Gettin' comfy with the idea of not swingning an ax

[Aviatordave]

Hello Folks,

I'm starting to research log splitters. It didn't take long to learn about things like cycle rate, force, cradles and where the stuff is all mounted. I live in a heavily wooded 10 acre spread in the midwest (lower Michigan) and am going to start using wood to heat some stuff with a wood boiler. I know that a wood boiler is something you become a slave to so I'm looking for something with a fast cycle rate and a lot of well thought out ergonomics. Loooow maintenance is a big plus! While you can certainly recommend your favorite brand, what I'm interested in is hearing what you like about your particular set up if you have one. Do you like cradles to catch the split stuff or do you find they get in your way? What kind of motor do you like? Horizontal or vertical splitting? Where do you like the controls mounted? Do you prefer the splitting wedge be on the ram or the base plate? Why? Don't hold back! Tell me what you can't stand about your setup and what you would have done differently. ;-)

I know that the big box stores advertise some models with high cutting force but do so, typically at the cost of having a low volume pump. (read: slow cycle)

I'll be getting a stand alone unit. Not interested in one for the 3pt hitch to be run off of the tractor's hydraulics. Some names I see popping up are Ariens and Oak & Iron. Anybody have any experience with these? (I know there's a ton more out there)

 

[calfal]

hi,, i bought a used splitter with a bad engine, i added a used honda gx 200 great motor, but i wish it had a log cradle/table.. i like splittting standin up even though my splitter goes either way. i only split oak and pecan when i can find it...

get every thing you want on your machine now and you regret not doing it later.. good luck they have a lot of choices out there... cfalcon

 

[Rustyiron]

I use one that I built over 30 years ago. It can be used vertical or horiz. I rarely use it vertical, only for large heavy rounds.
This design requires the wedge to move rather than being fixed. My wood is varied diameter and I am particular (fussy) about my splits so a 4 way wedge is out so I'll split the same "round" with several passes of the wedge until gone, finally getting to my point is that with the wedge moving through the wood, the wood is staying still and does not need to be pulled back from behind the wedge for the next pass. That adds up to a lot of extra work. My wedge is about 9" tall and usually I'll halve the log then quarter or split into 6 pc. with 3 strokes. of the wedge and only rotating the log around rather than retrieving it from beyond the wedge (as with a fixed wedge). The other feature I like is the working height of the beam, you stand upright as God intended! "Store bought" splitters have come a very long way since I built this thing, the "standing upright" thing was totally unheard of back then.
If you're going to feed one of those outdoor "wood dragon's" I'd look into a comfortable working height with a 4 or 6 way (fixed) wedge option. If you're budget won't allow it or you are going to feed a modern "Gassification" boiler where split size is a little more important, consider my points above for the moving wedge.

 

[engine29]

Look at Wallenstien, made in Canada. Very good quality and well built. Don't get caught up in the tonnage that the box's and farm stores advertise. They rate on the ram or cylinder capacity, but not what the pump actually puts out which is much less. Wallenstien is a true rating, not over-stated.

 

[cruz54982]

years ago we built 1 with wedge at the end - later I purchased one with wedge attached to the ram a much better idea IMO I later added a cheap truck hoist ( the kind mounted in the bed for lifting barrels etc.) to lift heavy pieces instead of doing the on my knees rolling chunks thing. its a great addition for me - 129 bucks where I bought it.

 

[cruz54982]

years ago we built 1 with wedge at the end - later I purchased one with wedge attached to the ram a much better idea IMO I later added a cheap truck hoist ( the kind mounted in the bed for lifting barrels etc.) to lift heavy pieces instead of doing the on my knees rolling chunks thing. its a great addition for me - 129 bucks where I bought it.:thumbsup:

 

[Will_C]

I use a home built one my father built 35 years ago. It is the traditional horizontal splitter with the push block and wedge at the end. The most impressive feature is the table he built-like a cradle but flat smooth work surfaces on both sides. Once you get a block on the table, it never touches the ground again-just slide the split pieces back and split again until they are the correct size.

