I was skeptical this would work. To my surprise, it certainly does. I used wood that was just over a year old and a 4lb sledge. The wood didn't stand a chance. I usually run out of kindling about halfway through the season and have been using other methods to split wood, but none were as effective as this. I would recommend mounting the splitter to a sturdy table or bench. Doing this from the ground did nothing good for my back or my knees. Standing up would give better leverage and would be easier on your body. Well worth the investment.