with the x17 the column is slightly out of hand

With the X17 I split roughly pre splitted firewood or logs to a thickness of about 40 cm and a length of about 35 cm without any problems and at least as fast as with hydraulic splitter.
The advantage is the fairly low weight of the ax with a very high penetration success.
With oak or beech-logs without major ramifications, a little impact and the block is through. At moderate branches you have to beat a little harder and the part is then directly through. One just needs to make it where and how to best meet the wood.
Only with strong branches and strong "bending" of the fibers is then laboriously, although the x17 stuck rarely. If you have a lot of such "tough" wood then worth it rather a hydraulic splitter.

Who has to split a few meters from normal stem wood, to no splitter needs to buy. Here is sufficient to x 17. For larger stem diameters should import tolls. take the x25 or similar.
For fine splitting kindling the x17 is even suitable, but you ermühdet faster in the wrist because one-handed center takes the ax handle and then the lever arm does not fit perfectly.
That's why I've added fresh for filigree work in addition to x10 (no pure Spaltaxt). This combination (or x17 / x11) I find ideal.
The price is comparably high, but here it is worth spending a few euros more.