From about 1984-1991 my dad would borrow a splitter from a friend. The machine was a beast of a machine. Never came across a block it wouldn't split. The thing that we loved was the 4 way wedge and the auto cycle. Once the level was pushed all the way forward you could let go and it would finish the split and return to start. We could split all our wood in 1 weekend with this machine very easy.
Never seen a splitter like it since. We stopped using it due to we cut down on the amount of wood dad and other family members were burning.
Today just to see what happened to that company I did a search. Seems the speed and auto cycle were what done them in. A guy was splitting blocks with it and cut his thumb off. This caused him to probably pass out and fall across the splitter. This then damaged himself to the point he lost his legs.
888 F2d 45 Childress v. Gresen Manufacturing Co | OpenJurist
From what I was able to find the suit did the splitter company in.
Always need to be careful with things. I never would have thought a person could lose there legs from a wood splitter.
This has a picture of a splitter made by the same company but with a 3 way wedge attached.
My splitter thread (by popular demand!) | Hearth.com Forums Home
Never seen a splitter like it since. We stopped using it due to we cut down on the amount of wood dad and other family members were burning.
Today just to see what happened to that company I did a search. Seems the speed and auto cycle were what done them in. A guy was splitting blocks with it and cut his thumb off. This caused him to probably pass out and fall across the splitter. This then damaged himself to the point he lost his legs.
888 F2d 45 Childress v. Gresen Manufacturing Co | OpenJurist
Ronald Childress was employed by a person in the business of selling firewood. His job assignment for about a month prior to the accident was to split logs. On February 3, 1984, Childress placed a log on the beam of the splitter. After pulling the lever to begin the splitting process, Childress let go of the lever and held the log in place with his right hand so that it would not become dislodged. As the ram moved toward the wedge, Childress' right thumb became caught between the log and the wedge, causing the thumb to be amputated. He became weak and unstable and fell across the beam. Childress was unable to reach the control lever to stop the progression of the ram. Consequently, the ram continued forward, forcing his legs against the wedge. Childress' injuries were so extensive that it eventually became necessary to amputate both legs.
From what I was able to find the suit did the splitter company in.
Always need to be careful with things. I never would have thought a person could lose there legs from a wood splitter.
This has a picture of a splitter made by the same company but with a 3 way wedge attached.
My splitter thread (by popular demand!) | Hearth.com Forums Home