Log splitter size

[ruffdog]

I've read that the vertical mode is more difficult than it sounds. The upper body strength for me is an issue. I have problems with twisting and turning and looking back behind me to see how the implement is doing can be painful, I have to be very careful as to what I do. I'm also thinking of hiring some "kids" to do it, but have to consider liability.

It helps if the foot of the splitter is flush to the ground when using in vertical mode. Either have the foot buried in soft debris, in a depression in the ground, or build a wood base that surrounds the foot. Quarter the pieces then flip it up to finish them off.

 

[3Ts]

I appreciate all the input. I'll be 71 next month. In my younger years I used to split wood by hand. I have an axe, a sledge, a maul (basically a wedge on a handle) and the steel wedges. However, due to an injury I can no longer swing a sledge (or an axe). That is the method I would have preferred. I now have to use a machine to do what I used to do by hand.

 

[ruffdog]

I appreciate all the input. I'll be 71 next month. In my younger years I used to split wood by hand. I have an axe, a sledge, a maul (basically a wedge on a handle) and the steel wedges. However, due to an injury I can no longer swing a sledge (or an axe). That is the method I would have preferred. I now have to use a machine to do what I used to do by hand.

I feel your pain and we are all on the same path. If I was close by I'd help for a bag of homemade oatmeal cookies!

 

[Deere Dude]

I roll everything onto a home made pallet type platform then lift level with the ram. Roll them onto the splitter and go to it. I can wrestle with big ones while standing and using the table for the drop off chunk. I had a 22 ton and seems to work fine but if it ever craps out I would get a 24+ ton.

I let big stuff sit a year or so and it seems to split a little easier plus the bark falls off better.

 

[Diggin It]

It helps if the foot of the splitter is flush to the ground when using in vertical mode. Either have the foot buried in soft debris, in a depression in the ground, or build a wood base that surrounds the foot. Quarter the pieces then flip it up to finish them off.

Mine does that.

However, due to an injury I can no longer swing a sledge (or an axe). That is the method I would have preferred.

Me and swingin' things don't get along. I got myself in the shin yesterday with a simple hand claw hammer. Ain't no chance of me even trying a maul, which would more likely maul me than the round.

 

[3Ts]

I feel your pain and we are all on the same path. If I was close by I'd help for a bag of homemade oatmeal cookies!

Too bad you aren't closer. Oatmeal cookies are what I bake on a regular basis for the church. One more batch would be easy to do.

 

[Ford850]

I've used a Huskee 22 ton splitter for Oak, Elm, Maple, Hickory, Ash, Black Locust, etc. Some have been 3' diameter trees, but most have been 2' and under. I struggle with the large stuff even when splitting vertical, but the splitter never backs down. I like the smaller splitter, which has a faster cycle speed than many larger ones, because I'd rather save time with faster cycles on 90% of my splitting which is the medium sized logs. But for vertical splitting, there have been some good threads on this site showing a platform built to surround the foot of the splitter on the ground. The most difficult part of vertical splitting is getting the log situated on that little foot end of the splitter, which is a couple inches tall. The home made platform (2'x2'x2"?) surrounds that foot and gives you a flat surface to slide or spin the large rounds. I haven't made one yet, but I get closer to doing that each year.

 

[Diggin It]

My issue is changing from horizontal to vertical. Up is bad enough. Down can cost you a finger if you lose your grip at the wrong moment. I'd like to find a way to crank it up and down.

 

[4570Man]

My issue is changing from horizontal to vertical. Up is bad enough. Down can cost you a finger if you lose your grip at the wrong moment. I'd like to find a way to crank it up and down.

Try pivoting it with the wedge all the way down. I found that it counterbalanced it enough to make it pretty easy.

 

[Richard001]

Yep size matters.