Difference between skid steer auger and cone style log splitter?

[damato333]

I get a lot of big wood and I need away to make it in to firewood easier. I regulary get 4 foot diameter logs. I cut it into rounds and then split into quarters by hand. It takes to long and I get to much wood to waste my time doing that. I looked at those cone style log splitters. I thought it work great for me but a used one near me is $5,000. I do not think a new one is worth the $5,000. An auger and the cone splitter seems to do the same thing. I was thinking I could put one of those cones on an auger. The augers are a lot cheaper Is there a difference between them?

 

[pat32rf]

Seems a shame to be cutting 4' logs into firewood. What kind of trees?

 

[damato333]

Seems a shame to be cutting 4' logs into firewood. What kind of trees?

I have mostly oak. I have a tree company drop off all their wood. Once it gets warmer, they'll be working again and drop off more of the same stuff. I just have to much big stuff. I feel the same way you do. It is a shame that it's being firewood. To me it's not worth it to quarter them and put them on my sawmill. If I had more time I probably would mill them.

 

[terryknight]

can't you noodle them to a smaller more manageable size?

 

[terryknight]

these were 60" rounds noodled them to a manageable size them slit with a hydraulic splitter

 

[damato333]

can't you noodle them to a smaller more manageable size?

I could do that. I need something quicker. I didn't do as much wood splitting this winter cause of the crappy weather. When the weather is nice I want to get as much done as possible. I would like to sell whole sale and when I go this slow I could never split enough to sell whole sale.

 

[geneP]

What does the term "noodle" mean in MD as pertaining to splitting wood?

 

[terryknight]

lay the saw not quite parallel to the round and start cutting,, it makes long noodle like saw dust. if the saw dust is small and you're not moving through the wood quickly you're ripping. in the pics i posted you can see lots of "noodles" they make great fire starters

try these videos (i don't know what they say have no speakers)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVIlYy1iQac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiA5j--LhsU

 

[geneP]

Thanks for the explanation

 

[oldnslo]

For logs that large have you considered a back hoe mounted splitter? The one I saw had a flat plate that was worked under the log and and the splitter came down like a thumb. Pretty sure it was home made but it sure made splitting big stuff look darn easy.