Opinions of a Screw Type log splitter

brokenot · May 15, 2011

There are lots of YouTube videos of screw-type splitters in use. I honestly cannot understand the amount of "spook" associated with the vast majority of them.

Watch this and explain to me how this is any more dangerous than a large drill press, or a table saw, or a chainsaw, or....

YouTube - WOOD SCREW SPLITTER - GAS POWERED

Here's another one....electric powered for smaller stuff:

YouTube - Kegelspalter (Eigenbau)

Now if you're jacking up one side of a vehicle, propping the throttle, and have no way of shutting things down in an emergency....that's another story altogether. But then it's hardly wood splitting in and of itself that's making the situation dangerous.

jones6780 · May 15, 2011

That was a nice video. How many people split dry wood? That was not oak or hickory either. Now don't get me wrong, 'cause I have a 3pt Bark Buster auger splitter that I use every year to split wood. You must have a healthy respect for the tool. I would never use it alone and never get in a rush. My auger turns slower and has a coarse pitch. When green hickory splits it tears the grain apart and may not split completely in two pieces.

Russell in Lizella

brokenot · May 16, 2011

You must have a healthy respect for the tool.

Agreed. But if you've already been out in the woods felling trees with a chainsaw, you've already done the really dangerous part of the job. You've been using a dangerous piece of equipment, often oddly-positioned, often in areas where footing or routes to safety aren't optimal, etc.

When you get back to home-base, you're comparatively safe I think. I'm sure there are statistics about numbers of injuries per year while cutting versus splitting wood....and I've got to believe cutting results in far more injuries or fatalities.

Used properly and with proper gear, a screw-type splitter isn't any more dangerous than lots of other stuff we use every day. I guess it just must be the imposing appearance of the screw that puts some people off.

easygo · May 16, 2011

I own one and I'm happy with it. No more dangerous then de-limbing a tree on the ground with a chainsaw, or cutting with a tablesaw.
Just be careful. If you find it scary don't use it. I don't do things that I find scary either.

ToadHill · May 16, 2011

I had one years ago but it didn't have a table only a bar that was supposed to keep the wood from rotating. The bar broke and when the wood took off it almost broke both my arms. I now use the old standby hydro splitter.

It always seemed like I was feeding fuel to about 30 hp more than I needed to do the job with the old screw splitter.

deereman75 · May 16, 2011

my grandpa build what was probably the worlds fastest and most likely to kill or maim you log splitter.:laughing: It was basically a 1 ton flywheel with a wedge welded on it, spinning at about 15 rpm. the wedge passed through a slot in the table and you sat the log in the table as soon as the wedge passed, and a few seconds latter it was split in half and ready for the next one. This thing would split wood as fast as you could feed it.

bcp · May 17, 2011

deereman75 said:
my grandpa build what was probably the worlds fastest and most likely to kill or maim you log splitter.:laughing: It was basically a 1 ton flywheel with a wedge welded on it, spinning at about 15 rpm. the wedge passed through a slot in the table and you sat the log in the table as soon as the wedge passed, and a few seconds latter it was split in half and ready for the next one. This thing would split wood as fast as you could feed it.

Sounds like this style:

YouTube - WORLDS FASTEST LOGSPLITTER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40sCGb678sQ&NR

Bruce

meb9796 · May 17, 2011

I found a barkbuster on craigslist and I've used it on my 2305 and now my 3720 and it works fine. There is a small learning curve with it, but very easy to operate and quick.

Bark Buster Logsplitter attachment finished!! - TractorByNet.com

deereman75 · May 17, 2011

bcp said:
Sounds like this style:

YouTube - WORLDS FASTEST LOGSPLITTER

YouTube - Redneck Log Splitter

Bruce

Basically but from what my dad told me about it, the one my grandpa build had a much,much bigger flywheel. (This thing was build in the 80s, and I am 14 now so I never saw it, everything I know about it my dad told me)

Also my grandpa is like 85 now and can barely walk now. (veteran in ww2)

Kenster · May 31, 2011

EVERYTHING we do is dangerous. I can't imagine any type of splitter being more dangerous than a chain saw, but we certainly are not going to stop cutting wood. We don't let our hair or loose clothing or gloves get caught in the chain saw, or the lawn mower blade, or a bicycle chain or the PTO even without an implement on it. People keep saying "it's dangerous if you're not paying attention!" Really??? What isn't? Getting into the shower is dangerous if you're not paying attention. You could slip and fall. You could get scalded. You could get soap in your eyes.

