Log Splitters

[Code54]

I'm blessed with a good timber, good equipment and good health. So I rather enjoy putting up firewood. I never have to do it in bad weather. That takes the fun out of it real fast!!!!

Must say I sort of enjoy it also. Went out today and dropped two trees and cut part into logs and split them just for the exercise - don't really need the wood right now but need to get the trees down and it was nice out so why not...

 

[Creamer]

You guys are getting to picky. Rememer the days when we did it like this guy?

Splitting Firewood Using Wedge & Sledgehammer - YouTube

Nope! I also do not remember having old dry rounds like that to split either! those split easy - he isn't even working.

 

[Creamer]

As for wedge on the beam or cyl, I'll NEVER go back to the wedge on the cyl. design!!

SR

Rob - I have to ask you why not having the wedge on the beam. You obviously cut a lot of wood and have used one. I do not have a splitter but like the double action ones which require the wedge to be on the cylinder but it is guided so that it doesn't sideload the cylinder like a beam just on the end of the cylinder.

By the way - I agree with you on the ergo. The rolling the rounds onto the splitter and never having them hit the ground makes a lot of sense. Being able to stand up and have the work at the proper height without lifting is everything.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Rob - I have to ask you why not having the wedge on the beam. You obviously cut a lot of wood and have used one.

I still own one, that NEVER get's used...

There's several reasons I don't like the wedge on the cyl, I'll give you two good ones here.

With the wedge on the beam it's much faster because you handle the wood less! Look at this pict.,

The splitter is filling my self unloading trailer for me! I don't have to throw the splits in it, they go right off the end of the splitter right into the trailer.

Another good reason is, NO stuck wood on the wedge!! I don't have, or ever need to have an ax or hatchet on the splitter to cut stringy wood off the wedge! I don't need to bam bam any stuck wood, or in a worse case, use a chain to pull wood off the wedge. You NEVER need to deal with stuck or stringy wood, you just roll another chunk on, and push it on through.

It just so much FASTER to have the wedge on the beam, and we didn't even get to the part about the "adjustable" 4-way wedge yet...

SR

 

[Creamer]

I am still an old style guy - a 12 pound maul but I am thinking more and more of splitter. I hadn't thought it pushing the wood directly out of the way but that makes a lot of sense. Also having never used one the stringy wood is not something I would have thought of either - if the wedge went back behind a plate it would drive the wood off but most do not have that long of stroke.

I appreciate the response!

 

[oldpilgrim]

I still own one, that NEVER get's used...

There's several reasons I don't like the wedge on the cyl, I'll give you two good ones here. I have a 4 way splitter attachment for mine, not adjustable but it works well.

With the wedge on the beam it's much faster because you handle the wood less! Look at this pict.,

The splitter is filling my self unloading trailer for me! I don't have to throw the splits in it, they go right off the end of the splitter right into the trailer.

Another good reason is, NO stuck wood on the wedge!! I don't have, or ever need to have an ax or hatchet on the splitter to cut stringy wood off the wedge! I don't need to bam bam any stuck wood, or in a worse case, use a chain to pull wood off the wedge. You NEVER need to deal with stuck or stringy wood, you just roll another chunk on, and push it on through.

It just so much FASTER to have the wedge on the beam, and we didn't even get to the part about the "adjustable" 4-way wedge yet...

SR

Just retract the wedge and the stuck wood remover built on the machine removes it. All commercially made machines have them. No chains or axes needed.

I have a 4way non adjustable attachment for my wedge.

 

[4570Man]

Just retract the wedge and the stuck wood remover on the machine removes it. All commercial made machines have them.

Mine was a commercial made machine and it didn't. I just stuck a block of wood between the stuck piece and the end of the cylinder and retracted it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Just retract the wedge and the stuck wood remover built on the machine removes it. All commercially made machines have them. No chains or axes needed.

I have a 4way non adjustable attachment for my wedge.

And with a wedge on the beam, I'm moving ahead, still splitting wood....getting it done, instead fiddlefarting with stuck wood. lol!

SR

 

[4570Man]

And with a wedge on the beam, I'm moving ahead, still splitting wood....getting it done, instead fiddlefarting with stuck wood. lol!

SR

If the wood is in truly stuck as in it can't be split how do you move ahead?

 

[turnkey4099]

Once I place a round on the splitter I don't let anything fall to the ground intentionally regardless of size.

Yeah, an 'off-feed' tray, table,whatevfer is a great addition.

 

[turnkey4099]

My guess would be a little less than 2 cords on that trailer. I burn about 4 to 6 cords a year. Have about 4 years ahead in seasoning.

I burn 6=7, half willow, half locust, a year and sell arund 8-10 of wilow - after 30 years it still shocks me that people will buy willow at $120/cord..

 

[turnkey4099]

Must say I sort of enjoy it also. Went out today and dropped two trees and cut part into logs and split them just for the exercise - don't really need the wood right now but need to get the trees down and it was nice out so why not...

Same here, it is my hobby. I am currently working on clear cutting two groves of overage willow for farmers, no charge, Ijust take the wood, pile/burn brush and leave a clean area except for the stumps. I get antsy if I can't put in an hour or two doing something very physical. Been locked in hte house for a week now and another week to go with single digit and negative digit temperatures and snow storms.

 

[turnkey4099]

If the wood is in truly stuck as in it can't be split how do you move ahead?

My splitter is wedge on cylinder and I have never had a round stick dthat the machine itself wouldn't pull loose. My old wedge on beam did somedtimes requie a bit of hammering to free it but dthat machine had a very weak hydraulic system. Built idt out of salvage parts.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

If the wood is in truly stuck as in it can't be split how do you move ahead?

I haven't found a chunk that can't be split, at least on my splitter.

EVERYTHING get's pushed through the 4-way, I've never stopped the ram, I can't even tell if it's ever slowed down, it just plain keeps on-keeping on!

SR

 

[ovrszd]

Mine will slow down, but has always finished the split. I just retract the cylinder and add another block then finish the stuck block and split the next one.

 

[scdeerslayer]

I use a splitter that was my grandfather's that was made by Northern Hydraulics before they changed to Northern Tool. Just a few years ago they had basically the same thing just a different motor and a different layout, but the pump, cylinder, and valve were the same. It has the wedge on the beam and we've had several pieces stuck on the wedge that it couldn't split (usually pieces with large knots or a fork) and had to knock them back with a sledge hammer. Plus we might split stuff into a dozen or more pieces, and that's a lot of moving the wood backwards to split again. It seems like it would work so much better with the wedge on the cylinder with the piece that removes stuck wood.