Splitting Large Logs

[JimMorrissey]

I had a huge ash felled this past winter and I've got 90% of it bucked up. Most pieces look manageable, but the base is massive. I've got rounds that are easy 48" diameter. My question is how am I going to split these logs into manageable pieces? I don't think a little rental log splitter with the 5ph honda engine is not going to do the trick, but maybe.....Any ideas?

 

[slowzuki]

Some people use powder to blow them apart /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Others just buy a few splitting wedges and go to town with the sledge.

Other grab the chainsaw and rip one side, then drive the wedge in from the side.

We used to prop them up onto the splitter with the other tractor bucket... Good way to get hurt looking back at it!

 

[KubotaSteve]

I saw some professional tree trimmers take down some huge trees. The saw must have had a 4 foot bar on it and they quartered the pieces with a saw so they were manageable and we split them the rest of the way with a 20 ton vertical splitter from Harbor Freight.

 

[Wood_Butcher_Dav]

You will be surprised at the power of them little log splitters. Buddy of mine has one that can tip to vertical and it has split some large oak (3 to 4 ft dia) that weight about 500lbs a piece. His has a single cylinder 5 or 6 horse Briggs motor. The hardest part is getting the rounds into position, just take small bites and keep turning.

Dave

 

[JimMorrissey]

Slow that's a good idea....I could cut down one side then split with wedges and a sledge. I will try the splitter first and look around for the biggest one I can find. I plan to screw a big lag ring into the log and lift them into positon with my backhoe.

 

[JimMorrissey]

I'll get a splitter and give it a shot. Good ideas.

 

[HomeBrew2]

I've split some 42's with a vertical rental unit. My rounds were many many years old and bone dry, but not at all rotten, fairly straight grained fir/pine. I don't know if they would have popped with twisted grain ...

 

[SkyPup]

Our 13hp Honda with a 5" Prince Hydraulic Ram running off a two stage Barnes hydraulic pump puts out 30 tons, not much can withstand that. Of course, first you have to be able to load the trunk onto the splitter to begin with though. So far, our splitter has successfully split everything that two men could lift to load on to it. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[JimMorrissey]

Sky, I don't have access to such a beast. I'm going to lift them onto the splitter with my hoe and a lag ring (chain them on). I just hope I can find a splitter as beastly as yours. Figures you'd have a two stage super charged splittler capable of crushing steel /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JimMorrissey]

Brew, Yeah that's the problem, twisted grain. That'll put a stop to a little splitter right quick.

Hey, I used to live in Truckee....skied Squaw many many fine days. Drank a lot of beer in the valley too /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif