Monster maul is a handy tool. I like mine. However, even it has a problem with knotty fir rounds. A twisted wedge can be handy, if they still make them, Best way I can describe one is a standard wedge that has a twist added to it, kind of like a cork screw..it actually twists as you pound it in.

Sorry, I didn't realize you already had the tree down...by all means, if a hydraulic splitter is available, use it!

I have no idea what a "monster maul" look like.....Google, here I come. My main difficulty now is like in golf......generating club head speed. My hands & wrists are toast.

Here is a pic from a prior job in the front yard.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1463749307.jpg

I fingered it out. A couple pics of the upper back yard.

BTW, I goggled the "monster Maul"......I can't generate much club head speed with a 12 pound whopperthingy. The width of the wedge would come in handy.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1463757460.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1463757520.jpg

or get yourself one of these....
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_1gGDzGdnL0?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Fiskars, get the long handled one :)

Too bad I'm not closer, I'd put in some time for a load or 2.

That changes things.
It's a job for a young man. I'd second sammys advice to find someone willing to do the work or go completely mechanical.

That is called a 'peavy'... I think mine is at my dad's place still from my tree topping days in high school...

24 years ago, that would have been me up there... last one I topped was about 14 years ago when I took down a big siamesed blue spruce in my old backyard to build a garage.

It's been a long time since we cut firewood. My crew puts on an annual Christmas tree lot, and we go through a few trees, but nothing like that.

Back in the day, we used a Didier log splitter and that thing was awesome. My thinking is that you could dig a shallow pit for the log splitter to sit in, or build a sturdy ramp so you don't trip and fall. Roll the rounds onto the log splitter and let motorized hydraulics do the work.

Isn't Douglas fir just like Pine ? There is alot of creasote that comes off of those logs when you burn them, that goes up the chimney and can clog quickly. I wouldn't burn that wood anywhere but outside in a fire pit, or while camping.

I'm 51 years old and burn about 5 cords a year (mostly Oak and Ash), and wouldn't consider splitting with anything but my 30 ton log splitter (8 HP). It's kind of theraputic to watch the split pile grow rapidly, and to think how much money you are saving by doing it all yourseld.

When the tree in my front yard shed the branch a few years ago (38" around) I used my chainsaw to cut the slabs across so I could at least move them. Makes a bunch of sawdust strings but I could handle them. Work smart not hard. :)

I got a couple of those big rounds split today. I think I'll work my way into condition and get faster as I go.
Doug fir is good fire wood, not overly pitchy like pine.