3PH Wood Splitter

[scott_vt]

I highly recommend the Split-fire 3PH splitter. See Split-Fire Sales Inc. :: Welcome :: Quality Built. High Performance. Split-Fire - Your Best Choice

Unlike any other splitter I've seen, the splitting wedge is bi-directional. You can split running the cylinder in one direction, then instead of waiting for the cylinder to retract before splitting again, you can place wood on the back side and split again on the reverse stroke.

For a 3PH splitter, this makes a big difference in productivity since the hydraulic flow from a tractor is typically a lot less than a dedicated splitter with a two stage pump. I've got the SS-234 model and am quite happy with it. As best I can remember, it cost about $1000.

Afternoon Hayden,
Very nice unit !!! Did they ship directly to your home ?

 

[slaveToHorses]

For you guys with the TSC splitter Does pulling the lever towards the splitting wedge make the cylinder go out(left) or close(right)?

I can't recall which way mine goes but I do know that the direction that latches (i.e. will continue in that direction without you holding it) should be retracting. If that is the case then you have it right.

I have the Speeco under a different name and like it alot. Plan to use it this weekend, if I get past my wife's honey do list that is...

 

[hayden]

Afternoon Hayden,
Very nice unit !!! Did they ship directly to your home ?

They shipped it to my office where there's a loading dock. From my experience, that's typical for anything shipped by truck.

 

[greg_g]

For you guys with the TSC splitter Does pulling the lever towards the splitting wedge make the cylinder go out(left) or close(right)?

Depends whether you have your hoses routed correctly, and which direction you've opened your remote valve. When all is correct, holding the splitter lever to the left will extend the wedge (to the left). Obviously, lever to the right returns the wedge to it's home position. For safety reasons, you must constantly hold the lever while splitting, but there's a detent that holds it for a hands-free return. The lever then returns to the center position by itself as soon as the wedge hits home.

//greg//

 

[Charlesaf3]

I thought about buying the 3 point splitter, but ended up buying the harbor freight 30 ton as per my other thread/review. Nice to leave it by the woodpile, and only $200 more than the three point at around 1000

 

[cp1969]

They shipped it to my office where there's a loading dock. From my experience, that's typical for anything shipped by truck.

Or you can have the truck line hold it at their dock and you go by with your truck and they'll load it. You can save some freight this way but you'll have to figure out how you're going to unload it from your truck.

 

[hayden]

Or you can have the truck line hold it at their dock and you go by with your truck and they'll load it. You can save some freight this way but you'll have to figure out how you're going to unload it from your truck.

Yes, that works too.

 

[RobA]

I've been considering getting a log splitter recently. I can borrow my neighbor's older gas engine unit any time but I want but wouldn't mind having my own. A 3PH splitter seems to be a much more cost effective way to go.

I'm new to this tractor thing and have a question about the need to add hoses to run the 3PH log splitter. If I have a rear hose on my L5030 to run my backhoe will I still need to buy/fit new a new hydraulic hose for the log splitter?

 

[dillo99]

If I have a rear hose on my L5030 to run my backhoe will I still need to buy/fit new a new hydraulic hose for the log splitter?

That depends on the connections. My 3ph log splitter has 3/4" connections for the in/out hoses. You will need to connect from your tractor's rear remotes to the splitter. You may be able to use the same hoses or you may have to purchase new ones depending on the connections. You can also potentially just alter the fittings. You will probably want to put in quick disconnects if you don't have them already.

Length might also be an issue. I use 30" hoses for my splitter but I could probably get away with shorter.

Mike

 

[hppyfngy]

Hey All,
I know this has been discussed out the wazoo, but I'm still shopping so...

I'm also looking at the TS vertical splitter and the Northstar.

Isn't it a little awkward as on the TS, to have the splitter mounted sideways? Seems like it would be better, especially if on a hill or awkward angle to be able to back the splitter straight into where you want it and raise or lower the hitch to fit the angle.

