New to me Bark Buster

[jbooth]

My gosh thats slow, i hope yours is faster than that. I can split it by hand 5 times faster. I cut about 6 sticks stand them all on end then bust them all then turn the 12 pieces on end then the 24 and so on. I usually have my wife stand them up for me so its a nonstop process, keeps me from bending over and i can go faster. Or, once i get to about 12 pieces i will take a few second breake while she stands them and once its to 20+ pieces i will help stand them on end.

Granted im 28 but i think even when im 45 i still can move faster than that.

Yes, we will all be 28 once if we're lucky and live that long. At 28 I could use a splitting mall. Could still do it when I was 45. I am now 68 and some of those easier ways that i didn't have time to wait on are coming back to haunt me. Arthitic back and knees. I have used a screw type splitter and it worked well for me. Was considerably less expensive than the hydraulics when I purchased it. That motor driven one on youtube is extremely slow. I believe the screw type I had was as fast or faster than most hydraulic splitters. I now use a hydraulic and it is fast enough for me. I take time to sit down and watch the world go by. Take care of yourself and you will make a good old man.

 

[easygo]

I posted this video only in response to the a question about holding the wood on the screw, it is of a cone on a B/S 5hp and it is really slow, but shows how the bar keeps the wood from spinning with the screw, and you don't have to hold the wood with your hands. This video YouTube - HyCrack Log Splitter in action. shows one working on the PTO of a tractor and it seems to split about the same speed as a hydraulic wood splitter wedge, and there's no waiting for the cylinder to return or wait for it to move from the stop position to the wood, so I think it will be at least as fast as an hydraulic splitter. I know it LOOKS dangerous, but I also use a chainsaw. When I get a chance to use it, I'll make a video, I'll have to teach my brother to use the camera, I made a video plowing the garden and he claimed he didn't know how to use the camera so he got to do the plowing and have all the fun. This time, I will be doing the screwin'.:thumbsup::laughing:

That little gas engine powered splitter is much slower then the Bark Buster works on the back of a tractor. It is certainly comparable to the one in the link you posted but it can be faster then that if you give it more RPM. As I mentioned in a previous post I run mine at about 1400-1500 ENGINE RPM and that speed hardly gives me enough time to pick up the next piece of wood from the pile. Also a lot depends on the kind of wood you split. If you put a round of beach on there that is going to be slower and make the machine work harder then if you grab a piece of straight grained maple or birch.

For those who have not used one of these, believe me when I say that I know exactly what it feels like splitting wood with a maul. I have three of them so I can pick the one that works best for the kind of wood that was on the stump. I will put this splitter next to anyone with a maul and guarantee you the Bark Buster will win. Not just a round or two but let's see who will finish four cords of wood first. Besides the price of these (if you can find one) is the fraction of a hydraulic splitter. They are dangerous for sure. If you cut your own wood the chainsaw is very dangerous too and so is using a maul. I had various size pieces flying back at me just enough times that I wear safety goggles when splitting with a maul.

 

[clemsonfor]

I don't split any wood, but that's what I was thinking. Am I wrong that a regular splitter is a LOT faster? Not to mention less chance for an accident.

A regular splitter is faster than the small briggs cone splitter is. I can still beat the onld hydro splitter my neighbor borrows but only for a limited period of time, i will get tired after an hour or so where the splitter can keep on going slow n steady. I have just started to split about a ranger bed size load each day or so i split till i have it all split up. This way i dont have to borrow a splitter or sit there half boared while splitting it. They usually work bes t with 2 people one to load and remove wood and one to operate control lever. Look up on you tube the vids of wood splitters and see, they can vary in cycle time though. I just saw a splitter in the new norther tool catalouge that just came and it has a hdro unit that splits on each stroke in and out, the shaft must be under the log cradle.

Yea that tractor buster is a lot faster. That briggs model is just a wast of time and engine in my opinion, unless your 60-70 years old i would never use or buy that thing.

 

[Giles]

I bought one of these many years ago. I liked it for simplicity and I could tractor it to the woods and load "split" wood on my trailer. I split many cords of wood and I had no problem with it:thumbsup:

However-- WARNING--Use common sense and be careful. This is an extremly dangerous piece of equipment, just like a chainsaw is dangerous.
DO NOT operate this machine without an engine kill mechanism within quick and easy reach---Rig something up:thumbsup:
When I was using mine, most of the time I had a helper and his job was to kill engine if necessary.
I ran my tractor at app. 12-1500 RPM no more:thumbsup:
I also wore a short sleeve shirt.
Hydraulic is much safer but it is also dangerous!

 

[Travis_R]

I just bought a "Bark Buster" today! And I just tore it up today!

Completely 100% my fault. But I do love this piece of equipment. I need parts now. I need the shaft that the cone mounts to, and I need the 2 bearings.

Mine is what I would consider perfect shape (BEFORE I tore it up). The paint is shiny and everything- has been kept indoors. I don't know how old it is, but it only looks to be 2 or 3 years old. It is a MUST for me to get it fixed. I like it that much. It is THE wood splitting machine!

ANYBODY KNOW WHERE I CAN GET PARTS?

ANYBODY KNOW HOW MUCH ONE OF THESE THINGS COSTED WHEN THEY WERE NEW??

Thanks!

 

[slan]

And if you all thought that was not very safety minded
YouTube - Unicorn Log Splitter

 

[milkman]

I think they quit making them in the early '70's so parts might be hard to find. I'm sure the bearings are available at parts house and a machinist can probably turn you out a shaft. Hope you get it fixed, used mine, but just a little while because of a bum knee. If yours is in good shape, what color is it, mine is rust colored but I want to clean it up and put a fresh coat of paint on it. I was able to save the decals but there's no indication of color even under them.

 

[montejw]

you could always get one of these:

widow maker wood splitter

 

[Duffster]

you could always get one of these:

widow maker wood splitter

That's awesome!

 

[Travis_R]

I think they quit making them in the early '70's so parts might be hard to find. I'm sure the bearings are available at parts house and a machinist can probably turn you out a shaft. Hope you get it fixed, used mine, but just a little while because of a bum knee. If yours is in good shape, what color is it, mine is rust colored but I want to clean it up and put a fresh coat of paint on it. I was able to save the decals but there's no indication of color even under them.

The color is black. Kinda like a glossy black. The 3 pt. hitch "braces" that the tractor's toplink hooks to are like a glossy silver. Yeah I'm going to town in the morning to a machine shop and to another place that specializes in bearings. I sure hope the price is not outrageous. But whatever the cost is, I'm paying it because I like my Bark Buster alot. Especially for the near perfect shape that it's in. I wonder if the machine shop can make me another cone? There's nothing wrong with mine but I'd like to have a spare just in case the original one gets tore up...