Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing said method wherein a log of wood is split by being forced through a generally conical shaped apparatus containing a multiplicity of uniquely shaped, spaced, interconnected, and cooperatively operative knives or splitting elements. The method involves forcing a large log of wood through the uniquely shaped knife or splitting element arrangement in such manner that there is in effect a stepped splitting of the wood into relatively uniformly shaped pieces of wood suitable to be used for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to, firewood, and the like.