Can you split wood with wedge on FEL?

[Dargo]

I am pretty confident that a backhoe could split some wood that way.

Unless you have wood that practically falls in half it won't. I assure you a 580 Case won't. Been there, tried that. As a matter of fact, one of my best friends has one of the largest excavating businesses around my area. We used a JD 450D excavator (weighs over 100,000 pounds) and it wouldn't split a large log unless we got one tooth on the log. Otherwise, with a smooth edge on the bucket, it only picked up the excavator. He had an 850D excavator at another job site that may have done the trick since it weighs about 180,000 pounds and has a dipper stick down pressure of around 60k I think. Still, even then, if you used a large smooth edge, you may have issues.

If you used a jackhammer on the end of an excavator, I'm sure you can do it no problem. But, why use a quarter million dollar machine to do what a 800 dollar stand along log splitter will do. Sorry, but I've definitely tried this with huge equipment, and it doesn't happen. As I said, been there, tried that, got the T shirt.

 

[Highbeam]

The logger's excavator certainly had teeth which started the split and then the bucket edge widened and lengthened it. It certainly did the job of splitting stumps. It was a 3xx JD trackhoe which I am sure weighs less than some of the big boys. I saw it with my own eyes over and over again. Not the ideal firewood splitting machine but effective. Using the smooth bocket lip would severely reduce the pressures being pushed onto the wood but I couldn't imagine not having teeth on a bucket.

So yes it does happen with teeth. Your experience Dargo, is limited.

 

[Dargo]

Your experience Dargo, is limited.

Well, golly gee, I'd have to agree with you. I'd have to look and see, but I think that I have actually only owned 21 or 22 tractors and/or backhoes and dozers. Worse yet, I've only actually owned 5 dump trucks. And, heck, my lot isn't even quite 200 acres. I know, I've only operated 5 different excavators, about 2 dozen dozers, and maybe 50 or 60 tractors, but that is no reason to pick on me. Heck, you are probably laughing at me because my barn is only a 60X80 barn, but the limited equipment I own is all name brand like my MIG, my plasma cutter, my metal lathe, my air compressor, my 2 post auto lift (no cheap Chinese or Korean steel when I'm under it), my tire changer, my tire balancer, my fork truck, my stick welder, my TIG welder, my 40 ton press, my 3 hp drill press, etc. I'm sure that your truck puts out far more than about 450 hp and much more than 1000 ft. lbs of torque, and your trailer is far stronger and weighs considerably more than my trailer that only weighs a meazley 5800 pounds empty, to carry my name brand tractor I'm sure I paid too much for that only weighs around 7000 pounds. I could go on about the years and years I spent operating and working on heavy equipment but I'm sure it would pale in comparison to your vast experience. I know you have so much more and so much more experience, but at least what little I have was all paid for when I bought it. I'm sure that makes me slower on buying things and gaining the astounding knowledge and experience you have.

From posts in the past, I can clearly see that you have vast experience and have always given advice that is both accurate and sound.

 

[Yalerider]

Wow!!

 

[scesnick]

. If you do try that, you might want to pre dial "91" on your phone.

Mike

Now that's funny right there. I don't care who you are.

 

[Highbeam]

I knew that would get your goat dargo.... I know the post didn't ask about splitting wood with big excavators and big teeth but hey, the right excavator can do it nomatter what Dargo thinks. Never say never Dargo. Better rest your fingers after that.

Oh good job on the "meazley" I almost missed that. Good laugh.

You can pull a million levers but if you don't pull the one lever that we are talking about then you are lacking experience in that job.

 

[LC Brewing]

Funny...I thought every brand had a name. Wouldn't that make it a "Name Brand."

<snicker>

 

[Yalerider]

Most of these answers are for trying to split with the bucket. He said "if you attatched a wedge to the bucket" Now if it was a small enough wedge the pressure would be much greater according to physics. We need to be talking PSI not only weight of machine.

 

[mike194]

get an axe 20 bucks