Splitter Reminder.

[Red Horse]

Every now and then you need a wake up call. got mine the other day when I've got the 27 ton splitter in vertical mode and I'm in "high production"- one hand on the handle the other rotating the log-once it's at a manageable size. Well in a nanosecond my thumb was where it shouldn't be- Picture is worth a thousand words-good thing my glove had slipped enough

 

[TomSeller]

Yikes! Glad there is no blood! That's one tool you will be careful with from now on?

 

[ultrarunner]

I keep reminding myself not to get complacent or too much in a hurry around equipment...

Close call and one you will never forget... my splitter runs at half throttle mostly because I like it to be a little slower.

My grandfather was in his 80's and always splitting wood by hand... they heat with a wood fired boiler in the basement.

A neighbor brought over his splitter for Grandfather to try... and it was very old in that forward and reverse did not require constant pressure... just shifting the lever.

My Grandfather lost three fingers between his thumb and pinky...

 

[Looking4new]

Every now and then you need a wake up call. got mine the other day when I've got the 27 ton splitter in vertical mode and I'm in "high production"- one hand on the handle the other rotating the log-once it's at a manageable size. Well in a nanosecond my thumb was where it shouldn't be- Picture is worth a thousand words-good thing my glove had slipped enough

Did you buy a lottery ticket? You are one lucky guy.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I saw that happen the first time I was around a splitter. I have never seen a person take a glove off so fast in my life, he had to see if he still had any fingers. I have remember that and the rule I came up with for me is, NEVER put any part of your hand on the end of the log when it is on the splitter. I don't want to deal with what you did or worse. Ed

 

[Looking4new]

I saw that happen the first time I was around a splitter. I have never seen a person take a glove off so fast in my life, he had to see if he still had any fingers. I have remember that and the rule I came up with for me is, NEVER put any part of your hand on the end of the log when it is on the splitter. I don't want to deal with what you did or worse. Ed

My rule is the same except for the hand. Never put any part of your body on the wood when the splitter is running.

 

[TomSeller]

When it comes to splitters I prefer slow even though it takes more time. But you still need to be diligent.

 

[TJP89]

Scary. My splitter runs slow, which is good, especially as I engage in the unsafe (but necessary) practice of having my hand on the log to keep it in position. I do try to keep it away from the wedge and off the log once I have contact. Also, the lever needs constant pressure to come forward, first reaction is to let go if something starts to go wrong.

 

[4570Man]

Yikes, that was close. I never put my hand on top of the wood while splitting. I hold it on the side.

 

[Clint S]

Last year I had my chainsaw cut though my jeans and not touch my skin. Second time in my life that it happened. Both times on a kickback. I now have a decent pair of chaps as third time is a charm.

 

[Wagtail]

Glad you're OK mate.

Thinking of my splitter, which is a small electric one, It can't be operated one handed. You need to hold a button down IOT then operate the splitting ram.

 

[McREBEL]

Glad you just got the glove. I had the same thing happen a couple years ago except it was the middle finger of the glove. Also, while splitting last spring I had a small piece of wood break off that flew up and hit me in the mouth hard. I reached up to check the damage and brought down a hand with a fair amount of blood on it. I was scared to look in the mirror. Thankfully it was only a severely busted lip. A few of my teeth had that numb feeling but none were knocked loose. I never considered that happening. Since then I hold one hand between the wood and my face. Getting up firewood is fraught with danger.

 

[Looking4new]

Glad you just got the glove. I had the same thing happen a couple years ago except it was the middle finger of the glove. Also, while splitting last spring I had a small piece of wood break off that flew up and hit me in the mouth hard. I reached up to check the damage and brought down a hand with a fair amount of blood on it. I was scared to look in the mirror. Thankfully it was only a severely busted lip. A few of my teeth had that numb feeling but none were knocked loose. I never considered that happening. Since then I hold one hand between the wood and my face. Getting up firewood is fraught with danger.

No hard hat and face shield. Now don't go getting me wrong here, I am not the safety police but a hard hat and face shield might have prevented that.

 

[McREBEL]

No hard hat and face shield. Now don't go getting me wrong here, I am not the safety police but a hard hat and face shield might have prevented that.

Cover is blown. You are indeed the safety police. Only kidding. That may be common practice in some places but never in my life have I seen anyone wearing a hard hat and face shield while splitting wood. I am sure some do though. It would have helped so I will consider it. I would get laughed at for sure but I could deal with that.

 

[4570Man]

No hard hat and face shield. Now don't go getting me wrong here, I am not the safety police but a hard hat and face shield might have prevented that.

How would a hard hat and face shield helped anything? It was his hand that almost got chopped off. If anything he would have been more likely to cut his finger off due to impaired vision. And a hard hat to split wood. Really?

 

[Wagtail]

How would a hard hat and face shield helped anything? It was his hand that almost got chopped off. If anything he would have been more likely to cut his finger off due to impaired vision. And a hard hat to split wood. Really?

Mate, that post was in regards to a near eye injury... which can happen to anyone operating a splitter due to inherent tension in the wood.

I've got a hard hat/face shield combination that I wear for my chainsaw work... so why not wear it for splitter work too?

 

[4570Man]

You would be more likely to get glass in your eyes from a car crash.

 

[Looking4new]

4570man....quote from McREBEL ;Also, while splitting last spring I had a small piece of wood break off that flew up and hit me in the mouth hard. I reached up to check the damage and brought down a hand with a fair amount of blood on it. I was scared to look in the mirror. Thankfully it was only a severely busted lip. A few of my teeth had that numb feeling but none were knocked loose. I never considered that happening. Since then I hold one hand between the wood and my face. Getting up firewood is fraught with danger.


I said that the hard hat and face shield might have prevented that.

 

[4570Man]

Anything is possible. I am not wearing all kinds of unnecessary safety gear.

 

[groundcover]

Want to be on your game when you fire up the super splitter , that thing doesn't hear you scream ! So far so good with that, did saw off a nice 12" Oak round yesterday that was good enough to land squarely on two toes,sweet !