Cone wood splitters

[ning]

I first ran across these probably a few years when watching movies of really sketchy (probably eastern European) wood cutters.

I already have a typical stand-alone 25-ton hydraulic log splitter which works well for me (bought surprisingly cheaply second-hand, starts on the second pull after not using it for 2 years and on the first pull since then), but I'm definitely curious about these, because they look so simple.

Does anyone here have one (and are you willing to admit it )?

They're just so simple, though I have to say before I used one I'd grab a whole chicken from the fridge and see how quickly it would grab on and how tough would it be to pull it off... just in case... (probably clean the cone first and then make chicken soup with it after)

Here's a "nice" one in action -

the first ones I saw were definitely bubba jobs, typically someone bolted the cone to the left front wheel of their (almost) wrecked compact car that was up on blocks...

 

[ptsg]

It's also called screw type wood splitter.

Still used daily by several people around here. It's a very cheap alternative to the common wood splitter at around $400, however can be very very dangerous if attention is not being taken. It's very easy to get pulled and spin with it.

The one on the video is missing a very important part to make it 100 times safer. A simple wedged under the screw, welded to the table. This prevents the log from slipping and just rotate around.

I heard these weren't allowed to be sold anymore in my country, however I keep seeing them for sale in OLX, our Craigslist.

 

[Rustyiron]

Ning that "bubba job" was how they were marketed back when they came out here.

 

[nyone]

Has anyone ran one of these on a auger attachment?

 

[jeff9366]

I believe the sale of cone splitters has been prohibited in the USA by OSHA.

Some parts are available on eBay but no complete units.

 

[cqaigy2]

I remember there was one you could buy that you would attach to a vehicle. They showed a truck jacked up with one on the back axle, where the wheel would be attached.

 

[ptsg]

Has anyone ran one of these on a auger attachment?

I've seen those on mini and midi excavators adapted to an hydraulic post hole digger for excavators. It used a bigger screw of course and was used mainly to split stumps in place to make it easier to pull out.

Those are available commercially.

 

[ruffdog]

Here are ones made for a 3pt auger.

Wood log splitter screw auger type - farm & garden - by owner - sale

 

[etpm]

I remember seeing ads for these over 50 years ago in Popular Science and Popular Mechanics. The ads would always be the same, showing either a pickup truck or a car with one wheel removed and the cone bolted in place. The vehicle would be on jack stands I suppose but I don't remember. Even as a kid I always thought that the things were crazy dangerous, and I engaged in plenty of risky behavior at the time.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Long ago even Kubota sold a 3 point model...

SR

 

[AndyMA]

Amazon list a ton of tiny ones for drills

Amazon.com : screw type log splitter

 

[MossRoad]

 

[KennyG]

I remember seeing ads for these over 50 years ago in Popular Science and Popular Mechanics. The ads would always be the same, showing either a pickup truck or a car with one wheel removed and the cone bolted in place. The vehicle would be on jack stands I suppose but I don't remember. Even as a kid I always thought that the things were crazy dangerous, and I engaged in plenty of risky behavior at the time.

All you had to do was support the wheel that was removed. I can remember seeing pictures of people using them with blocks under the axle, a bumper jack on one corner and all sorts of sketchy arrangements.

 

[ning]

The cone on the wheel is definitely sketchy - I can see someone falling into one right now - but a three point setup with a platform looks considerably safer, though still a far cry from a hydraulic log splitter.

I definitely appreciate that I'm the one holding the valve open while steadying the wood round; I still make a point of spreading my fingers to ensure they're free and won't get caught behind the round nor in a crack, but worst comes to worst if I feel pain and let go of the valve, the damage stops - though I may still be stuck until I retract the ram (whereupon the pain *really* starts in my experience, the pressure isn't good but it blocks much of the pain).

 

[cqaigy2]

Yikes. Probably wouldn't hurt to wear some kind of steel plate(s) just in case you lean in when the end pokes thru.

 

[WranglerX]

Forget those silly cone splitters and get something that is really dangerous...

 

[arrow]

Forget those silly cone splitters and get something that is really dangerous...

I give the guy credit on the second example. He has it at head height.
If something happened, it would effect his least important body part.

 

[MossRoad]

I give the guy credit on the second example. He has it at head height.
If something happened, it would effect his least important body part.

Nothing like a good old spinning wheel of death and a loose rope hanging around.

YIKES!

 

[4570Man]

It's also called screw type wood splitter.

Still used daily by several people around here. It's a very cheap alternative to the common wood splitter at around $400, however can be very very dangerous if attention is not being taken. It's very easy to get pulled and spin with it.

The one on the video is missing a very important part to make it 100 times safer. A simple wedged under the screw, welded to the table. This prevents the log from slipping and just rotate around.

I heard these weren't allowed to be sold anymore in my country, however I keep seeing them for sale in OLX, our Craigslist.

I don’t have one but I would have no objections to using that splitter or even having hired help use it. That looks as safe as any other wood splitting device possibly safer. I don’t see much potential for amputation using that. Now using one of the wheel mounted ones with little or no anti spin measures is no doubt a death trap.

 

[Thomas]

Years back someone came out with cone splitter you fasten to rear tire hub of vehicle...after you remove the tire.