It is not all about tonnage. It is about how efficiently you use what you have. The wedge design is very important. Then companies like Split fire have the wedge slide on plastic to reduce friction. The ram on kinetics run on bearings. Actually wedge is a bad way to describe it. Companies like Splitfire, Split Second, and Super Split have knives. Even my old harbor freight splitter had a knife on it. It was 3/4'' thick.
Kinetic splitter
- Thread starter chuck172
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xcgreene
Platinum Member
Chuck172, seems as though we have much in common. I purchased a new supersplit HD last year. 1.5 hp 110V electric version. I buy 8ish cords of tree length maple at a time. I buck and split myself. Once I've got the tree lengths bucked into 16" long rounds, and with someone running a wheelbarrow off the end of the supersplit production table, I can split 2 full cords an hour. Thats BLAZING fast compared to the old hydro splitter I was using.
Having used it a lot now, I'm glad I went with the HD version which has the two 90lb flywheels instead of the two 70lbs. If I hear the motor bog down much on a gnarly round, which might be once per cord, ill push the lever back down which retracts the pushrod, the flywheels quickly gain speed again (2 or 3 seconds), then I engage once more. 180lbs spinning as quick as they do, and geared down to the speed that the rod is pushing equals some incredible power. The saying "if you can lift it on the table she will spit it" is very true. Sure, there is a learning curve compared to a hydraulic splitter, but after the first cord or two, taking it slow to learn safely, It'll begin to come together, you'll fly through wood. I can't tell you how many times I've waited on a hydraulic cylinder to retract for the next split. The kinetic splitter is ALWAYS waiting on me. As it should be. The Naysayers? I doubt any of them have ever owned one or used one long enough to really know.
I've also got to say that the 1.5 hp electric version is the way to go IMO. Spinning a flywheel in this manner benefits far more from torque than horsepower, and an electric motor provides a much flatter torque curve than a gas job. Need to work far out in the field or woods? a generator set behind your truck with an extension run to the splitter still gives you some quiet over a mounted gas motor. Plus you can use that generator for other jobs than just splitting wood.
Their are few things better than splitting 5 full cords of wood in one day, while listening to your kids play from across the yard while doing it, something I couldn't dream of doing until now.
Having used it a lot now, I'm glad I went with the HD version which has the two 90lb flywheels instead of the two 70lbs. If I hear the motor bog down much on a gnarly round, which might be once per cord, ill push the lever back down which retracts the pushrod, the flywheels quickly gain speed again (2 or 3 seconds), then I engage once more. 180lbs spinning as quick as they do, and geared down to the speed that the rod is pushing equals some incredible power. The saying "if you can lift it on the table she will spit it" is very true. Sure, there is a learning curve compared to a hydraulic splitter, but after the first cord or two, taking it slow to learn safely, It'll begin to come together, you'll fly through wood. I can't tell you how many times I've waited on a hydraulic cylinder to retract for the next split. The kinetic splitter is ALWAYS waiting on me. As it should be. The Naysayers? I doubt any of them have ever owned one or used one long enough to really know.
I've also got to say that the 1.5 hp electric version is the way to go IMO. Spinning a flywheel in this manner benefits far more from torque than horsepower, and an electric motor provides a much flatter torque curve than a gas job. Need to work far out in the field or woods? a generator set behind your truck with an extension run to the splitter still gives you some quiet over a mounted gas motor. Plus you can use that generator for other jobs than just splitting wood.
Their are few things better than splitting 5 full cords of wood in one day, while listening to your kids play from across the yard while doing it, something I couldn't dream of doing until now.
motownbrowne
Elite Member
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I'd love to own an electric Super Split someday. I bought a splitter this spring, so it'll be a while before I can justify another one, but they seem like the cat's meow for some stuff. I hate to question you, but 2 full cords on an hour? I've heard other super split guys say that they can do over a cord an hour with a helper, but 2 is crazy. Got any videos?
xcgreene
Platinum Member
We really have to question what we see online, you are right, I should rein in my claim a bit here. No one can split 2 cords an hour by themselves on this machine. No one. It takes a good team. 1 quick wood pile picker, 2 wheel barrow runners, (or conveyor) and myself operating the splitter with the production table option. With this setup, we can absolutely put out 2 cords an hour of 16" long maple rounds that have an average diameter of 8" to 24" with some smaller and larger on occasion. Once we mastered the rhythm of the machine, it could wear all 4 of us out, splitting as fast as my hands can move rounds. The point I realized is that the machine is no longer the speed limitation, it is the operator. I do not have a video of this, but maybe its time this next season to show it off. Now, with just myself splitting, trying to go as fast as I can, is a bit dangerous with this machine. Knowing that, but also knowing if I really need all my wood split quickly, that it can be done with what I've already got, there is less pressure. I find myself now leisurely going out for half an hour and splitting a face cord in peace and quite. That is where I enjoy the machine the most, not going for speed, just........... :cloud9:
It's got a few quirks. Doesn't like real wet conditions as wood grim will collect on one of the rollers and stop up the recoil, just needs to be scrapped every so often. the production table option is an absolute must, so more cost added. There's usually a bit of a wait when purchasing, 4 weeks for mine. Their is some assembly required when it arrives, like mounting the motor and a few other bits. There is room for improvement on the engagement lever, if the lockdown nut isn't just right, it will disengage very easily. The parts diagram looks like it was made in Microsoft paint, 20 years ago. But all the parts are available. And their website looks pretty tacky/gimmicky IMO. But these are all minor things. The machine is solid and very well made.
Maybe 10 years ago, at the Common Ground Fair in Unity Maine, the first time I saw the supersplit, I remember scoffing at it. "but does it have enough power to split the wood sideways" I remember saying, condescendingly, to the guy showing the machine. My own words still make me cringe every time I think about it. If that fellow happens to be around the forums, I apologize for that. After the fair, I started to notice the splitter online. Youtube became popular and I started to see videos of it too, and I warmed up to the idea. I started learning about busses that used large flywheels to help power up hills, extra large flywheels on old tractors to get the very most out of small engines, and large flywheels for general energy storage. I even looked at fabricating a kinetic splitter myself, I happened on a fine job for a while, so I purchased one.
I guess a telltail for the supersplit would be to try and find a used one for sale.
Weedy Fields
Bronze Member
I bought the HD Super split this spring.
I also went with an electric one. I plan giving it a good work out in the next couple of weeks.
I have solar panels on my workshop so I figured it would be a good way to use up all the electric I generate this summer.
I have lots of wood already cut to length and I shouldn't need more than 3 cords of wood/winter to heat my house. I have maybe enough dry and split stuff for one winter.
Time to split 6-8 cords and get it drying for the next 2-3 winters.
I also went with an electric one. I plan giving it a good work out in the next couple of weeks.
I have solar panels on my workshop so I figured it would be a good way to use up all the electric I generate this summer.
I have lots of wood already cut to length and I shouldn't need more than 3 cords of wood/winter to heat my house. I have maybe enough dry and split stuff for one winter.
Time to split 6-8 cords and get it drying for the next 2-3 winters.
TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark
Veteran Member
And you'd have spent 10x the time it took him to make good firewood out of that.
I don't have a dog in this hunt, but that clown in the video sure is the poster child for "Work harder, not smarter!"
I'm sure he'd do the same no matter what splitter he was using.