I have not used one of these screw type of splitters but they seem to be simple and straight forward. You hold the round AT THE ENDS and push the CENTER of the round into the screw. Then you let go and step back and let the splitter do its thing. You shouldn't be getting close enough to get clothing caught in the screw. Your hands are on the end of the round away from the screw. As long as you have something blocking the round to prevent it from spinning AND you don't lean against the round to press it into the screw I just don't see what all the wailing and moaning and gnashing of teeth is about.

jbooth · Jun 2, 2011

Kenster said:
EVERYTHING we do is dangerous. I can't imagine any type of splitter being more dangerous than a chain saw, but we certainly are not going to stop cutting wood. We don't let our hair or loose clothing or gloves get caught in the chain saw, or the lawn mower blade, or a bicycle chain or the PTO even without an implement on it. People keep saying "it's dangerous if you're not paying attention!" Really??? What isn't? Getting into the shower is dangerous if you're not paying attention. You could slip and fall. You could get scalded. You could get soap in your eyes.

I have not used one of these screw type of splitters but they seem to be simple and straight forward. You hold the round AT THE ENDS and push the CENTER of the round into the screw. Then you let go and step back and let the splitter do its thing. You shouldn't be getting close enough to get clothing caught in the screw. Your hands are on the end of the round away from the screw. As long as you have something blocking the round to prevent it from spinning AND you don't lean against the round to press it into the screw I just don't see what all the wailing and moaning and gnashing of teeth is about.

Everything we do is dangerous. Amen!!! Once sold a Wisconsin V4 with water pump to a DR.. I think it takes at least 8 years college education to be a DR. After drilling him on how to use the crank so he wouldn't break an arm or thumb, I left with a feeling of confidence that all was well. Those V4s had a sleeve type crank that fit over the end of the crankshaft. Guess what!! He left the crank on the shaft and after the crank got up to motor speed he stuck his foot in there to stop it. Broke his foot. If that had been today's world, I would have been sued. It helps to be careful, but no amount of caution can overcome stupid.

xtn · Jun 2, 2011

I tried out my new Atom splitter last week. Works as advertised. PTO powered. Ran the engine about 1200 rpm. Works best by really slowing down the rate of 3pt drop so that it doesn't swing off target as happens with jerky movements.

I think the most dangerous part of the job was mounting it on the post hole digger. Wouldn't want to drop it on your foot!

Treemonkey1000 · Jun 2, 2011

xtn said:
I tried out my new Atom splitter last week. Works as advertised. PTO powered. Ran the engine about 1200 rpm. Works best by really slowing down the rate of 3pt drop so that it doesn't swing off target as happens with jerky movements.

I think the most dangerous part of the job was mounting it on the post hole digger. Wouldn't want to drop it on your foot!

Hey isn't there an unwritten rule here on TBN you can't post about your new toys without pictures?

mwb · Jun 2, 2011

Found this when I checked out the link in the first post. This has to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen. This is a wood splitter that the operator is obviously scared of! Love the sound it makes. I think it makes more woodchips than split wood.:laughing:
YouTube - ‪wheel of death part 6‬‏

tcreeley · Jun 2, 2011

Years ago I started to build a log splitter- still kicking around, but I never finished it. I've heated with just wood since 1976. I have discovered that I never needed a log splitter. My stove takes a 20" by 12" piece. More than that I use a maul. I hate handling wood- it gets old year after year. So I'm not going to split it because that's more handling. It burns better unsplit. I dry it for two years and it does great.

brokenot · Jun 4, 2011

[QUOTEFound this when I checked out the link in the first post. This has to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen. This is a wood splitter that the operator is obviously scared of! Love the sound it makes. I think it makes more woodchips than split wood.
YouTube - ‪wheel of death part 6‬‏][/QUOTE]

That guy is probably going to wind up in the ER at some point. It's obvious that even though he built it and has used it himself quite a few times, he's totally unaware of what the outcome is going to be....each and every time he feeds a chunk of wood into it.

"Will it split the log, or will it go in and break off bits instead?"

"Will the split pieces fall predictably, or will hunks jettison off in several directions at once?"

"Will my axe head to wheel attachment method be sufficient?"

"What happens if chunks bounce into the wheel spokes?"

Amusing and disconcerting at the same time.

Treemonkey1000 · Jun 4, 2011

I agree Brokenot. There are plenty of ways to get maimed or die. That would not be one that I want to mess with.. I take chances climbing trees with a chainsaw. That contraption looks riskier.

xtn · Jun 4, 2011

Looks like that design substitutes speed for mass.

Chilly807 · Jun 4, 2011

brokenot said:
"Will my axe head to wheel attachment method be sufficient?"

That was the question that came to my mind too...

Sean

JB4310 · Jun 4, 2011

That screw type splitter scares me, I've seen the one that goes on the car hub

Yeah you could lose a finger to a hydraulic ram splitter, but that screw thing looks like it would tear your arm out by the roots if it got the chance

JB