Will

 

[turnkey4099]

I bought a TroyBilt 27ton - wedge on ram. Good machine, rather slow cycle time I had a homebuilt one before that - wedge on end.

I prefer the wedge on the end. The Troybilt goes verticle or horizontal but I have never used it verticle. I have enough back problems without working on my knees or bent over. Since I haul all my wood home in whole rounds or split down to a size I can load, I see no need for verticle operation. If I can haul it, I can put it on the splitter!

Two things I want on my next one (if ever) The hydraulic valve MUST be mounted centered above the cylinder so it can be operated from either side. Wedge on end.

Every convertible (verticle/horizontal) machine I looked at all have the same major drawback - the wheels are in the way of the operator.

Harry K

 

[David P]

I bought a Super Splitter earlier this year to use in our maple syrup operation with hopes to eventually heat at least partially with wood. I'm here in MI too, although quite a ways from you (I'm about 40 minutes N of Detroit) but you're welcome to come try it out sometime. Why did I buy it? Cycle time, longevity/reliability and ease of use. The table is sized very nicely which allows me to cplit a piece, slide one piece to the side and continue slicing the other one. I'm able to slice wood into very small kindling (ideal for maple evaporators) and the thing just flies. I typically cut the wood in the forest, load it into the front loader and a pallet on the 3-pt hitch and pull right up to the splitter. I pull the pieces from the loader, split them and have someone (or two people) stacking onto a pallet as I split. I can split the wood fast enough where it takes two stackers to keep up.

The design of the machine is quite simple utilizing a pair of flywheels and a ranck-and-pinion ram. You simply pull up on a lever on top of the splitter which activates the ram. Cycle time is around two seconds, maybe a bit less. I split some elm that was kind of gnarly and had to hit some of it multiple times but I can hit a piece multiple times before a traditional hydraulic unit can cycle once.

I haven't used it an awful lot yet as we moved in January and I'm still getting our operation set up so my experience is quite limited. But if you head over to http://www.arboristsite.com/community/ and search super splitter you will find no shortage of people who have used these for 20-30 years without any problems whatsoever.

The main reason I purchased it was speed. I'm 43 and every time I use it I save time that I can use to do something else. The unit was more expensive than a traditional hydraulic unit but I just know I would have been thinking about that shiny red super splitter every time I was sitting there waiting on the hydraulic ram to split and return.

Link: Log Splitter, Wood Splitter - Super Split(R)

Oh yeah, one other thing I like about it is that I'm working standing upright not hunched over.

Edit to add: I've taken to calling this wonderful piece of gear our "workout equipment" when talking to my wife. I don't think she likes me very much anymore.

 

[Aviatordave]

Man, you folks sure bring a lot of good points to light. Lever on center for access from both sides, the hoist for lifting heavy logs. The Wallenstien's look like good units and that Super Splitter is pretty impressive as well. The more I hear/learn the bigger the perfect unit gets in my head. I've come to the conclusion that I need about $10,000 for the perfect setup. ;-) Since that's not an option, I'll have to make some concessions. I'm leaning towards wedge on ram just because I like the idea of having a dislodger for stubborn logs that won't come off the ram.

With respect to the wood boiler, I haven't decided on a regular boiler or a gassification unit yet. I like the idea of the greater efficiency of the gassification unit but didn't realize that smaller split logs are better for it. Having a 4 or 6 way wedge sounds like a big time saver. (watching some Youtube videos of different log splitters reveals some pretty interesting wedge designs for producing specifically sized cut pieces.) This would obviously change the wedge on ram mindset I have.

I have to say, that Supersplit looks REAAALLLY interesting to me. I've been searching for a video that shows somebody tackling a really knotty/knarly piece of tough wood. That quick cycle time looks like it makes short work of it even if you have to hit the log several times. Not a lot of complicated hydraulics to go wrong either.
Any of you who own one of these types of splitters (I see that DR has copied the Supersplit now that Super's patten has run out) have any experience with some of the tougher logs? I have a lot of oak on my property.

Still not decided on anything yet but starting to think my budget may be around the $3,000 mark. We'll see.

Thanks!
-Dave