DR Rapid fire Log splitter???

[LD1]

Thanks for those pics.

I would still like to see what the rack and pinion look like. Maybe I'll have to make a trip to TSC and take a peek.

And it doesnt look like that 2-handed saftey would be that hard to bypass either.

 

[John_Mc]

Here's a link to a thread with videos of Logrite's new firewood processor (the thread is on the Forestry Forum).

The Logrite design something that bridges the gap between a full fledged processor and a log splitter. They've incorporated the SuperSplit splitter into their design. They've got some great ideas in this design, including using a capstan on the flywheel of the SuperSplit to yard logs to the processor and to load logs or chunks.

Aside from the interesting processor ideas, it does show how much a well designed work table can make a difference in the splitting part of the operation (including bringing logs back for re-splitting). The work table available for a stand-alone SuperSplit works similarly, if you browse some YouTube videos. IMO, it's a superior design than the Speeco/TSC unit's separate log cradle and exit table. (Don't get me wrong, the Speeco unit looks like a good value. I've had some rather wrist and elbow problems from handling firewood, so the idea of not having to lift a piece up to bring it back for re-splitting is appealing to me.

The videos later in the thread show more info than the first one. A video on the second page shows the splitting gnarly logs. Since the split mechanism is basically a SuperSplit, you can expect one of their stand alone splitters to work the same way.

This processor may be more than what some of you are looking for in a splitter (starts at $5800 and goes up depending on the options you get with it). But it does show you what the SuperSplit is capable of.

 

[DAY]

The DR video shows the "workings" with the cover removed, and there is a separate video of an exploded rendering of the machinery.

My TSC got two of the units in last week. Both are still sitting out front. And rusty from the rain. . .

 

[LD1]

The DR video shows the "workings" with the cover removed, and there is a separate video of an exploded rendering of the machinery.

My TSC got two of the units in last week. Both are still sitting out front. And rusty from the rain. . .

Maybe in a few months one can negotiate a better deal for one that has been sitting out and is a little rusted:thumbsup:

 

[J_J]

RapidFire log splitter

Under the Hood - DR RapidFire Log Splitters - YouTube

 

[tnttreeman]

Arrow, where one of the biggest speed/time differences comes into play with the inertia splitter vs the hydraulic splitter is that the inertia splitter NEVER slows down. A forked piece or knotted piece that makes the hydraulic machines grunt and slow down is still rammed through the inertia machine in the same two seconds. It is extremely rare to have to hit the same piece twice, but in those cases the piece is still split faster than the hydraulic machine gets through it.
As far as time difference in a one man scenario, the first weekend I got my Speeco splitter, working by myself,I filled my dump truck heaping full with split wood in a little under two hours. With my hydraulic splitter with the slip on 4 way wedge and two of us working, it took 3 1/2 hours for the same load the day before. The truck holds 3 full cord and we split it to fireplace size logs for our customers, so nothing is bigger than 3" square.
One other time (and money) saver is the fuel efficiency of this splitter. It holds about a half gallon of gas and runs at least 4 hours on a tank. My hydraulic splitter uses a tank every hour and ten minutes. I'm guessing the capacity of it to be 1/3 of a gallon. It may not seem like much, but in the time that I stopped to fuel the machine, I would have had several logs split on the inertia splitter.

 

[tnttreeman]

It looks like a nice concept but just yesterday I cut up a 30" Beech tree that Irene decided to knock down. I haven't seen a way to split it up or any of the 2' plus maples I have. I would love to hear how people with this type of splitter deals with things like that. Also I have plenty of rounds that are curved. On my hydro I just hold them in the position that allows the splitter to split them. I assume you can't hold a log as you split it with the rapid fire.


With my hydro there's not much time wasted waiting. Most of the time the ram doesn't need to go much more than 1/4 of the way through the log to split it and I rarely let it return all the way back. When it's returning I'm either repositioning the log for the second split or fetching a new round to split. But I work alone. It does look like if you have two people splitting (or even a third) it could really go right through the wood with a rapid fire type splitter. The quicker you can get the next piece on the splitter the faster.

If we can pick the piece up and get it on the machine, there isn't a problem splitting it. We have put 24" + logs on it and it busts through like nothing is there. If we can't pick it up then we bust it in half with the hydraulic splitter standing vertically and then split the halves from there with the inertia machine.
The inertia splitter will split the curved pieces too. You just butt the piece up against the wedge end and the ram will be to the piece the moment you leave go. These peces we usually toss to the side and split them with the hydraulic machine, though, due to the safety aspect. If you don't have everything lined up nicely it can throw the log off the machine. Better to split 4 other pieces in the same amount of time that it takes to mess with one of those.

 

[DAY]

Watching the videos- and reading comments here- I never realized what a "big" business selling firewood was!
I always thought that the attraction of heating with wood was the "free" aspect of the product.
Question for all you wood vendors: Is the price per BTU lower than oil/gas/coal? Or are most of your customers burning it in the fireplace, for ambiance?

 

[LD1]

Is the price per BTU lower than oil/gas/coal? Or are most of your customers burning it in the fireplace, for ambiance?

Probabally. I'll have to do some checking and get back to you. But in my neck or the woods, a cord only fetches ~$130. And thats a TRUE cord of mixed HARDWOODS.

 

[LD1]

Firewood

Good website that gives BTU's of wood.

I figure we probabally average 25 million BTU with the mix that we cut.

So thats 25M/BTU for $130

Propane is 93000btu /gallon
So it would take 268 gallons of propane @ $2.15 to match the 1 cord of firewood.


Electric is 3.14 BTU per watt, so it would take about 8,000 Kwh to equal a cord.

And the funny thing is, people have the nerve to complain about wood prices.