Do those of you who have used either one have an opinion about the sideways mounting? I like the Northstar better by design , but I can buy the TS locally.

Any other brands I should look for?

Oh, and I'm buying a 3-point splitter instead of a stand alone for price, and the fact I can split the cost with my two neighbors who want to share using it on their tractors...

Thanks,
Randy

 

[dmccarty]

Randy,

I like the way the TSC hugs the tractor. I take the tractor into the woods to retrieve rounds and its a tight fit. If the splitter was hanging off the end it would be even harder. I take a wood pallet and lean it on the rear tractor tire and slope it towards the splitter. I then put a piece of 2x6 or 2x8 on the I beam of the splitter and the pallet. This forms a bench where I can stack pieces of the round I'm splitting. I think one day I'll build something to be more useful but it works, it was quick to do, and cheap.



Later,
Dan

 

[hppyfngy]

Randy,

I like the way the TSC hugs the tractor. I take the tractor into the woods to retrieve rounds and its a tight fit. If the splitter was hanging off the end it would be even harder. I take a wood pallet and lean it on the rear tractor tire and slope it towards the splitter. I then put a piece of 2x6 or 2x8 on the I beam of the splitter and the pallet. This forms a bench where I can stack pieces of the round I'm splitting. I think one day I'll build something to be more useful but it works, it was quick to do, and cheap.



Later,
Dan

Thanks Dan,

That's the kind of info I needed. I'm going to go for the TS. That will save me some money and I can buy it locally, which is always a plus. And I can see how keeping a smaller "footprint" will come in handy in the wooded area I'm working in.

Hope you didn't get blown away in that storm today... My in-laws are in Raleigh and it sounded pretty rough.

 

[dmccarty]

Randy,

Its windy today that is for sure. We lost power for a couple of hours tonight just as I was cooking dinner! Good thing we have a wood stove. I put the soup on top of the stove, finished putting the sandwiches togather, and put them on the stove as well. Good thing we picked soup and grilled cheese tonight!

Its cold outside and raining pretty good. Did not want to open the fridge with the power out so I put a warm beer in a bucket of water I had put under one of the roof valleys to collect water for to flush toilets. The beer chilled pretty quick so all was well in the world.

I did have my splitter plumbed incorrectly. I reversed it last weeked and now it works more better. Move the lever left towards the but of the spiltter and the ram closes/splits. Move right and the ram opens.

I'm happy with the thing. I just hope I did not mess up my hydraulic pump. The TSC instructions could be clearer on this that is for sure. But putting the splitter togather was pretty easy. Pallet forks for the FEL help. Otherwise it will take a couple of people to lift the splitter up on its stand.

I figure at this point I have split 4 cords in roughly 24ish hours. I rounded up and figured it took 6 hours to split a cord by myself. I have another 1/2 cord to go and I'll be done for this season. The wood has been cut into rounds for almost a year so its pretty dry. I had a 1/2 cord that was left over from last season and it did not burn any better than what I have been splitting lately. Tarping sure helps.

I have split wood for a good seven hour shift with no problems. No way I could do that by hand. I had the tractor in the woods last weekend getting more firewood. I'll have one or two more trips to get the last bit of firewood this weekend. I wish the TSC splitter had more weight. I "merged" two pallets togather with some left over 2x4s wedged into the ends of the pallets. Put the pallets togather like Legos and they fit over the pallet forks for a big platform. I can load that up with firewood rounds. Not enough weight on the splitter. The tractor rear end feel light. Being tucked in tight off the tractor is a plus for use in the woods.

Now I did buy this splitter with the idea of having it sit off to the side of the tractor unhitched from the 3PH. I have not tried this but I made the hoses long enough to do so. I should be able to use the box blade to move wood around and then hook up the splitter.

I really was concerned that the 3ph splitter would limit my work on the tractor. And it has to some extent but right now splitting wood is the priority, thank fully I'm almost done, so doing any other work with the tractor is not an option. My next batch of splitting after this weekend will be for NEXT season. At that point I'll be trying the splitter off of the 3ph and just connecting the hoses.

