Disclosed is an apparatus for mechanically splitting materials, including a body with a cutting element arranged relative thereto. The cutting element includes at least one cutting surface oriented vertically. The splitting apparatus includes 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 includes 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.