of bar elements, which each have a first and a second longitudinal portion, and a plurality of connecting elements, which connect the bar elements movably to one another. The second longitudinal portion of each bar element extends in a curved manner and the first longitudinal portion extends in a straight manner. The connecting elements cooperate with the second longitudinal portions, and a clamping element, which cooperates with the first longitudinal portions, is designed to firmly clamp the bar elements to a chopping block by their first longitudinal portions.

A specialized wood splitting tool and chopping block, used together, enable cutting kindling from ordinary firewood in an effective and safe manner. The splitting tool uses leverage in addition to downward momentum of the cutting head to split wood. The metal handle and metal cutting head are preferably formed from a single piece of steel, in a perpendicular configuration similar to an adz. A splitting wedge blade within the handle exerts transverse shear forces to enhance splitting, and flat upper surfaces of the cutting head and the handle near the joint provide a striking surface. A complimentary chopping block for bracing logs of various diameters in a steady upright position has a V-shaped recess that is open on one end. The chopping block provides resistance to the unique leverage of the splitting tool during the splitting action.

A specialized wood splitting tool and chopping block, used together, enable cutting kindling from ordinary firewood in an effective and safe manner. The splitting tool uses leverage in addition to downward momentum of the cutting head to split wood. The metal handle and metal cutting head are preferably formed from a single piece of steel, in a perpendicular configuration similar to an adz. A splitting wedge blade within the handle exerts transverse shear forces to enhance splitting, and flat upper surfaces of the cutting head and the handle near the joint provide a striking surface. A complimentary chopping block for bracing logs of various diameters in a steady upright position has a V-shaped recess that is open on one end. The chopping block provides resistance to the unique leverage of the splitting tool during the splitting action.

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.

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.