Later,
Dan

 

[jeffinsgf]

I have a little electric splitter that I am trying to work to death, so I can get one for my tractor. Darn thing just keeps hanging in there, though. Nice part is, it makes almost no noise at all and is fast enough for me. I do have to hand split some of the bigger chunks (over about 20"), but it will do fine 'til it dies.

Just to pass on a work flow idea that I came up with:

I have been working my firewood into 4' sections in the field. I have the bucket in front and forks in back, so I can bring a bunch out of the woods at a time. I cobbled together a sawbuck and the 4' sections go into that for two saw cuts. The 16" chunks then move to the splitter and then to the pile.

This makes for a lot less handling in the brush. It also diminishes the chances of running my chain into the dirt by 67%.

 

[ovrszd]

I have a little electric splitter that I am trying to work to death, so I can get one for my tractor. Darn thing just keeps hanging in there, though. Nice part is, it makes almost no noise at all and is fast enough for me. I do have to hand split some of the bigger chunks (over about 20"), but it will do fine 'til it dies.

Just to pass on a work flow idea that I came up with:

I have been working my firewood into 4' sections in the field. I have the bucket in front and forks in back, so I can bring a bunch out of the woods at a time. I cobbled together a sawbuck and the 4' sections go into that for two saw cuts. The 16" chunks then move to the splitter and then to the pile.

This makes for a lot less handling in the brush. It also diminishes the chances of running my chain into the dirt by 67%.

I totally agree with minimizing the chain in the dirt. But the trade off is that you handle your wood a lot. I do everything in the timber including splitting. Keeps all the mess of sawdust and bark chips out of my wood pile area.

 

[dmccarty]

I made a bench a few years ago that would hold a log or two while I cut them up. It worked ok. I thought I had made it strong enough but I broked it a couple of times. It was a good idea it just needs a bit more modification.

The wood I'm splitting/split this year was in three easy to access spots. Next seasons wood I'm thinking of moving back to where I'm splitting and storing the firewood. So I'm likely to move on the pallet forks and rebuild my bench. Right now its holding a canoe.

Later,
Dan

 

[jeffinsgf]

I totally agree with minimizing the chain in the dirt. But the trade off is that you handle your wood a lot. I do everything in the timber including splitting. Keeps all the mess of sawdust and bark chips out of my wood pile area.

I do have a little bit of a mess in my bucking/splitting area. Of course the longer I work, the easier that area is on my feet -- it is getting a very soft layer of busted up bark. However, I am going to disagree with your on handling. I am picking up three rounds to your one in the field. Then I am rolling it off the forks into the sawbuck (no lifting at all). Then it goes from the splitter to the woodpile (instead of the FEL then the pile).

 

[ovrszd]

I do have a little bit of a mess in my bucking/splitting area. Of course the longer I work, the easier that area is on my feet -- it is getting a very soft layer of busted up bark. However, I am going to disagree with your on handling. I am picking up three rounds to your one in the field. Then I am rolling it off the forks into the sawbuck (no lifting at all). Then it goes from the splitter to the woodpile (instead of the FEL then the pile).

If I'm not splitting a log, it gets touched three times, (1) load on trailer, (2) stack on wood pile, (3) the last being to put it in the stove.

If I'm splitting, it gets touched four times, (1) put on splitter, (2) load on trailer, (3) stack on wood pile, (4) the last being to put it in the stove.

By your description, you will (1) load it on your forks loader bucket etc., (2) move it to your sawbuck, (3) put on splitter, (4) stack on wood pile, (5) the last being to put it in the stove.

But if your method makes you happy, it makes me happy!!!

 

[jeffinsgf]

Your analysis is correct, except that in my Step 1, I am moving three times as many pieces of wood as you are in your Step 2, and I am making 67% of my saw cuts standing upright instead of hunched over.

Whatever trips your trigger is OK with me.